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Today's local tide estimates
High water: ,
Low water: * Coming soon
High water: ,
Low water:
Local weather
SSE Force 4, Clear/Sunny, 6°C
Swell today
Direction N, height 0.0 metres, period 0.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.7 metres.
Summary
A completely protected location with attentive navigation required for access.
LWS draught
4 metres (13.12 feet).
Shelter See it »
Completely protected.
Nature (summary)
Marina, moorings, sailing club, scenic, strong tides.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, toilets, showers, public houses.
Haven position? See it »
54° 29.469' N, 005° 38.961' W
Where is that position? See it »
The position of the clubs decommissioned and permanently moored lightship "Petrel" where you will find the club pontoons on the vessels seaward side. It is located on the western side of Ballydorn fairway that is to the west of Rainey Island.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Sketrick Island Initial Fix. waypoint will set up a final approach:
54° 29.412' N, 005° 36.536' W
Approximately one and a half miles east of the gap between Rainey and Sketrick Island that leads into the Ballydorn fairway on the western side of Rainey Island. An approach of due west from this waypoint will take a vessel into the anchorage from here.
Why visit here?
Ballydorn ('Dorn' being an Irish word meaning `narrow channel') is another breathtakingly beautiful anchorage immersed in the rounded "drumlin" topography of Strangford Lough.
The anchorage offers complete protection with all the resources of Down Cruising Club immediately to hand. The friendly club, of approximately 100 members, enjoy a headquarters in the form of the lightship "Petrel". The historic iron ship was built in 1911 with the traditional riveted and caulked method used by Dublin’s skilled craftsmen of the time. When in 1968 the vessel was withdrawn from service by the ‘Irish Lights’ the Down Cruising Club purchased it. In the years since it has been modified and fitted it out, generally by voluntary labour, to the very comfortable and highly unusual Club House it is today. Having a bowed nature the deck is not level and inside the bar stools have been modified to have two shorter front legs in order to stand vertically. An important feature of membership of the club is maintenance of the lightship that relies heavily on the revenue generated by the bar where visitor patronage is highly appreciated.
Nearby Sketrick Island is joined to the mainland by a causeway and is the site of an ancient tower house, church, graveyard plus restaurant. The castle is estimated to date back to the 15th century. It was largely intact until 1896 when a storm caused half the structure to collapse. Nevertheless as late as 1957 a stone subterranean passage was discovered. Access to the castle today is not allowed but it may be viewed anytime.
Mahee Island to the north has the ruins of an early Celtic Monastery on the west side. Nendrum was founded by Mochaoi in the 5th century after been converted by Saint Patrick. The monks were believed to have occupied the site as late as the 10th Century. The monastic site is well worth a visit if only for the Lough view from the top of the monastery hill. The north facing cove on the west side of the island offers the easiest landing place. There is a heronry upon Rainey Island adjacent to the anchorage. This offers visitors a wide range of opportunities to come across these beautiful birds fishing in the shallows.
Ballydorn is another out-of-the-way and beautiful anchorage that offers very good protection. Yet all the resources of Ringhaddy Cruising Club close at hand.
How to get in?
Use the entries for Strangford Harbour, Audley’s Roads or Portaferry for guidance on how to approach from the Irish Sea and pass through the five nautical mile long fast-running tidal ‘Narrows’. Any of these lists of directions will guide a boat up through the ‘Narrows’ to the inner Lough.
After entering Strangford Lough proceed up the deep waters of the eastern side of the Lough to the Sketrick Island Initial Fix. This is situated just over a mile east of the gap between Rainey and Sketrick Island that leads into the Ballydorn fairway on the western side of Rainey Island.
Tides to the west and north of Rainey Island are exceptional. In a sense Reagh Bay, to the northwest, acts like a small version of Strangford Lough and a series of narrow channels between Mahee, Rainey and Sketrick Islands behave as ‘The Narrows’ further south. In the rush to fill or empty Reagh Bay, tidal currents reach speeds of up to 5 knots when forced through the locked channels between the drumlin islands.
In addition to this tidal surge in the channels, that is almost as powerful as that in the Narrows, the tidal flow over the uneven channel contours can be unpredictable. In the approach channel between Sketrick and Rainey you may find the central current flowing very strong one way whilst along the shores it can be streaming in the reverse direction. Closely moored boats at Ballydorn can be seen to unaccountably pull in opposite directions at times. Consequently visitors need to be highly conscious of tides when operating in here and it should be central to the visit planning.
