Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

14°C

Swell today

Direction SW, height 1.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 1.2 metres.

Haven position?

52° 8.984' N, 006° 59.390' W

Where is that position?

The light at the end of the ‘East Pier Breakwater’ extension (Lt Fl R 2s 6m 4M).

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 600 metres east of the East Pier Breakwater extension.

What is the story here?

Dunmore East is a busy and picturesque fishing port located at the western entrance to Waterford Harbour. Berthing possibilities include coming alongside in the harbour or anchoring off the town.

The port is very well protected and is a good harbour. It can however be subject to a considerable swell inside the harbour at high water with a south easterly gale. The anchorage is tolerable in settled conditions. South westerly driven waves tend to roll around the headland striking a weather cocking vessel beam on. This can make a vessel roll and makes a good night sleep a challenge.

Dunmore provides straightforward access. No difficulty should be experienced by vessels approaching Waterford Harbour as the entrance is 2.5 miles wide, deep and clear of dangers and Dunmore East is upon the entrance.

Please note a potential race can develop at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. Prepare for a turbulent time on the entry if there is a strong south easterly blowing into an ebb tide. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force 8 on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided until the tide turns.

Why visit here?

Dunmore East is a most attractive fishing port and resort with beautifully thatched houses, an EU Blue Flag Beach, striking red sandstone cliffs which host a huge colony of kittiwakes, and some superb restaurants which feature the fresh Atlantic fish brought ashore - an attraction to all who love to eat in gourmet restaurants.

During the summer season you can enjoy music in the Hotels and Pubs. There are many places of interest to visit and sporting activities such as golf, tennis etc are available.

Dunmore East is rich in history with a promontory fort that was established in the Iron Age overlooking the sea where the old pilot station now stands, hence the name Dun Mor, the Great Fort. The existing artificial harbour was designed by G.A. Nimmo, the Scottish engineer. It is built in the Breton style, and has several thatched cottages and a number of coves, including Badgers Cove and Ladies Cove. It became a packet station for mails between England and the south of Ireland. By 1824 the fishing village had become "a delightful and fashionable watering place."

The sheltered harbour is visited each year by ocean going yachts from Britain and the Continent. The harbour is ideal for crew changes with Waterford airport, only 10 – 15 minutes by car, offering regular scheduled flights to the UK & France.

How to get in?

Once Hook Head Light House has been identified check the chart for the location of the race.

Hook Head Lighthouse - Fl 3s 46m 24M position: 52° 07.300’N 006° 55.700’W

The race is at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. At deck level the strong race will be clearly visible, a very short chop with the water dark green to seaward and light green / pale blue inside and this colouration is particularly visible in sheltered waters. When the tide is on the ebb the chop is much shorter, in the flood the wave length is longer and much easier. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force 8 on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided. Once past the race, and inside the harbour, the seaway quickly calms and Waterford Harbour offers good depths for the pleasure sailor.

From the above waypoint 600 metres, east of the East Pier Breakwater extension and in the white sector of the light, track in west-northwest into Dunmore Bay until the harbour entrance opens.

Pierhead Light - Fl WR 8s 13m 17/13M position: 52° 08.900’N 006° 59.300’W

There is an additional light on the end of the East Pier Breakwater extension that is used as the site harbour position. It is pictured below and is light as follows Fl R 2s 6m 4M. It is worth noting also at night the West Wharf Light leads into the entrance from Dunmore Bay.

West Wharf Light - 165° / 246° Fl G 2s 6m 4M position = 52° 08.900’N 006° 59.400’W

The harbour entrance resides between East Pier breakwater extension and West Wharf, both marked by lights, faces north-northwest.

Movement and berthing within the harbour is controlled by the Harbourmaster, and visiting leisure craft should make contact for berth allocation prior to arrival. Most cruising yachts will find Dunmore East far too busy for comfort. There is an anchoring area just outside the harbour (see chartlet) but again being the home of the Waterford Boat Club it gets overcrowded – clubhouse on the North West Quay.

The best place to anchor for some peace is in a little bay just north of the harbour – see figure 10 – in sand.

Anchorage off Lawlors Strand – position: 52° 09.230’N 006° 59.460’W

This anchorage resides off Dunmore’s town beaches of Lawlors and Councillors Strands. The key thing to note here is the section of rock that separates Lawlors Strand and Ladies Cove to the south also extends out under the water narrowing the anchoring area. The above waypoint is set in the mid point between the rock and headland in sand.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0013
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 07:36, 19:53, Low waters: 01:41, 13:56
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
Dover -0535, mean level 2.4 metres.
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.4m

Outside the entrance of Waterford Harbour
West going stream begins -0100 Dover or (+0450 Cobh)
East going stream begins at +0515 Dover (-0120 Cobh).
The external spring rate not exceeding 1 kn

Inside the Waterford Harbour estuary:
The flood begins at +0210 Dover (-0425 Cobh).
The ebb tide at -0505 Dover (+0045 Cobh).
Strong tides of up to 3 knots inside the estuary following the channels

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 Munster 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. Cork 26, Bantry 23, Valentia 24. 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?

Dunmore is a busy commercial port and you will find most everything you need here locally. Two chandlers are situated in the port and its environs. Fresh Water available at West Wharf Head. Dunmore East is 16 kilometres from Waterford City and just 6 from Waterford International Airport. However the Harbour Master does not encourage visiting yachts.

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:
Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office Tel +353 (0) 51 383166 VHF Ch 16 when manned as this is used by the Waterford Authorities
Port of Waterford Harbour Master +44 51 74499,
Mobile +44 87 7931705 VHF ch.16 and 14
Waterford Customs: +44 51 877011
Police: +44 51 383112
Doctor: +44 51 383194

Any security concerns?

On moorings or on anchor I would not have any concerns. However I would lock up securely when rafted up alongside a fishing vessel as a matter of course.

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 for Waterford Harbour area is Admiralty Charts 2046. This covers Waterford Harbour at a scale of 1:25,000, with details of Waterford Port - scale of 1:7,500, continuation of the River Barrow to New Ross - scale of 1:25,000, New Ross - scale of 1:10,000 and Dunmore East Harbour - scale of 1:5,000.

Imray chart C57 and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 also cover this area. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’ describes sailing this area in great detail.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

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