Lough Neagh sailors?

chrispenUK

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Hi all, anyone here sail on Lough Neagh? I'm considering moving a sloop with a draft of just under 1.5m, is this too deep of a keel for the Lough? Any and all help is hugely appreciated.
 

Quandary

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Not for years but we used to do the winter series at Antrim, at first with an Achilles 24 and later with a Trapper 300. (1.5 m draught) The boats stayed in the Sixmilewater river during the week coming out to race on Sundays. To get the Trapper over the bar we put the sails up in the river sheeted them in tight, put all the crew on the leeward side and motored out, going out usually to windward was not so bad but coming back in with the wind behind you was often hairy but she always dragged through the sand. We launched down at Oxford Island where the club slip was deep enough and motored North up the Lough to Antrim. There is another slip on the west side at Ballyronan Marina. (Slight exaggeration in the name?)
The Antrim winter series is where I really learned to race, short legs on Olympic courses in strong winter breezes taught sail handling, tactics and how to round marks in company, great days and it still goes on. There were 10 races at the end of the year followed by another 10 after New year. We looked forward to the pilgrimage from the sea to the Lough each winter though I do not think our road trailer would have escaped attention these days. The advantage Antrim had was that being in the NW corner the water was flat when the wind was cold, you get a steep short chop you get there in strong winds, about 2-3m max. height but nearly vertical. Despite only being open at the weekends ABC used to be able to pour an excellent pint of Guinness.
I stayed in the Lough one summer, bit of racing at Antrim and Lurgan, both clubs run events and barbecues but relatively quiet, the water levels are lower in summer and then there are the flies, black and attracted to anything white they can change the colour of your deck with black footprints where you walk on it but unlike the midges they do not bite.
Your 1.5m draught should be okay down at Lurgan or over at Ballyronan but the sailing may not be so good, most boats on Lough Neagh are shallower.
If you google Antrim Boat Club you may be able to find the pictures they used to post of the sailing.
 

underdog

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I have been sailing on Lough Neagh since 1978 at Antrim Boat Club , of which it is my privilege currently to be commodore.
My current boat is a 32 ft. Artekno H 323 which draws 1.45 M.
Most of the time there is no problem as regards depth. If the lough is very low it can be a bit tricky getting in and out if the wind is blowing from the southwest, but the entrance is regularly dredged to keep it navigable.
The other two main marinas on Lough Neagh at Ballyronan and Kinnego have no issues with depth for boats of 1.5 meters.
The 30 mile passage from Lough Neagh to the sea is navigable. I go up and down every year in order to go on my annual cruise up the west coast of Scotland.
If you require further info pleas pm me.
 

underdog

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You have to take your mast down as the road bridges only have a few feet clearance. I normally dismast at Coleraine Marina
There are 5 locks which are manned by Irish waterways staff. The cost is minimal in comparison to the Scottish canals. The depth is only guaranteed to 1Metre. However with caution It is possible with 1.5 metres. Having done it on numerous occasions I now know where there are likely to be problems, ie where you are likely to run aground. A copy of the river Bann and Lough Neagh Pilot by Michael B Savage is an excellent guide.If you want further info please pm me.
 

JumbleDuck

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You have to take your mast down as the road bridges only have a few feet clearance. I normally dismast at Coleraine Marina
There are 5 locks which are manned by Irish waterways staff. The cost is minimal in comparison to the Scottish canals. The depth is only guaranteed to 1Metre. However with caution It is possible with 1.5 metres. Having done it on numerous occasions I now know where there are likely to be problems, ie where you are likely to run aground. A copy of the river Bann and Lough Neagh Pilot by Michael B Savage is an excellent guide.If you want further info please pm me.

Many thanks. It sounds as if trailing the Drascombe would be more practical for a short visit.
 

Quandary

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Many thanks. It sounds as if trailing the Drascombe would be more practical for a short visit.

If you plan to do that you might find Lough Erne more interesting and challenging, Lough Neagh is a big square of water about 5m. deep, the biggest area of fresh water in the UK (but not by volume) It is surrounded by low lying but fertile farmland. Lough Erne has hundreds of islands on the Upper Lough and wide expanses on the Lower, enclosed by hills and forests, below Enniskillen, there is quite a bit of hire cruiser activity so the channels are well marked.
In my early days we went cruising in a home built Mirror dinghy, camping on the islands, though rarely for longer than an extended weekend.

Credit to Underdog for making his way up and down the Bann to go on his summer cruise, some of the yachts in Strangford never clear the Narrows.
 

JumbleDuck

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If you plan to do that you might find Lough Erne more interesting and challenging, Lough Neagh is a big square of water about 5m. deep, the biggest area of fresh water in the UK (but not by volume) It is surrounded by low lying but fertile farmland. Lough Erne has hundreds of islands on the Upper Lough and wide expanses on the Lower, enclosed by hills and forests, below Enniskillen, there is quite a bit of hire cruiser activity so the channels are well marked.
In my early days we went cruising in a home built Mirror dinghy, camping on the islands, though rarely for longer than an extended weekend.

