Is this the tightest marina entrance?

Carlingford Marina used to have an interesting entrance-between two sunken metal wrecks, quite narrow and looked like the entrance to a scrap yard. Inside was very well sheltered and with good facilities inside a large ferro ex-cable laying ship which comprised one of the breakwaters!
 
Not a lot!

The entrance is carved a bit like a V, so the higher the tide, the more width. Transiting the entrance always looks somewhat formidable, but once you've done it, it's better the next time.

Remember that once through, it's an immediate turn to port so you don't go straight into the breakwater immediately ahead.

If you are a Beaucette virgin, I'd take it when it's slack across the entrance, and calm waters. You'll gain great confidence from this, and be ready the next time when it's not so good.

Take heart and have a go! It's so beautiful when inside.
 
Just out of interest Piers, are there any reports of any boats actually coming into contact with the sides? Certainly had us on edge last year but suspect it looks worse than it really is.
 
Tight

My tightest entrance i ever experienced was more than 30 years ago when I as a teeny was on the Faroe Islands. I stayed with a family in Skopun, and remember entering the port in a small fishing boat.

Entering the port you have to make a sharp turn towards a stone wall, then a U-turn to starbourd towards another stone wall, stop the boat and await the next wave to smash against the wall in front of you, then hard to port around next wall and you are inside.

In the port you berth with the bow to the quay, and just await the right wavehight and step ashore.

One day I will be back, but searching the net for photoes it does seem as if the port has been changed....

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Just out of interest Piers, are there any reports of any boats actually coming into contact with the sides? Certainly had us on edge last year but suspect it looks worse than it really is.

I never think photos of Beaucette's entrance do it justice, just looks like wide gap in rocks, however in reality it is a small channel of high sided rock cliffs you pass through!
 
Beaucette

Just out of interest Piers, are there any reports of any boats actually coming into contact with the sides? Certainly had us on edge last year but suspect it looks worse than it really is.

I believe that some years ago a racing yacht called Golden Arrow of the Sun managed to miss the channel entering the marina and was lost on the rocks just outside.

I haven't been there for many years but it is not that scary in calm conditions and, i agree, it is great inside.
 
I never think photos of Beaucette's entrance do it justice, just looks like wide gap in rocks, however in reality it is a small channel of high sided rock cliffs you pass through!

The point I was trying to make was that it looks worse than it really is otherwise lots of folks would have damaged their boats getting in and out, which doesn't seem to be the case. Had us on edge last year negotiating the entrance but it's not really that narrow, have been into tighter places, the berth allocated to us in Le Palais on Belle Ile springs to mind. That was tight...............and very shallow.
 
The entrance to Southsea looked very narrow the first time I went through.:o

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no, video shows grey bear ii, a fairline squadron 74

OK, but it used to be berthed in that corner until it was sold and moved to Torquay where it is now on charter. A 74 foot still demonstrates the possibilities!!

When do you think that video was shot?
 
Stop messing about and come to the Irish Sea. Made my legs tremble coming in and out :)

South harbour on the Calf of Man. 30ft clinker putt putt gets in there 3 times a week. It's also +1hr high tide in the picture :O
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