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Today's local tide estimates
High water: 01:30,
Low water: 07:24
High water: 13:58,
Low water: 19:28
Local weather
S Force 3, Mist, 12°C
Swell today
Direction SE, height 0.1 metres, period 6.0 seconds, significant wave height of 0.1 metres.
Summary* Restrictions apply
A completely protected location with safe access.
LWS draught
7.8 metres (25.59 feet).
Shelter See it »
Completely protected.
Nature (summary)
Marina, moorings, night lights, sailing club, urban, edifying, height restriction, fees due.
Facilities (summary)
Tap, diesel alongside, slipway, electricity, laundry, supermarket, extensive shopping, toilets, showers, hot food, public houses, cashpoint, post office, internet café, wireless access, doctor, pharmacy, chandlery, sanitation pump-out, bus, rail connections, airport within 25 km, car hire, tourist information, family recreation.
Haven position? See it »
53° 20.620' N, 006° 9.020' W
Where is that position? See it »
This is in the entrance less than 20 metres northeast of Poolbeg Lighthouse Oc.(2)R 20s20m15M on the south side of the harbour entrance.
What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Dublin Port initial fix waypoint will set up a final approach:
53° 20.287' N, 006° 5.546' W
This position is the first starboard hand Dublin channel marker Fl (3) G.5s that resides approximately one mile east of the entrance.
Why visit here?
Dublin is one of the most vibrant capitals of Europe, and there is no better way to enjoy it by sailing in and berthing in the centre of it. There is no necessity to cover Dublin here as there is ample information available in guide books or on the web. You could also visit the Dublin Tourist Centre (formerly St Andrews Church) 1 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 to plan your visit. Dublin tourist information is available at the visit Dublin site.
How to get in?
Irrespective of the direction of approach the port is very easily located as a result of the twin Poolbeg power station chimneys - standing 210 metres high with red with white painted bands - 1.5 nm upriver from the entrance. From the initial fix and first channel marker buoy a visiting yacht should report the planned entry to the Harbour Office on VHF Ch12 and make towards the harbour entrance between
The listed harbour location waypoint is the middle of the entrance made unmistakable by its two lighthouses; the North Bull on the north side of the entrance and on the south side Poolbeg.
North Bull - F1.(3)G10s 15m 15M position: 53° 20.690’N, 006° 08.920’W
Poolbeg - Oc.(2)R 20s20m15M position: 53° 20.520’N, 006° 09.020’W
Please note ‘The Bull Wall’ - notably designed by Captain Bligh during his Dublin tenure - leading to the North Bull lighthouse covers at high water at the entrance to the Liffey.
The entrance can be a bit lumpy when you get wind over tide but this should not be much of an issue for the average cruising yacht. Once inside the yachts must operate under power, staying outside the buoyed commercial channel on the south side. Please stay as close to the edge as possible keeping clear of other traffic and maintain a listening watch on VHF Ch12. Keep an eye out for commercial shipping as they can quietly come up on you on the 2.5 – 3 nm run up river.
Positioned on the seaward side of the River Liffey Poolbeg Yacht Club has unimpeded access to the sea so you may come straight in without restriction. The finger marina is on the port side as you come in before the East Link Bridge. It is just opposite the black and white lighthouse marking the entrance to the Alexandra Basin – drag the Google map below upriver from the entrance and you will see this clearly.
Poolbeg Yacht Club – position: 53° 20.666’N, 006° 13.000’W
If continuing to Dublin City Moorings you will need to pass under the East Link Bridge. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 2.2m (HWS), 6.3m (LAT) when closed so a sailing yacht will require a bridge lift to pass upstream and you should inform the Harbour Office when you report in. They will relay your message to the East link Bridge who will call you back with instructions and the time of the of the bridge opening. These are typically Monday to Friday 1100, 1500, 2100. At weekends there may be additional openings but as this is a major route, in a very congested city, it would be exceptional circumstances that merit additional openings. The piers on either side of the 31m lifting span are painted bright orange so you can clearly see where you pass before the bridge lifts.