Although Ballydorn itself has depths of 3 to 4 metres the entrance between Rainey and Sketrick Islands has only 1.5 metres at LWS and this is an important consideration for deeper draft vessels. Ideally a first approach should be carefully timed to coincide with slack water. But if your vessel carries any draft you will need to approach at high-water to be assured of sufficient depth. This will mean you will be entering with a following tide that makes for a more challenging approach.
The very strong currents effectively rule out anchoring in the channel. There are short stay berths on the extended pontoons to the seaward side of the converted lightship. This is moored off the west shore of the channel 100 metres from the entrance channel between the islands. Depths of 3 to 4 metres will be found on the outside berths and there is a gangway to the shore. Visitors should come alongside the pontoon and enquire if there is a spare visitor berth is available - or indeed call in advance VHF Ch 16 call sign Lightship Petrel. Again be careful when approaching the pontoon as the tide runs hard past it. Once your vessel is well secured report to the bar aboard where final berthing arrangements will be made. To help towards the lightship’s continuous maintenance there is a club charge to visitors.
All moorings in Ballydorn Bay are private and controlled by Ballydorn Fairway Committee under lease from the Crown Commissioners and should not be used by visitors without permission. If you need a mooring please approach the club manager to see if accommodations can be made.
Please note if moving a vessel in Ballydorn when the tide is running one should keep a careful watch for half-submerged mooring buoys. It is possible to enter and exit to the north between Mahee and Rainey islands. However there are a couple of points that are very narrow on the northern exit and currents may be further accelerated here. Indeed at certain states of the tide a standing wave occurs between these islands.
What are the tides here?
Today's Dover tides — High water: 10:33, 22:54, Low water: 05:34, 17:58 From Tide Times
High Water Strangford Quay Dover +0147 springs, + 0157 neaps
MHWS 3.6m MHWN 3.1m MLWN 0.9m MLWS 0.4m
Local high water is approximately Dover +0220 or Belfast + 0215
Inside the Lough tides decrease significantly
6 kn between Strangford & Portaferry
4 kn at Ballyhenry Island
1.5 kn at Don O’Neill Island
Up to 4 kn of tide through the channel Rainey and Sketrick Islands
What facilities are available?
The Down Cruising Club headquarters in the lightship "Petrel" has a bar plus showers and toilet facilities that are available to all visitors when the Club is open. Opening times, from May 1st to September 30th, Fridays; 19.45hrs to 23.00hrs and opening at the earlier time of 16.00hrs hours on Saturdays and Sundays. However in summer there are usually members on board outside of these hours.
Water is available at the pontoon from a hose. There is a fuel berth that is exclusively for the use of Club Members at the stern of the ship. In situations of duress visitors from outside Strangford Lough may be able to obtain fuel by a special arrangement with the club. Yachts can dry out alongside the old stone Ballydorn Quay nearby.
Fresh provisions including vegetables, fruit, butchery, dry goods, gas and petrol are available in Balloon Village 3.5 KM away. Newtownards somewhat further has a wider selection, including laundry facilities. Likewise chandlers, sailmaker and restaurant are in the vicinity.
What emergency contacts are there?
Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). Operational Area: Northern Ireland/ Irish Republic Border, Lough Foyle to Northern/Irish Republic Border Carlingford Lough. Belfast Coastguard (MRSC) VHF Ch 16, liaises closely with IRCG. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.
Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 and 112 and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Police, Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Belfast (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +44 2891 463 933. An inshore lifeboat is maintained at Portaferry.
Other useful contacts in this area:
Down Cruising Club,
Clubship Petrel, 52 Ballydorn Road, BT23 6QB.
Tel: (Club ship ‘Petrel’) +4428 97541663 VHF: Ch 16 ‘Lightship Petrel’
Web: http://downcruisingclub.co.uk/index.html
Strangford Lough Yacht Club
Whiterock Bay, Killinchy, Co. Down BT23 6PY
Tel:+44 (0)28 9754 1883
Ringhaddy Cruising Club
Ringhaddy Road, Killinchy Tel:+44 (0)28 97 541158
Police: +44 4461 5011, Medical Clinic +44 4461 3016
Any security concerns?
The Down Cruising Club grounds are a secured area.
With thanks to:
Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details here: http://www.sailsoutheast.com/'>www.sailsoutheast.com/'>http://www.sailsoutheast.com/
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