Today's local tide estimates
Low water: 02:30,
High water: 08:25
Low water: 14:45,
High water: 20:42
Local weather
SSW Force 3, Clear/Sunny, 12°C
Swell today
Direction SW, height 0.0 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.1 metres.
Summary
A good location with straightforward access.
LWS draught
4 metres (13.12 feet).
Shelter See it »
Sheltered: S, SW, W, NW
Unprotected: N, NE, E, SE
Nature (summary)
Anchorage, landing by tender, village.
Facilities (summary)
Fuel by jerry can, supermarket, toilets, hot food, public houses, cashpoint, post office, doctor, pharmacy, bus, rail connections, family recreation.
Haven position? See it »
52° 16.383' N, 006° 22.250' W
Where is that position? See it »
Off the lifeguard station in approximately 2 - 4 meters LWS.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Rosslare Harbour initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
52° 14.751' N, 006° 15.626' W
This waypoint is 200 metres south of the North Long VQ(6)+L Fl.10s.
Why visit here?
Rosslare South Bay offers the benefits of the Harbour stop over without all the difficulties of trying to fit around the commercial harbour operations. In addition you have all the leisure amenities attached to one of Ireland’s major tourist beaches within a stroll.
How to get in?
The South Long’ buoy marks the entry into the main harbour shipping channel and from there the main shipping channel buoys can be followed in along with the sectored leading lights. Strike of west-northwest from this initial fix and you will pick up on the channel markers and leading lights.
The Rosslare harbour channels are used by large commercial traffic and fast ferries operating at up to 35 knots. So please contact Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 and make them aware of your channel transit. Seek guidance so you do not obstruct harbour operations.
Because the channel can be busy it is courteous that you stay out of it to avoid commercial operations. The south side of the channel has more rocks and stronger currents – notable the Carrack rocks southeast of the harbour. The north side of the channel by contrast has no obstructions, lighter currents and plenty of deep water. This is the best leisure craft approach to take.
Tides around Rosslare Harbour can be very strong, at their strongest at LWS where they can reach up to 4 knots. Also due to local conditions it sets south for approximately nine hours and goes north for only three. The strongest run is directly off the pier head itself and when setting southward it will push the vessel to seaward off the pier head. So coming in well to the North of the pierhead and north of the channel avoids the worst of the current.
Once to the north of the harbour breakwater lay off for the waypoint instead of entering the harbour. You will see the lifeguard lookout station located on the beach in the middle of Rosslare Village (see photograph) and that is an ideal point to anchor. The area has a gradually shelving beach of 5-6 metres within the bay area. Take the boat in to a depth that is comfortable for you to anchor off.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0049
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)
HW Dover -0510, mean level 1.1
MHWS 2.5m MHWN 1.4m MLWN 0.8m MLWS 0.0m
Tidal direction inshore of Tuskar Rock
Flood runs north-northeast, spring rate 2.5kn, Dover +0500
Ebb runs south-southwest, spring rate 3.25kn, Dover -0200
What facilities are available?
Rosslare strand is a bustling tourist beach. Once ashore at the lifeguard station there is a public car park behind it. You will have shops, restaurants, pubs and a train station with a Dublin service all within 5 minutes walk. Rosslare strand is a blue flag beach safe for bating.
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
Other useful contacts in this area:
Rosslare Harbour on channel 12 or phone +353 53 9133249
Any security concerns?
Rosslare strand is a tourist bay with little if any boat activity or boating related crime. It is most likely that you will be anchored there on your own.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
Admiralty Charts 1787 Carnsore Point to Wicklow Head, 1772 Rosslare Europort Wexford Harbours, Admiralty inshore 5621.15 Covers Rosslare. Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 77 covers the land area.
With thanks to:
Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay 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.