Dublin City Moorings pontoon - position 53° 20.863’N, 006° 14.789’W.
It is on the starboard (north) side just before the new and modern Sean 0’Casey pedestrian bridge and just downstream from picturesque Customs House building – again drag the Google map west and you will see the pontoon clearly. The berths are alongside one large pontoon parallel with the quay with a ramp providing shore access. You may be required to raft out if it gets busy.
Caution
Please note before entering the bay that there is a traffic separation zone in operation in the bay and between the Dublin Bay Buoy and Poolbeg Lighthouse plan (see Admiralty Chart No. 1415, 2002 edition), yachts must not navigate in the fairway. If it becomes necessary to cross the separation scheme you must drop sails and do so at right angles under power.
What are the tides here?
Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Dublin (North Wall) +0001
Today's Dublin (North Wall) tides — High water: 01:29, 13:57, Low water: 07:23, 19:27
Today's Dover tides — High water: 01:04, 13:22, Low water: 08:17, 20:33 (From Tide Times)
Dover +0035, Dublin HW.
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.4m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.7m
River Liffey tides are weak however the out-going stream can reach 3.5kn at the entrance.
Dublin-0600 and Dover -0530 in-going (do note that heavy rains can overcome the in going stream)
Dublin HW and Dover +0030 Out-going
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?
Dublin is the capital city of Ireland and as such has anything you could need right at hand.
In boating terms diesel fuel available alongside at Poolbeg Yacht and boat club, bottled gas available in the town, groceries can be delivered to the marina. Water and electricity are available on the marina pontoons, shower and toilet facilities located by the Clubhouse bar. Likewise Dublin City Moorings have shore based toilets and showers accessible via the ramp.
Poolbeg is located in an off the beat industrial docklands area of the city. Ringsend and Irishtown are however within walking range where there are shops, cafes and bars, but the centre of Dublin is about 2 km walk. As it is an industrial area you are better off to order a taxi in advance. Dublin City Moorings by contrast is located very much closer to the centre of the city on the North side of the river making it a better location to access the city by foot. It is alongside Dublin’s new financial district with smart bars and restaurants right alongside.
The nearest Post Office is the historically famous GPO in Dublin’s central O’Connell Street. Connolly Train Station, in Amiens Street is within a short walking distance of Dublin City Moorings. This offers mainline services to Wexford and Belfast. It is also a stop for the excellent local Dart tram servicing all stations from Wicklow to Howth. Busaras, the Central Bus Station, is in Beresford Place just behind the Customs House Building. This offers services to Dublin airport, approximately 15 KM north of the river, every 20 minutes plus national bus services. Irish Ferries to Holyhead are available from Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire (via Dart).
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:
Harbour Master: VHF Ch 12 also (06/09/13/14/16/74); phone: + 353 1 887 6070
Dublin City Berthing Master & East Link Bridge: VHF Ch. 12
Hospital: St Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park. A&E. Tel: +353 1 2093058
Doctor: Custom House Square Medical Centre, Mayor Street. +353 1 829 0902
Dentist: Grand Canal Dental Clinic, Tel: +353 1664 3484; Pharmacy: Hickey’s, 55 O’Connell Street. Police / Gardai: +353 1 666 0000
Any security concerns?
Both facilities are secure with swipe card activated locked gates and CCTV surveillance.
What navigational resources are available for this area?
British Admiralty 1411 ‘’Irish Sea - Western Part’, Scale of 200,000:1, 1415 ‘Dublin Bay’ scale of 1:25,000 and 1468 ‘Arklow to the Skerries Islands’ Scale of 100,000:1, Imray C61 St Georges Channel, C62 Irish Sea (overlap at Dublin Bay) and Discovery Ordinance Survey map 50 covers this area. ’Sailing Directions - Irish Cruising Club - East & North Coasts of Ireland’ provides an excellent pilot for this area.
With thanks to:
Francis Butler local sailor.
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.
