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Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 01:29,
High water: 07:24
Low water: 13:44,
High water: 19:41
Local weather
SSE Force 4, Clear/Sunny, 13°C
Swell today
Direction SW, height 1.6 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 1.7 metres.
Summary
A completely protected location with safe access.
LWS draught
3 metres (9.84 feet).
Shelter See it »
Completely protected.
Nature (summary)
Marina, anchorage, moorings, sailing club, watched over, urban, scenic, edifying, fees due.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, diesel alongside, gas, fuel by jerry can, fuel by tanker, slipway, electricity, laundry, supermarket, extensive shopping, toilets, showers, hot food, public houses, cashpoint, post office, internet café, wireless access, chandlery, marina cart , haul-out, hard-standing, marine engineering, electronic repair, sail repair, bus, airport within 25 km, tourist information, walks, handicapped access, family recreation.
Haven position? See it »
51° 42.101' N, 008° 31.051' W
Where is that position? See it »
The position of the harbour master’s office located on the northeast pierhead alongside Kinsale Yacht Club Marina.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Kinsale Harbour initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
51° 40.000' N, 008° 30.000' W
This waypoint is less that quarter of a nautical mile southwest of the Bullman South Cardinal Buoy Q + LF(W) Ev. 15 secs, bell. It is directly south of the harbour entrance where you can strike of a course of 357 degrees to align Ardbrach Church with the western edge of Charles fort.
Why visit here?
Apart from being a splendid harbour with excellent facilities Kinsale is an excellent international point to reach out from. It resides twenty minutes from Cork International Airport, and is thirty minutes from the city. There is a bus route via airport to Cork city departing every couple of hours.
Kinsale itself is of enormous interest to the visiting boatman due to its heritage and the town's international flair never fails to delight and surprise its visitors. Situated on the site of a monastery founded by St. Multose in the 6th century it became a Vikings trading post in the 10th century. The town went on to flourish as a centre for trade and communications under the Normans who built walls to defend the location in the 13th century. By the end of the 15th century, Kinsale was one of the most important towns on the south coast of Ireland and derived considerable wealth from its large overseas trade, fishing, shipbuilding industries and wine. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was an important English naval base, and was used as a rendezvous point for large squadrons of the British Navy and for 'homeward' bound east and West India fleets.
The Spanish fleet invaded Kinsale in 1601 and held the town, with the aid of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone. When the English regained Kinsale it caused the "Flight of the Earls" that marked the defeat of Gaelic Ireland. Ireland's ancient Gaelic aristocracy abandoned their lands and fled to mainland Europe ending their historic legacy. Kinsale itself became an English town where the Irish were not allowed to live, until the late 18th century.
Kinsale's location in relation to mainland Europe continued to ensure its political prominence as a colonial out-post. The town's importance was reflected in the strength of it's harbour defences. Construction of James Fort on the Castlepark peninsula, which is named after James I of England started in 1602, immediately after the Battle of Kinsale.
Charles Fort is located on the opposite water's edge, at Summercove. Named after Charles II, it was commissioned in 1677 and is one of Europe's best preserved star forts. Both fortifications guarded the entrance to Kinsale harbour. An underwater chain used to be strung between the two forts across the harbour mouth during times of war to scuttle enemy shipping by ripping the bottom out of incoming vessels. Charles Fort remained in use as a British Army barracks until the end of British rule in southern Ireland. It fell out of use after being burned by the retreating anti-Treaty forces during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
Now Kinsale is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland, and the food is excellent with a host of restaurants and pubs to choose from. It is well worth visiting late in the season to avail of the Cork Jazz festival where Kinsale, being on the Cork Fringe host their Jazz ‘fringe’ festival.
How to get in?
The above initial fix will place you due south of the harbour entrance with the Bulman Buoy S. Cardinal Buoy Q + LF(W) Ev. 15 secs, bell, broad on the starboard bow, approximately 400 metres away. Once you align with the Bulman South Cardinal, marking its namesake rock south of Preghane Point, you can head directly into the harbour entrance between Shronecan Point and Eastern Point – see Bulman South Cardinal image below.
