Irish Sea - sailing tips

[matkubik]

Hi!

I'm going from Oban / Glasgow to Cork. 2 weeks. Small, 30 ft, steel vessel. Planning to stop in Portrush (have to), Belfast, Isle of Man, Dublin, Caernarfor, Milford, Cork. I've never sailed here and I'd welcome any tips on where to stop, what's worth seeing, local hazards and so. If someone's able to help I'd be grateful.
cheers,

mat.

 

[Searush]

Watch out for the Guinness, it's mighty good.

 

[GraemeS]

Its worth having a look at this web site. http://inyourfootsteps.com There is great information on it.

 

[macd]

If you're planning on heading for Peel, Isle of Man (good spot, but I'm biased), you'll need to be aware of the anomalous tidal streams around The Island. I can probably find you a link with tidal charts if you wish.
Your routing looks OK, but the big variable on Irish Sea passages is wind direction: strong westerlies, stay in lee of Irish coast; strong easterlies, favour Wales. On the other hand the Irish side is notoriously shallow, and can kick up quickly.
You'll need to hope the prevailing south-westerlies aren't chronic once you turn Carnsore Point. I once waited several decades for fair winds from Waterford to Cork before giving up and going to Britanny, by which time I was in late middle age.

 

[Jabamusic]

Waterford is worth a stop. A bit up river but time enough to cook and eat your breakfast on the way out!

Kilmore quay is a useful stop as well.

Beware the shallow waters on the east coast, gets a bit choppy'
.
Only other advice is to keep going onto West Cork - some of the best sailing waters about

 

[DavidMcMullan]

Not sure what your boat speed is, but assuming a displacement hull ±6kn, you need to check how best to make use of the strong tides to aid progress. For example, Portrush to Rathlin Island on one tide, then Rathlin to Belfast Lough on one tide. To go up to Belfast is extra mileage. Suggest Bangor Marina (or Ballyholme Bay as an anchorage), then south on the next flood tide to Peel or Ardglass. From there south on the Irish coast is relatively slack tides until Skerries/Rockabill, then tidal stream reverses direction. Tide strengths pick up again south of Dublin. Stop-over ports - Wicklow or Arklow, then round the corner to Kilmore Quay or Dunmore East. As mentioned above Waterford is an interesting side trip. Then several ports along the south coast.
If winds from S thru W to N, then boats tend to follow the Irish coast for shelter from the seas.

 

[onesea]

You'll need to hope the prevailing south-westerlies aren't chronic once you turn Carnsore Point. I once waited several decades for fair winds from Waterford to Cork before giving up and going to Britanny, by which time I was in late middle age.

 

[Halo]

If only interested in passage making I would go to Holyhead from Bangor NI and miss out Dublin. If you want to see beautiful N Wales then Conwy rather than Caernarfon as you dont want to be going through the swellies when tired. If you cannot get into Conwy at the time then go pick up a mooring off Beaumaris and wait for tide to get through swellies to Caernarfon.
Dunmore East is a good stopover in SE Ireland
Great trip - enjoy it

 

[PabloPicasso]

Poolbeg marina is in Dublin city centre. Motor up the Liffey but call VTS on ch12 first. I've had a free stay in dun Laoghaire harbour on the National Yacht Club pontoon. Nice friendly club with yard and crane if needed. Avoid the big marina IMHO.

Greystones has a new harbour with new marina. Nice seaside town

Visit strangford lough. Exciting entrance and benign inland sea.

Glenarm marina on Antrim coast

Arklow Moore on the river pontoon for the best aspect. Don't go into the marina IMHO. It surrounded by flats

 

[AngusMcDoon]

What's progress at Greystones? They had grand (and controversial) plans, then Ireland ran out of money.

 

[SAWDOC]

Irelands newest marina at Greystones is now officially open!

 

[akyaka]

If you want to see beautiful N Wales then Conwy rather than Caernarfon as you dont want to be going through the swellies when tired. If you cannot get into Conwy at the time then go pick up a mooring off Beaumaris and wait for tide to get through swellies to Caernarfon.

I presume that you have a particular reason for visiting Caernarfon as it is out of your way. I would go into the Straits and avoid Conway which is even more out of your way; the channel buoys are well maintained and lit if coming in at night . There are rarely spare deepwater moorings these days at Beaumaris and whilst there is a pontoon at the end of the pier lying alongside is discouraged, the access gates at the top are locked overnight and it is reserved for the commercial boats during the day.Better , if waiting for the Swellies local slack or stopping overnight to go down to Menai Bridge and pick up a spare mooring next to the islets just before or go on St Georges pier; often the Prince Madoc, the university's research vessel, is tied up but no problems tying alongside.

