Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

Slade, County Wexford, Ireland

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Harbour position?

52° 8.064' N, 006° 54.557' W

Where is that position?

At the end of the pier at the entrance.

What is the initial fix?

The following waypoint will set up a final approach:

Slade Harbour initial fix
52° 8.070' N, 006° 54.090' W
This waypoint is 600 metres east of the harbour.

What LWS draught is available?

0.3 metres (0.98 feet).

What are the tides and weather here?

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 considerations are there?

Slade Harbour lies a mile northeast of Hook Head Lighthouse. It is a small harbour that entirely dries upon springs and features a highly distinctive castle.

Boats planning to stay in Slade Harbour must be prepared to dry out. Outside the harbour is all hard rock that offers unreliable anchoring so plan to take the boat into the harbour and be subject to the tide. The harbour offers good protection but can be congested and prone to a surge heavy weather conditions from an easterly direction. Short term visitors can avail of the tide for depth and at high water Springs you can expect 4.7 metres, or 3.2 metres at neaps, to be available in the outer harbour.

Navigation is straightforward as no obstructions hinder a sea approach into Slade Harbour.

Please note Slade Harbour, similar to all locations on the East side of the Hook Peninsula, should not be approached in any winds above force 3 or 20 KM per hour from North East, East, South East or Southerly. Be watchful for lobster pot markers that are prolific in this sailing area.

How to get in?

If you are planning to enter Slade Harbour you will most likely need to target arrival between half flood and half ebb tide.

The waters off Slade are clear of obstruction save for a shoaling area called the ‘Brecaun Bridge’. This lies approximately one mile northeast of the harbour along the coastline and if travelling down the coast from Baginbun Head you need to come out from the headland to avoid this area.

When approaching Slade keep the row of lobster store-box moorings to your starboard hand then turn in directly at the southern end of moorings to approach the pier head.

Use the outer harbour for your stay as the inner harbour is highly congested and requires significant ’Springing’ techniques to get in and out of.

The best tidal guide for this area is the Cheek Point Tide Book.

What facilities are available?

There is little available at Slade Harbour save for the quay and slipway.

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

Why visit here?

Slade is close enough to Hook Lighthouse to walk and well worth the visit. It is the oldest lighthouse in Europe and the second oldest running light house in the world. It was built under the grant from William Marshall in 1245 as a guide to travelers around the treacherous coastline of Wexford and Waterford. The first beacon to warn ships was lit here by St Dubhan. His church, which is close to the lighthouse, is now in ruins but it flourished until the Reformation. Dating back to the days of the Cromwellian invasions of Ireland it was from Hook and Crook, found on the opposite shore in Co Waterford, that the famous Oliver Cromwell phrase, 'By Hook or by Crooke' has its origins.

Hook Lighthouse is open to visitors and guided tours are provided in the Lighthouse where spectacular views may be enjoyed from the viewing platform at the top. There is a café, craft shop and picnic area.

The striking tower house that is the motif of Slade harbour was built by the Laffan family in the late 15th Century.

Any security concerns?

There has never been an issue know to happen in Slade Harbour.

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.

How can I get this offshore?

If you are receiving a mobile signal you can access all of our information via a standard mobile phone internet browser. We provide a streamlined version of the site at www.liyfs.com, which is a shortcut to our 'Lite' site called Lite.InYourFootSteps.com, that is simplified and optimised for speed. Here are the phonetics to pass the address on via VHF: WWW.LIYFS.COM, I SPELL... LIMA... INDIA... YANKEE... FOXTROT... SIERRA... DOT.COM. Similarly, if you have limited or expensive internet capabilities, you may switch to the 'Lite' site www.liyfs.com for faster more efficient access.

Alternatively you may print a hard copy to have aboard. Either print this page with text, illustrations and photos, but without the internet menu, layout, backdrops and Google maps, or economise upon printer consumables and print this page with text only.

With thanks to:

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

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Please note inyourfootsteps.com makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this harbour and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.