Anchoring around Copeland sound

[Pagetslady]

Hi I am considering making passage up to isle of Mull next week and am looking for an anchorage around the Copeland sound arena, I will leave Piel island Barrow make a comfortable passage to Ramsay bay. IOM where I plan to anchor for the night then next day make for Copeland sound where I would like to anchor for the night then possibly up to Ghia. I have done this trip many times but would like to do it without using marinas or harbours. Has anybody any local knowledge they would like to pass on. I am single handed in Westerly Corsair. Just fancy doing a few short passages for a change.
Regards Mike

 

[DavidMcMullan]

Mike,
Normal anchorage is in Chapel Bay on the main Copeland Island, but you can also use the next bay further north Port Dandy with caution (weedy). Plenty of boats using Chapel Bay as a day anchorage for picnics ashore, etc. Note there is a rock immediately off the landing jetty, just where you think it would be a good place to anchor! Also a couple of rocks, shown on the chart off the point (Carn Point) on the west side of the bay. When leaving to go North, give the point a wide berth, until out in the D'dee Sound. David.

 

[black mercury]

As just been said either Chapel Bay or Port Dandy, just watch out for the reef on the west of Chapel Bay if going to Port Dandy keep well off especially on the ebb as the tide pushes you towards it as the tide splits before Donaghadee sound. But don't forget about Ballyholme bay just before Bangor. You can anchor in sand just off the yacht club and if you want you can paddle ashore to the slip, good if you want shops etc. Ballyholme bay is good holding but is open to northerlies.

 

[pagoda]

Hi I am considering making passage up to isle of Mull next week and am looking for an anchorage around the Copeland sound arena, I will leave Piel island Barrow make a comfortable passage to Ramsay bay. IOM where I plan to anchor for the night then next day make for Copeland sound where I would like to anchor for the night then possibly up to Ghia. I have done this trip many times but would like to do it without using marinas or harbours. Has anybody any local knowledge they would like to pass on. I am single handed in Westerly Corsair. Just fancy doing a few short passages for a change.
Regards Mike

The islands have good looking bays , but are quite exposed to SW/W weather. It's all pretty well buoyed, but there are a few rocks worth keeping clear of . We sailed though the sound twice last summer, on the way from / to Peel IOM from Bangor. The tide fairly tramps through the channel there so get your timing right or it will be harder work than you would like!
If you're going up to Mull, try Rathlin for a stop. The little pontoon is fine, but it's better to keep away from the NE/E side of it as it is pretty shallow. You can anchor in the bay if you don't like the idea of tying up. As mentioned the tides are very useful on this coast, or quite impossible!

Graeme

 

[Pleiades]

Copelands are lovely for a lunch time stop but would not fancy an overnighter there. Ballyholme Bay is not much further on and involves far less pilotage. If the weather goes belly up at night there you can easily slip into Bangor Marina for refuge. Ballyholme Bay is sand but reported somewhat fouled at Eastern End so I hook right in the centre and have never caught anything but nice clean sand. This Bay used to be toppers with yacht moorings before the Marina was built. If you can make more progress get round Muck Island and hook in Brown's Bay - very pleasant on sand - nice for a swim (but beware Jellyfish the size of cattle) and from there you can take refuge in Larne Harbour if weather deteriorates.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
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