Credit to Underdog for making his way up and down the Bann to go on his summer cruise, some of the yachts in Strangford never clear the Narrows.

Thanks - that does look interesting.
 

Quandary

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Meant to mention, Upper Lough Erne (lower on the map) is connected by canal to the Shannon waterway system, though that is probably more of an advantage for those who motor rather than sail, Lower Lough Erne has a reasonable choice of interesting destinations but close to Ireland's West Coast can be windy sometimes. Hire cruisers use all of it so plenty of landings, Devenish Island is worth a visit, popular with some who do not want the cost of a divorce.
 

chrispenUK

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Not for years but we used to do the winter series at Antrim, at first with an Achilles 24 and later with a Trapper 300. (1.5 m draught) The boats stayed in the Sixmilewater river during the week coming out to race on Sundays. To get the Trapper over the bar we put the sails up in the river sheeted them in tight, put all the crew on the leeward side and motored out, going out usually to windward was not so bad but coming back in with the wind behind you was often hairy but she always dragged through the sand. We launched down at Oxford Island where the club slip was deep enough and motored North up the Lough to Antrim. There is another slip on the west side at Ballyronan Marina. (Slight exaggeration in the name?)
The Antrim winter series is where I really learned to race, short legs on Olympic courses in strong winter breezes taught sail handling, tactics and how to round marks in company, great days and it still goes on. There were 10 races at the end of the year followed by another 10 after New year. We looked forward to the pilgrimage from the sea to the Lough each winter though I do not think our road trailer would have escaped attention these days. The advantage Antrim had was that being in the NW corner the water was flat when the wind was cold, you get a steep short chop you get there in strong winds, about 2-3m max. height but nearly vertical. Despite only being open at the weekends ABC used to be able to pour an excellent pint of Guinness.
I stayed in the Lough one summer, bit of racing at Antrim and Lurgan, both clubs run events and barbecues but relatively quiet, the water levels are lower in summer and then there are the flies, black and attracted to anything white they can change the colour of your deck with black footprints where you walk on it but unlike the midges they do not bite.
Your 1.5m draught should be okay down at Lurgan or over at Ballyronan but the sailing may not be so good, most boats on Lough Neagh are shallower.
If you google Antrim Boat Club you may be able to find the pictures they used to post of the sailing.

Many many thanks for the excellent info, just what I was looking for!
 

Colvic23

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You have to take your mast down as the road bridges only have a few feet clearance. I normally dismast at Coleraine Marina
There are 5 locks which are manned by Irish waterways staff. The cost is minimal in comparison to the Scottish canals. The depth is only guaranteed to 1Metre. However with caution It is possible with 1.5 metres. Having done it on numerous occasions I now know where there are likely to be problems, ie where you are likely to run aground. A copy of the river Bann and Lough Neagh Pilot by Michael B Savage is an excellent guide.If you want further info please pm me.
Hi underdog, I have just agreed to buy a boat in Bangor to replace my current boat which is berthed in kinnego. To transport by road isn't crazy expensive but if I can I would like to sail from Bangor to coleraine and down the bann from there, just for the memorable experience. My daughter would like to sail with me and I'm excited for the shared experience. Boat is being purchased Sunday and kept in Bangor for july/August so have a few weeks to get used to the boat before trying the journey. Any advice very appreciated!!
 

underdog

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A t the moment it is not possible to navigate the Bann from Coleraine to Lough Neagh as the Lock at Carnroe has been broken since last year. See the marine notice below
Waterways Ireland | News Centre | Marine Notices | Marine Notice No 66 of 2022 - Lower Bann Navigation - Carnroe Lock - Closure for ongoing repair works

Last year I had my boat transported by road to Coleraine and launched at Coleraine harbour. Due to the closure of the lockI have kept my boat at Fahan marina in Lough Swilly for the last year.
 

Colvic23

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A t the moment it is not possible to navigate the Bann from Coleraine to Lough Neagh as the Lock at Carnroe has been broken since last year. See the marine notice below
Waterways Ireland | News Centre | Marine Notices | Marine Notice No 66 of 2022 - Lower Bann Navigation - Carnroe Lock - Closure for ongoing repair works

Last year I had my boat transported by road to Coleraine and launched at Coleraine harbour. Due to the closure of the lockI have kept my boat at Fahan marina in Lough Swilly for the last year.
Thanks for this info!! Have you had any indication of when these works will be completed?
 

underdog

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Talked to one of the lock keepers who kindly contacted the engineers on my behalf today. The latest is news is that the lock at Carnroe will be back in action between mid to end August. They will post a marine notice as to exactly when the lock repairs have been completed.
 
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