Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

7°C

Swell today

Direction S, height 0.4 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.6 metres.

Haven position?

52° 11.584' N, 006° 49.350' W

Where is that position?

At the end of the pier at the harbour entrance.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint aligns the harbour entrance and is halfway between ‘Shoal Rock’ and ‘Innyard Point’.

What is the story here?

Fethard Harbour lies to the west of Bannow Bay six miles northeast of Hook Head Lighthouse, one mile northeast from Baginbun, upon ’Innyard Point’. It is a small harbour that dries out entirely in springs with a mooring area immediately offshore.

Fethard affords a vessel good protection from southwest through north to north. The drying harbour is more protected but small, congested and prone to a surge with southeast or southerly heavy weather conditions. It is best for visitors to anchor just north of the harbour in clear sand with good holding. Local people are generous and you are free to borrow one of the existing substantial moorings just outside the harbour.

Access is straightforward save for making note of the uncharted ‘Shoal rock’ with one metre of water above it on a low spring tide. This resides one half a nautical mile north-northeast of ‘Innyard point’ outside of the harbour but is easily circumvented.

Please note Fethard should not be approached in any winds above Force 3 or 20 KM per hour from northeast, east, southeast or south. Be watchful for lobster pot markers that are prolific in this sailing area.

Why visit here?

Fethard is one of the villages in South West Wexford, featured on the clearly signposted and very scenic circuit (Ring of Hook Drive) which visits Duncannon, Slade and Hook Head.

It is the main town of the picturesque Hook Peninsula and a prime tourist destination with mini supermarkets, fuel, hotels, bars etc.

Fethard was one of the earliest castles built by the Anglo-Normans due to its closeness to Baginbun, one of the landing places for the Normans in 1170. At the beginning of the 13th Century, the Prior of Christchurch granted the town to Richard de London who built a fortified castle here. An L shaped fortified hall house was built around the 15th Century on the site of the castle and is one of six Episcopal manors in the diocese of Ferns – once the seat of a bishop whose castle holds the remains of Bishop Alexander Devereux, the colourful last Abbot of Dunbrody. The present castle is being renovated.

As noted on a local monument Fethard claims to have some of the bravest and most self sacrificing lifeboat men in the world. It is however requested of visiting boatmen that they do not put this to the test.

How to get in?

If approaching from the East, or Kilmore Quay area, you will first see the Keeragh Islands conspicuous one mile south off the Cullenstown shore. Keep well clear of these islands and do not plan to pass inside or between them as this is an unsafe sailing area except for those with deep experience of the area. Out in the bay there are no dangers except for lobster pot markers that are prolific in the entire area so do be watchful.

Baginbun headland with its Martello tower will be the next landmark to appear. Keep this on the port side and three nautical miles past the Keeragh Islands you will reach Fethard Harbour. If in this passage you keep a wide berth of the Keeragh Islands and approach in a straight line to Fethard Harbour you will clear both Selskar and Shoal rocks.

Another useful waypoint if approaching from the southwest is a clear water waypoint east of the Baginbun Head.

Clear water off Baginbun Head - position: 52° 10.450’N, 006° 49.244’W

This waypoint, or further east of it, will keep you nicely clear of the North Eastern Point of Baginbun headland.

The approach to Fethard is completely clear except for two areas that require attention as you come close in. ‘Shoal rock’ - see chartlet - is an uncharted rock with one metre of water above it on a low Spring tide and lies one half a nautical mile north-northeast of ‘Innyard point’ outside of the harbour.

The other side, the area off ‘Innyard Point’, requires a wide berth as it dries up to 200 metres to the Northeast of the point. As the entry path is between these two points due care is required at low water springs. However there is a distance of approximately 250 metres with five metres depth in all the areas between these so it is easy to come in safely.

From the above initial fix that is midpoint between these you can then track into the mooring area with the following waypoint.

Mooring area – position: 52° 11.593’N, 006° 49.308’W

Fethard harbour is tidal and dries out on springs. However 3.2 metres, in high water neaps, to 4.7 metres at high water springs are available in the harbour.

What are the tides here?

Today's Dover tides — High waters: 10:33, 22:54, Low waters: 05:34, 17:58 ^{From Tide Times}

Dover -0535, Cobh +0019sp, +0009np, mean level 2.4.
Tidal Range:
MHWS 3.8m MHWN 2.8m MLWN 1.5m MLWS 0.6m

Direction of streams south of Ballyteige Bay (weak to 2 knots):
Cobh –0050 east going, +0535 west going
Dover +0545 east going, –0015 west going,
The tides run stronger offshore and towards the east

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?

There is little available in Fethard Harbour except for a landing pier. Fethard-on-sea village however is a tourist destination with a mini supermarket, fuel, hotels and bars and one kilometres walk.

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

Any security concerns?

There has never been an issue know to happen in Fethard-on-sea.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Chart 2049 ‘Old Head of Kinsale to Tuskar Rock’ scale of 1:150,000 covers this sailing area. The key chart is Leisure Folios - SC5621 - Ireland - East Coast Admiralty Chart 5621.14 ‘Tusker Rock to Dunabrattin Head’

Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 covers the land area.

With thanks to:

Declan Hearne, Long term fisherman and retired area Coastguard leader.

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