Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

7°C

Swell today

Direction ESE, height 0.2 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.6 metres.

Haven position?

52° 11.930' N, 006° 20.800' W

Where is that position?

At the end of the pier head.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 1.7nm east of the bay.

What is the story here?

Carne is a small open harbour that resides in Saint Margret’s Bay on the southeast corner of county Wexford, three miles south from Rosslare harbour and two miles north of Carnsore Point. Carne pier dries to three quarters at low water and visiting boats either anchor 100 metres off the end of the pier, in 3 metres, or dry out on sand behind the pier.

Carne is a good anchorage in wind conditions from northwest round to south where you will find it highly comfortable. It is completely exposed to anything from north round east to south.

Access to the harbour is straightforward as the bay has a clear approach from the sea. Although there are rocks north and south of the bay that have to be navigated between - they are well noted on the chart.

Please be watchful for lobster pot markers that are prolific in this sailing area.

Why visit here?

Carne is a handy little bolthole to wait out a tide for a few hours. It is an ideal place to swing on anchor in a nice quiet tranquil anchorage for a few nights enjoying a restful time. The Carne locals are very welcoming and with a pub and shop nearby all you need is a short stroll away.

Rosslare Harbour with trains and bus services is only 10 – 15 fifteen minutes drive from Carne and Wexford town is 30 minutes away.

How to get in?

Come in to Carne directly west from the initial fix. Please note you have inshore rocks in the vicinity north of the harbour, Whilkeen Rocks, and south, Collough and further south Fundale Rocks, but they are prominently marked on the chart.

Whilkeen Rocks – position: 52° 12.234’N, 006° 20.051’W
Collough Rock – position: 52° 11.450’N, 006° 19.803’W

The pier has a light that is single flashing red visible for four sea miles. Once 100 metres or so offshore of the pier find a nice spot with a depth to your preference and drop the anchor in sand. Local fishermen have moorings off the harbour that they are delighted to share. Do however ask local boatmen for permission to use these.

Carne pier dries up to three quarters at low water – see photographs. However there should be just under a metre (depending on silting and dredging) near the end of the pier at low water. Many lobster boats use this so if you would like to come alongside discuss this with the local boatmen to see if you can be accommodated against the wall. The extended breakwater has been a recent addition to Carne pier and it has dramatically reduced swell conditions along the wall. There is a slipway available at high water.

If approaching from the north, from Rosslare direction, stay well clear of the Carrack rocks off Greenore Point, south east of Rosslare harbour and Splaugh Rock where there are very strong currents that could lead to difficulties. These can all be avoided by utilising the outer edge of Rosslare Harbour port channel and its markers to round the point. Carry on down just inside the Bailies until you pass the Ballytrent Bay and the Whilkeen rocks and turn in. Once in St Margret’s bay find a nice spot with a depth that’s to your preference and drop the hook into sand.

Likewise approaching from the south you should be aware of the very strong currents again off Carnsore point. Come up close to either side of the Fundale Buoy and beyond Fundale rock. You then have to plan to pass Collough Rock to the southeast of Carne harbour. Collough is a substantial rock, approx 3 feet above sea level at LWS but remains mostly covered. You will see it incorrectly marked on the British Admiralty chart with the symbol indicating ‘Rock awash at the level of Chart Datum’ as it is higher than this. You can plan to approach Carne pier either inside or outside of Collough rock as your preference suits you.

What are the tides here?

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

Carne is a quiet little anchorage with very little else apart from the pier and a pub. There is a public toilet on the pier itself and the pub is a short stroll to the North of the pier. If you continue on beyond the pub there is a small shop that caters to the caravan park in the summertime.

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 Radio on 16, working channel 23 is particularly local. Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 Telephone +353 53 9133249

Any security concerns?

Never a known issue has occurred in Carne. Unusually for such a small harbour it has 4 x 7 CCTV.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Charts 1787 Carnsore Point to Wicklow Head, 1772 Rosslare Europort Wexford Harbours, and Admiralty inshore 5621.15 Covers Rosslare. Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 covers the land area. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ describes sailing this area in great detail.

With thanks to:

Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay Harbour Master.

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