Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

12°C

Swell today

Direction SE, height 0.1 metres, period 6.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.1 metres.

Haven position?

53° 9.070' N, 006° 3.870' W

Where is that position?

North of the harbour entrance in 3.5 metres.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 800 metres northwest of the harbour entrance on the 10 metres contour.

What is the story here?

Greystones harbour resides two nautical miles south of Bray Head. It is a small shallow harbour with a ruined pier that is currently closed for a €300 million redevelopment scheme. A vessel can anchor off the harbour entrance in depths of up to 3.5 metres in moderately good holding and land on the stony north beach.

This is a settled conditions exposed anchorage as it only offers protection from the west round to the southwest. The approach is straightforward as Greystones has totally unimpeded sea access.

Please note the combined of funnelling winds from nearby mountain ranges and strong tides make this a location that you would not leave the boat unattended for any length of time.

Why visit here?

Greystones is an ideal location to pick up or drop off crew with its excellent transport connection to Dublin – notably the costal DART service. The town itself is also well worth the visit.

Greystones (Irish: Na Clocha Liatha) name is derived from a one kilometre stretch of coastal grey rocks situated between two beaches; this rocky area is known as the sea front. The North Beach, which begins at the harbour, is a stony beach and some of its length is overlooked by the southern cliffs of Bray Head, which are subject to erosion. The South Beach is a broad expansive Blue Flag sandy beach about one kilometre long.

Bray and Greystones are linked by a very popular 7 km Cliff Walk, which follows the route of the railway line around Bray Head. The walk takes approximately two hours. You can also walk to the top of Bray Head from Greystones. A well worn track leads to the summit (241 m, 790 ft above sea level) marked by a large concrete cross, where spectacular views of mountains and sea may be enjoyed. A walk down the south beach is also recommended. Determined walkers can carry on the length of the shore to Wicklow returning on the train.

The €300 million redevelopment scheme is a major topical issue in the town but work has started and should continue until 2011. The development includes a new harbour, 341 apartments and significantly a 230 berth marina.

How to get in?

Greystones is highly recognisable from the sea due to the remarkable headland Bray Head two miles further north. The headland raises 287 m high and is fronted by steep cliffs.

If you are coastal-sailing from a northerly direction do not sail in close to the headland. There is the drying reef called ‘Crab Rocks’ extending 150 metres to the northwest of Bray Head and the drying ‘Cable Rock’ one hundred metres off the south of Bray Head. From there to Greystones Harbour there are no offshore obstructions.

Crab Rocks - position: 53° 11’.800’N, 006° 05.100’W
Cable Rock - position: 53° 10.523’N, 006° 04.185’W

Approaching from the south there are two small shoals Moulditch Bank and Breaches Bank. Both have plenty of water covering them not to endanger small craft and most yachts ignore them. In rough onshore conditions it is however advised that vessels keep east of these markers.

Moulditch Red Buoy - Fl R 10s position: 53° 53 08.430’N, 006 01.230’W
Breaches Buoy - Fl (2) R 6s position: 53° 05.721’N, 005 59.856’W

Closer in, approximately 1.1 nautical miles south east of the harbour entrance, there is the Greystones outfall

Greystones Outfall Yellow Buoy - Fl Y 5s position: 53° 08.441’N, 006 02.532’N

From there you can work your way to the initial fix.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) -0011
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High waters: 01:29, 13:57, Low waters: 07:23, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 01:04, 13:22, Low waters: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
HW Dublin (North Wall) -0006
Rise: 4.1 – 3.4 metres on springs 1.5 - 0.6 metres on neaps

Tidal direction from Dalkey Island to Wicklow Head
Dover +0545 NNE-going 3.5 kn (Dublin +0515)
Dover -0015 SSW-going 3 kn (Dublin -0045)

MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.4m

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?

Supplies of all sorts may be obtained in the small town that is Greystones – shops, banks, chemists etc. Similarly, as it is a major tourist town, there is a focus on recreation - pubs, restaurants, evening entertainment, etc.

Situated just 27 km south of Dublin Greystones has excellent transport connections. Greystones railway station is the southern terminus of the DART railway line, a service which connects thirty stations along Dublin's east coast. Iarnród Éireann diesel Commuter and InterCity trains also serve Greystones, linking the town with Wicklow, Arklow, Gorey, Wexford, and Rosslare Europort to the south, and Dublin's Connolly Station to the north. In terms of buses Greystones is served by the 84, 184, and 84X Dublin Bus routes.

By road Greystones is accessible from the N11 Dublin-Wexford road; a new interchange constructed near Charlesland connects with the town via a dual carriageway.

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?

Never an issue known to have occurred in Greystones.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1 and 1468 Arklow to the Skerries Islands Scale of 100,000:1, Imray chart C61 plus Discovery Ordinance Survey maps 56 & 62 cover this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/

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