Copelands marina?

Apart from drying cill at entrance it can be a bit hairy with any sort of following sea.
Narrow transit line in and then sharp 90 degree turn to port, once in very sheltered and HM helpful.

However much better access and facilties at Bangor.
 
Friends who live in the area and keep a boat in Bangor tell us they would never consider going into Donagadee - and not just because of the entrance, it's also not particularly welcoming to visitors apparently.

- W
 
I used to keep a boat there many years ago. The entrance is certainly tricky, not for the faint hearted! +1 for Bangor, better facilities and berthing IMHO
 
I visited Donaghadee on passage some years ago and added it to the list of places I'd choose to avoid. However, poking about among the 700-odd charts on MemoryMap here, I spotted this wee place just next door and, given its handy location right next to the Trade Wind Route between TheDeepSowf and RaWesCoast, I thought to inquire. It may well serve for a few hours' kip while waiting for the tide to serve or to await the passage of a lump of weather.


copelands.jpg
 
I asked the same Q last year here, for a similar reason, and the advice was that there was little room and the entrance was tricky in any kind of breezy weather. We sailed past in May and had a good look through binoculars. It looked interesting - a rocky approach and a very narrow turn in to port. You might get in, but then you need decent weather to emerge too. If the weather was really settled, maybe ...(37ft boat)
 
I know it well but would never want take a medium or larger sized yacht in there, more of a tight little private harbour than a 'marina', if conditions were such that you would choose to go in they would be very risky for trying to get out. Fine for a mobo. or rib. If you want to stop in D'dee with a yacht the usual place is by the lighthouse just inside the harbour at the outer end of the S breakwater, but room restricted to max. of 2 or 3 boats rafted . But if the weather precludes anchoring somewhere nice you would be better in Bangor.

BTW If dodging the strong tides in the Copelands Channel beware of the random scattering of large rocks and very big (car sized) boulders inshore on the mainland side. Don't ask!!!!!!
 
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When conditions are not good (easterly component) the gate is usually closed and access unavailable. To see depth over cill you have to almost be at the cill itself and if there isn't enough water you have to reverse back out.

Having said that, there sometimes are quite large visitor's boats arrive now and then.

Donaghadee harbour is ok if conditions are perfect and you don't mind there being hardly anything to tie up to alongside the wall below the lighthouse. They are supposed to be handing this over to a harbour trust, but not seen much sign of anything changing.
 
You might go a bit further to Carrickfergus, either the new marina or the old harbour which dries to hard sand. I walked across it a couple of times pulling a boat to the slip as the tide came in.

Another little one in Larne opposite the Ferry terminal. Nothing ashore but there used to be a ferry across to Larne which isn't great. If it's dead calm Port Muck has some mooring bouys outside the wee harbour under the West side cliffs and a severe walk up the hill to the nearest civilisation. Next Glenarm and Carnlough pretty before you are round the headland and off to Rathlin, a must do if you haven't been. Rathlin harbour extended some years back.

Pete



Pete
 
Pete7 said:
You might go a bit further to Carrickfergus, either the new marina or the old harbour which dries to hard sand. I walked across it a couple of times pulling a boat to the slip as the tide came in.

Another little one in Larne opposite the Ferry terminal. Nothing ashore but there used to be a ferry across to Larne which isn't great. If it's dead calm Port Muck has some mooring bouys outside the wee harbour under the West side cliffs and a severe walk up the hill to the nearest civilisation. Next Glenarm and Carnlough pretty before you are round the headland and off to Rathlin, a must do if you haven't been. Rathlin harbour extended some years back.

Pete



Pete
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Must be a while since you visited these parts Pete. Carrick harbour is now part of the Council Marina, the fuel berth and travel hoist are in there but the visitors berths are in the marina (which has been having problems with silting at the entrance, though last time with 1.8m. draught I ignored the marinas advice and pushed in through the mud an hour before LW neaps.). The wee ferry from Islandmagee to Larne may still run but I would not rely on it and anyway you would be much safer anchoring further up the Lough. The only moorings at Muck Island are private mainly for small angling dayboats and will not be suitable for some yachts, fierce tides as well so not a place to leave a boat unattended. Glenarm is fine but do not display your red (or worse Blue) ensign in Carnlough as the local kids like to throw rocks late at night, it is not visited much since Glenarm Harbour was converted to a marina and unlike Glenarm the entrance is tidal so you are stuffed if heading South. There are some recent silting problems on the approach to the visitors pontoon at Rathlin which can catch you out a LW springs and the metal decked pontoon resounds like an enormous drum when you are coming back from the pub. Regular visitors like to approach a couple of hours either side of LW. Lovely silvery sand in there though and great wildlife especially at the lighthouses.

All in all, a first time visitor might be better sticking to the more recognized harbours and anchorages.
 
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