Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

6°C

Swell today

Direction ESE, height 0.6 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.6 metres.

Haven position?

52° 15.300' N, 006° 20.200' W

Where is that position?

At the centre of the harbour.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 200 metres south of the North Long VQ(6)+L Fl.10s.

What is the story here?

Rosslare Harbour resides 5 miles north of Wexford’s south-eastern corner Carnsore Point. Being one of Ireland’s busiest ferry ports it is not specifically set-up to facilitate leisure craft and will always prioritise commercial shipping. However leisure craft can be accommodated on the Fisherman’s Quay if space permits.

Although a tolerable harbour, in most conditions, it is completely exposed to the northeast right around to the northwest and should the wind change to these quarters you will need to move out to Wexford Harbour or Kilmore Quay. Access is straightforward utilising the well marked commercial channels supported by buoys and sectored leading lights.

Please note Fisherman’s Quay is required for a large vessel you will be ask to move and you may be jostled around whilst they try facilitate you around the other boats. The Long Bank outside the bay prevents boats coming in directly from the Irish Sea. Do be conscious of the harbour traffic and the strong currents in this area.

Why visit here?

Rosslare offers good sanctuary from a south West gale and access to port facilities.

How to get in?

The South Long’ buoy marks the entry into the main harbour shipping channel and from there the main shipping channel buoys can be followed in along with the sectored leading lights. Strike of west-northwest from this initial fix and you will pick up on the channel markers and leading lights.

The Rosslare harbour channels are used by large commercial traffic and fast ferries operating at up to 35 knots. So please contact Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 and make them aware of your channel transit. Seek guidance so you do not obstruct harbour operations.

Because the channel can be busy it is courteous that you stay out of it to avoid commercial operations. The south side of the channel has more rocks and stronger currents – notable the Carrack rocks southeast of the harbour. The north side of the channel by contrast has no obstructions, lighter currents and plenty of deep water. This is the best leisure craft approach to take.

Tides around Rosslare Harbour can be very strong, at their strongest at LWS where they can reach up to 4 knots. Also due to local conditions it sets south for approximately nine hours and goes north for only three. The strongest run is directly off the pier head itself and when setting southward it will push the vessel to seaward off the pier head. So coming in well to the North of the pierhead and north of the channel avoids the worst of the current.

As mentioned Rosslare Harbour is a commercial port that prioritises commercial shipping. Leisure craft are typically accommodated on the Fisherman’s Quay (the most Westerly quay) but you should contact Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 about berthing arrangements. If the wall is required for a large vessel they will ask you to move and you may be jostled around whilst they try you in between boats.

Rosslare Harbour is not set up for pleasure craft and although you will be unlikely to be refused entry you may have to fit yourself around the harbour operations. Hence it is used as a place to duck into for a short term. Rosslare Bay South may be a better solution in these conditions.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 11:11, 23:32, Low waters: 06:21, 18:43 ^{From Tide Times}

HW Dover -0510, mean level 1.1
MHWS 2.5m MHWN 1.4m MLWN 0.8m MLWS 0.0m

Tidal direction inshore of Tuskar Rock
Flood runs north-northeast, spring rate 2.5kn, Dover +0500
Ebb runs south-southwest, spring rate 3.25kn, Dover -0200

The latest monthly Dover Tides and Cobh Tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.

The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Leinster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.

A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.

What facilities are available?

Rosslare Harbour is a small town with all normal facilities, supermarket, bank, post office petrol station. All within fifteen minutes walk from the Fisherman’s Quay, albeit up a hill. You can catch a train from the Harbour direct to Dublin, or Ferries to UK or France and there are car hire and additional services available in the port area.

The port is an ISPS (International Ship Port Facility Code) compliant and this may require arrangement with the port authority.

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Other useful contacts in this area:
Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 or phone +353 53 9133249

Any security concerns?

The port is an ISPS (International Ship Port Facility Code) compliant and the area where the vessel will be alongside will be closed off to the public.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Charts 1787 Carnsore Point to Wicklow Head, 1772 Rosslare Europort Wexford Harbours, Admiralty inshore 5621.15 Covers Rosslare. Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 77 covers the land area. The excellent ‘’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’’ is the best local pilot.

With thanks to:

Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay Harbour Master.

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