The outer and inner harbours cover approximately five square kilometres so once inside there is plenty of water for the cruising vessel. The harbour is largely free of dangers but you should not go close in on the west side as there is a covered and unmarked ‘Farmers Rock’ approximately 150 metres out from the shore.
‘Farmers Rock’ unmarked – approximate position 51° 41.000’N 8° 30.200’W
A mid channel route is best for visitors following the three port hand channel markers that mark the channel. These are as follows:
1. Spur Buoy Fl (2) R 6s just opposite Charles Fort
2. Spit Buoy QR is North of James Fort’s Blockhouse clearly visible on the shoreline.
3. Crohogue Buoy Fl (3) R 10s is NW of Spit Buoy
In addition to the Channel markers there is also a small white tower with a sectored light in Charles Fort that leads vessels in from the entrance.
As you are entering the harbour you should check in with the harbour master by VHF Channel 14 Call sign KINSALE HARBOUR or phone the harbour office on +353 (0)21 477 2503. The harbour office is manned from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening. The harbour master will be delighted to advise you as to your preferences of berthing arrangements.
If you arrive outside of these hours do establish contact with the harbour master as soon as the opportunity presents itself. In the mean time raft up to a vessel that is equal or larger than your own, pick up one of the two large yellow buoys upriver (on the starboard side just below the bridge operated by the harbour master, rated 75 ton in 4m at low water), or anchor up by the bridge that crosses the estuary above the town. There is good holding in mud and shell if you wish to anchor.
Tidal range for the area is Springs 4.3m. Neaps 3.2m and the bridge clearing range’s from 5m HW Springs to 8.7 m LWS (mid tide about 7 meters). Please do not anchor off Kinsale Quay as this obstructs harbour operations and you will be moved off.
All boats entering Kinsale must pay harbour dues to the harbour master, be it directly for anchoring or as part of marina fees. This is approximately 10 Euro for utilising the harbour.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0012
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)
Cobh -0019sp, -0005np, Dover -0600
MHWS 3.9m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.6m
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 Munster 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. Cork 26, Bantry 23, Valentia 24. 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?
Kinsale has two fully serviced Marinas, Kinsale Yacht Club Marina and Castlepark Marina, with visitor berths available plus moorings. All shore facilities are available within a short stroll from the quay including internet café, a host of shops, banks, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants. There is also a local tourist information centre on the Quay that can help optimise your visit.
Up river there are a couple of yacht yards where repairs may be attended to - one with a 40 ton travel lift.
Kinsale caters for approximately 100 commercial vessels per year and as such is a port of clearance. You can clear in through the harbour master and you may be visited at the discretion of the Irish Customs officer (Cork) 021-4315422.
What emergency contacts are there?
Valentia Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) VHF Ch 24 & MF 1752 kHz covers this costal area. Cork (26), Mizen (04), Bantry Bay (23), Shannon (28) and Galway (04) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel. The Kinsale Inshore RNLI lifeboat Atlantic 75 rib operates out to 10 miles.
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. Valentia (MRSC) may be called on +353 669 476 109
Other useful contacts in this area:
Kinsale Harbour Master VHF Channel 14 Call sign KINSALE HARBOUR, phone office hour 9 to 5 on +353 (0)21 477 2503.
Gardai Non Emergency +353 (0)21 4772302.
Doctor +353 (0)21 4772253
Dentist +353 (0)21 4772788
Kinsale Yacht Club Marina
Phone: +353 (0)21 4772196 Mobile: +353 (0)87 6787377
Castlepark Marina
Phone: +353 (0)214774959
Any security concerns?
Marinas are secure entry systems and crime is minimal to non existent on moorings.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
British Admiralty 2053, 1765, Imray C56 and Ordinance Survey 87 cover this area. The Pilot ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - South and West Coasts of Ireland’’ covers this in great detail.
With thanks to:
Captain Phil Devitt, Kinsale Harbour Master.
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.
