Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, Ireland

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Summary

Completely protected location with straightforward access.

Harbour position?

52° 10.248' N, 006° 35.200' W

Where is that position?

The pier head at the harbour entrance.

What is the initial fix?

The following waypoint will set up a final approach:

Kilmore Quay initial fix
52° 9.200' N, 006° 35.300' W
This waypoint is Kilmore Quay’s safe water marker a red and white buoy that has a white long flash – see photos below. The buoy is positioned between the harbour and Little Saltee Island as illustrated and as it was set in place in April 2007 it may not be marked on older charts.

What LWS draught is available?

1.9 metres (6.23 feet).

What are the tides and weather here?

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

Direction of stream outside the harbour:
Dover HW to +0500 west-southwest
+0600 to -0100 east-northeast

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?

Kilmore Quay is a small fishing port and marina situated 13 miles east of Hook Head and 8 miles west of Carnsore Point on the south county Wexford coast. It is to the north of the Saltee Islands and the best location from which to explore the islands.

This is a completely protected harbour with a very well run marina. In strong to extreme southeast conditions there can be a lot of motion in the harbour, particularly so in wintertime, and it is advisable to contact the harbour office for advice.

Access is straightforward and reasonably good in most conditions although the entrance can be exposed to southeast winds. However the quay is clearly marked with navigational buoys and illuminated transits that facilitate safe and easy access night and day at any stage of the tide.

Please note the area around Kilmore Quay has shoals and outcrops and the area is subject to strong currents.

How to get in?

Access to the initial fix and marker is clear from the west put please note the positions of Murroch’s and Jackeen Rock situated southwest of the marker. Aceess is not clear from the east. From the east use the port and starboard hand buoys that mark the passage across the St. Patrick’s bridge and lead onto the safe water marker.

The two light-buoys (port and starboard hand) mark the passage over St Patrick’s Bridge from May – September. The greatest depth is 2.4m and they reside approximately 0.8 of a nautical mile to the north of Little Saltee Island.

Below are some helpful waypoints with East and West St. Patrick’s Bridge waypoints indicated. This enables an approach to St Patrick’s Bridge at any angle and then final alignment to cross at the optimum transit point.

St. Patrick's Bridge East – position: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 33.000’W
St. Patrick's Bridge – position: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 34.700’W
St. Patrick's Bridge West – position: 52° 09.300’N, 006° 35.650’W

Once at the safe water marker, turn in on 008 degrees and you should see the transit with leading lights - occulting 4 seconds white. From the safe water marker to the harbour pier is approximately one nautical mile. Please be careful not to get pushed off the transits if a strong side current is running.

If you are planning to spend some time in the area to cruise the islands please identify and note the position of the following rocks.

Between the Islands and the shore.

Jackeen Rock – position: 52° 08.438’N, 006° 36.722’W
Murrock’s Rock – position: 52° 08.753’N, 006°. 35.919’W
Privateer Rock – position: 52° 08.349’N, 006° 35.635’W
Whitty Rock – position: 52° 07.239’N, 006° 37.577’W
Ring Rock – position: 52° 07.223’N, 006° 36.634’W
Power’s Rock – position: 52° 07.344’N, 006° 37.084’W
Forlorn Rock – position: 52° 09.889’N, 006° 36.172’W
Goose Rock – position: 52° 08.042’N, 006° 35.546’W
Galgee Rock – position: 52° 07.869’N, 006° 35.228’W

South of the Islands and southern approaches

Shoal rock – position: 52° 06.119’N, 006° 37.805’W
Sunken Rock of Makeston – position: 52° 06.853’N, 006° 36 419’W
Brandies – position: 52° 05.852’N, 006° 34.692’W
Coningmore Rocks – position: 52° 05.191’N, 006° 37.283’W
Coningbeg Rock – position: 52° 04.144’N, 006° 38.478’W

Cautions:

Note: Jackeen and Murrock rocks if striking off a course for Hook Head after crossing St Patrick Bridge.
Note: Galgee and Goose rock if rounding the southwest corner of Little Saltee Island.
Note: Forlorn rock if you are trying to cut from Hook Head into the harbour.
Note: Shoal rock when rounding Great Saltee Island’s southwest corner ‘Seven Heads’. You need to plan an outside or inside path round this covered rock.

What facilities are available?

Kilmore has a 60 berth finger pontoon marina with water and electricity. There are 15 visitor berths and although this seems a low number, the marina manages to accommodate its guests even in peak seasons. Water and diesel are available on the quay plus showers and toilets. Advance bookings are not taken but you can contact the Harbour Master a couple of days before entry details below.

Kilmore also offers an excellent chandlery plus two mini supermarkets. You have a wide selection of good pubs and restaurants plus a hotel. All are within a short walk from the Marina.

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:
Kilmore Harbour Master: monitors channel 9, phone +353 53 912 9955 hmkilmorequay@eircom.net
RNLI, Kilmore Quay’ Mersey Class Lifeboat, phone +353 53 91 29690
Police: +353 53 91 29642 or 91 22333; Doctor: +353 53 91 35296
Chemist: +353 53 91 35655; Customs: +353 53 91 33741

Why visit here?

Kilmore Quay is a small, quiet fishing village renown for its lobster and deep-sea fishing plus its picturesque thatched houses that run through the village. The village also hosts the lightship Guillemot just alongside the marina where a Maritime Museum resides - this is currently being refurbished 2007. Built in 1923, the Guillemot is the last boat of its type to be restored with complete cabins and engine rooms.

Kilmore Quay is also an access point to the Saltee Islands that are Ireland's largest bird sanctuaries. Birds such as the gulls, gannets and puffin are present, with Great Saltee being particularly famous for its colonies of cormorants. Several million seabirds nest on the islands in springtime making it a must for bird lovers. Even if you are not interested in birdlife the Saltee Islands are well worth making the short passage as they are particularly beautiful. You can go yourself (see Saltee Island listings) or take a tour boat out. Typically one boat departs for the islands around 10 a.m. every day and returns at around 4 p.m. weather dependant.

Kilmore Quay hosts a seafood festival each July that includes live music, dancing as well as some very fine sea foods.

Any security concerns?

Kilmore is a quiet provincial fishing port with little or no risk of criminality. The Marina, where most visiting pleasure vessels will stay, is well protected with key fob security plus 24 hour camera surveillance that is maintained by the harbour office.

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 this area is the large scale British Admiralty 2740 that coves the Saltee Islands & Kilmore Quay at a scale of 1:25,000. This is the best chart if you plan to explore these waters.

Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 77 covers the land area. Both the excellent ‘’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’’ and ‘’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ offer pilotage.

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:

Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay Harbour Master.

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