 

[Contest1]

I sail the East coast from Balbriggan. theres few hazards and the inshore passage from Dublin to Kilemore Quay is well buyed at all the tight spots.
If you have time don,t miss out on Carlingford Lough, fabulous sceenry, free alongside berth at Carlingford harbour. Ardglas, Howth,Poolbeg, Wicklow,Arklow and Kilmore Quay are all great stop overs. Wexford is a great town but the channel is a bit daunting. Tidal streams run fast round coastal headlands but will give a good run if factored in. I find the Reeds or Yatchatsmans Bible addequet for passage planning. Happy cruising the Irish and Celtic seas.
+1 for inyourfootsteps.

 

[Contest1]

What's progress at Greystones? They had grand (and controversial) plans, then Ireland ran out of money.

Graystones opened this year, planning a visit soon.

 

[Sybarite]

Hi!

I'm going from Oban / Glasgow to Cork. 2 weeks. Small, 30 ft, steel vessel. Planning to stop in Portrush (have to), Belfast, Isle of Man, Dublin, Caernarfor, Milford, Cork. I've never sailed here and I'd welcome any tips on where to stop, what's worth seeing, local hazards and so. If someone's able to help I'd be grateful.
cheers,

mat.

It would be a pity to miss Strangford Lough. Best sailing on East coast of Ireland.

 

[savageseadog]

Hi!

I'm going from Oban / Glasgow to Cork. 2 weeks. Small, 30 ft, steel vessel. Planning to stop in Portrush (have to), Belfast, Isle of Man, Dublin, Caernarfor, Milford, Cork. I've never sailed here and I'd welcome any tips on where to stop, what's worth seeing, local hazards and so. If someone's able to help I'd be grateful.
cheers,

mat.

Ireland is a fair way from The Menai Strait. I would suggest hugging the Irish East Coast/South Coast and returning via Anglesey with the normal SW winds. Arklow Poolbeg, Dun Loaghaireand Kilmore Quay and Cork are good, I haven't done the rest

 

[PabloPicasso]

What's progress at Greystones? They had grand (and controversial) plans, then Ireland ran out of money.

As I said, a brand new harbour with marina that opened in march. Very nice people running it, they were very helpful to us. Grey stones is a nice seaside town.

 

[pagoda]

Hi!

I'm going from Oban / Glasgow to Cork. 2 weeks. Small, 30 ft, steel vessel. Planning to stop in Portrush (have to), Belfast, Isle of Man, Dublin, Caernarfor, Milford, Cork. I've never sailed here and I'd welcome any tips on where to stop, what's worth seeing, local hazards and so. If someone's able to help I'd be grateful.
cheers,

mat.

For the Northern portion, either Port Ellen / Craighouse or Ardminish on Gigha for a first hop, then straight down to Portrush. With the tide you could get most of the way round the north end - to maybe Glenarm / Carrickfergus or Bangor, wind allowing. We went from Bangor to Peel last summer . Nice harbour at Peel, but tide constrained to get past the flap gate. Exposed to NW weather. Plenty of fishing boats tie up inside the outer wall, so less comfortable there, although there are several moorings in the bay.
In the middle of the Irish Sea it can be fairly exposed in almost any wind direction, but 30ft should be seaworthy enough, though you don't say whether sailing or motoring???
The Titanic museum at Belfast is worth a look, train from Bangor is easy.
I haven't been as far down as Cork yet, it's on my "to visit" list as well )

regards, Graeme

 

[lustyd]

Dublin is one of the most disapointing entrances I've ever done, possibly because I had a romantic idea of sailing up the Liffey...

That said, Poolbeg is very welcoming and the members would go to the ends of the earth to help you (and they certainly did for us!). Don't expect the same from the harbour though, they refused to open the bridge to let us on the town quay in Dublin regardless of what the almanac says.
Howth is next to Dublin and much more attractive

I'd recommend Arklow if you can get down that far, another very welcoming yacht club.

Peel on the Isle of Man is the better port as far as scenery while Douglas has the infrastructure, both can bus to the other in minutes if the bus drivers buck up and go back to work. (this is Peel)

Cheers
Dave

 

[Scomber]

Graystones opened this year, planning a visit soon.

hi -is greystones 24 hr access ?
is the east pier still best place to tie/raft in wicklow -? no probs with fishing boats / HM etc friendly enough ? (just asking since david rainsburys pilot says has been occ unwelcoming in past ? )
thanks for any advice - just considering ireland again as going south seems too much of a bash from n wales at the moment!