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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 01:54,
High water: 07:49
Low water: 14:09,
High water: 20:06
Local weather
SSW Force 3, Clear/Sunny, 12°C
Swell today
Direction SW, height 1.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 1.2 metres.
Summary* Restrictions apply
A good location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
2 metres (6.56 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: NE, E, SE, S
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, tidal, no landing.
Facilities (summary)
(None)
Haven position? See it »
52° 12.708' N, 006° 48.570' W
Where is that position? See it »
In the channel that divides Bannow Bay form the tidal inlet. This is to the west of Bannow Island, east side of the channel on the beach.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Fethard-On-Sea initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
52° 11.623' N, 006° 48.871' W
This waypoint aligns the harbour entrance and is halfway between ‘Shoal Rock’ and ‘Innyard Point’.
Why visit here?
Although this area does not now make itself accessible to the modern boatman it was not always the case. The first landing site of the Normans in 1169 was at the Island of Bannow and they founded a town there.
The Town of Bannow continued to send two representatives to the Irish Parliament until the Act of Union in 1801. It appears to have been a prosperous thriving town, yet only the ruins of a church remain today. The legend claims that the shifting sands of the estuary covered the town. The undulating ground to the front of the church is believed by some to be the result of this burial. The exact location of the town, however, is a matter of debate and surmise.
The remaining Bannow church consists of a nave and chancel surmounted by embattled parapets and a small chapel attached to the north wall. The east window of the chancel still retains some fragments of flowing tracery. The stone tomb of a Norman Lord can be found on the right of the opening to the chancel. A mediaeval baptismal font originally belonging to this church can be viewed at the church in Carrig-on-Bannow.
As well being steeped in history that has changed Ireland, Bannow Bay is internationally recognised as a wild bird habitat, as the salt marsh and vast expanses of mud flat provide ideal habitats for many species of native and over-wintering birds. A visit at high tide is very rewarding as the birds congregate at different roosting sites.
How to get in?
If approaching from the East, or Kilmore Quay area, you will first see the Keeragh Islands conspicuous one mile south off the Cullenstown shore. Keep well clear of these islands and do not plan to pass inside or between them as this is an unsafe sailing area except for those with deep experience of the area. Out in the bay there are no dangers except for lobster pot markers that are prolific in the entire area so do be watchful.
Baginbun headland with its Martello tower will be the next landmark to appear. Keep this on the port side and three nautical miles past the Keeragh Islands you will reach Fethard Harbour.
If in this passage you keep a wide berth of the Keeragh Islands and approach in a straight line to Fethard Harbour you will clear both Selskar and Shoal rocks.
Another useful waypoint if approaching from the southwest is a clear water waypoint east of the Baginbun Head
Clear water off Baginbun Head - position: 52° 10.450’N, 006° 49.244’W
This waypoint, or further east of it, will keep you nicely clear of the North Eastern Point of Baginbun headland.
Line up on the initial fix to approach Bannow Bay on the Fethard-on-sea side. You can then track into Bannow Bay from there and find a place to anchor.
If you plan to enter Bannow Bay tidal inlet you will have to chart it yourself and keep it current for the time that you plan to operate in the area. This will mean working with local fishermen, walking the shore lines from either side, small boat trials in very settled conditions etc. Indeed at the time of writing, 2007, the pattern of the bay sandbar entrance has switched after many decades from a wide eastern channel to a narrow shallow western channel. This will present a new learning curve for local boatmen.
Although, as pictured, boatmen do operate in the tidal inlet that is Bannow Bay the area can be said to be reserved for those with acute current local knowledge, shallow drafts plus a good measure of steely courage. Only after some current data has been amassed can you truly evaluate the wisdom of an attempt on the bar with a larger vessel.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0013
Today's Cobh tides — High water: 07:36, 19:53, Low water: 01:41, 13:56
Today's Dover tides — High water: 01:04, 13:22, Low water: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
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 facilities are available?
There are no facilities inside Bannow Bay. You may be pointed at ‘St Paul’s Quay’ but this is only a collection of Rocks albeit with a sealed access road down to the high water shoreline. Boats that reside there have moorings and take a dingy to the shore where road access is available at points inside the bay. Alternatively you can find an area where your vessel may dry out near the shore line.
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?
There are few boats or people travelling in this bay surrounded by provincial farmland to cause trouble to a moored boat.
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.
With thanks to:
Declan Hearne, Long term fisherman and retired area Coastguard leader.
Please note inyourfootsteps.com makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven 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.
