Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 01:19,
High water: 07:14
Low water: 13:34,
High water: 19:31
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 tolerable location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
3 metres (9.84 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: N, NE, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: E, SE, S
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, landing by tender, scenic.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, basic shopping.
Haven position? See it »
51° 32.500' N, 008° 56.450' W
Where is that position? See it »
On the western side of the bay where it is recommended you anchor.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Dirk Bay initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
51° 31.070' N, 008° 56.110' W
This waypoint is one nautical mile southwest of Galley Head lighthouse.
Why visit here?
Dirk Bay is an excellent headland anchorage to wait out a tide or have lunch. It is a very enjoyable place to visit and it has a lovely beach, that with any sort of a Northerly component would make this a very enjoyable place to land and explore.
How to get in?
Approaching the bay from the south as the east side of the bay is foul as described above. Come in along the western shoreline. Keep approximately 200 metres off the headland to avoid offlying rock and find a nice patch of sand to anchor in.
I have not stayed overnight here so I am not certain how comfortable it would be to for a long stay.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh -0022
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)
Nearby Glandore tides are:
Cobh -0020sp, -0030np
MHWS 3.7m MHWN 3.0m MLWN 1.4m MLWS 0.7m
Outside the harbour the tide runs,
Dover + 0200 East, Dover -0400 West.
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?
Fresh water is available from a tap on the pier and the small village has shops where you can acquire some provisions a short stroll up from the pier. Ballycotton is situated about 25 miles east of Cork city.
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.
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
Any security concerns?
It would be unlikely that you would experience any issues on anchor or moorings.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
Admiralty Charts 2049 ‘Toe Head to Old Head Of Kinsale’ Scale of 1:50,000 covers this sailing area.
With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.








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