Blue Drifter
Well-Known Member
I should really have paid much more attention to the warnings in the Almanac, but it had been an early start from Bangor, far too much of the black stuff had been consumed the night before, and it was a fair way on to the next stop so we went into Carlingford on Springs at 2 hours before LW. Although in defence the onshore winds were only around F4. However following a very lumpy entrance I can confirm that the advice below is sound! My emphasis in red but anyone else had fun in the Overfalls at the entrance to Carlingford? Incidentally the place now seems to be full of hen parties at weekends and we did see a waterspout.
NAVIGATION
WPT 54°00´·09N 06°02´·00W, (2½ ca S of Hellyhunter SCM lt buoy) 311°/1M to first chan buoys. The main chan is Carlingford Cut (6·3m), about 3ca SW of Cranfield Pt, and passing 2ca NE of Haulbowline lt ho. Drying rocks and shoals obstruct most of the entrance. Small craft should at all times keep clear of commercial shipping in the narrow dredged channel. The ent is impassable in strong on-shore winds. The NE bank is Northern Ireland, SW bank is Republic of Ireland. The lough becomes choppy in S´ly winds and, due to the funnelling effect of the mountains, NW winds can cause a higher sea state within the lough than outside it. Tides run up to 5kn off Greenore Pt through a channel with a minimum depth of 5.6m. Entry is impracticable against the ebb. Beware sudden squalls and waterspouts. Extensive shellfish beds exist along the NE side of the lough; beware fishing vessels on both sides of the channel, and give them a wide berth.
WPT 54°00´·09N 06°02´·00W, (2½ ca S of Hellyhunter SCM lt buoy) 311°/1M to first chan buoys. The main chan is Carlingford Cut (6·3m), about 3ca SW of Cranfield Pt, and passing 2ca NE of Haulbowline lt ho. Drying rocks and shoals obstruct most of the entrance. Small craft should at all times keep clear of commercial shipping in the narrow dredged channel. The ent is impassable in strong on-shore winds. The NE bank is Northern Ireland, SW bank is Republic of Ireland. The lough becomes choppy in S´ly winds and, due to the funnelling effect of the mountains, NW winds can cause a higher sea state within the lough than outside it. Tides run up to 5kn off Greenore Pt through a channel with a minimum depth of 5.6m. Entry is impracticable against the ebb. Beware sudden squalls and waterspouts. Extensive shellfish beds exist along the NE side of the lough; beware fishing vessels on both sides of the channel, and give them a wide berth.
