Passage Planning - Ireland

[NigelBirch]

We keep our boat at Instow and have been doing Clovelly, Lundy, Ilfracombe for the past couple of seasons. I'm going to have a go at getting to Dale early on in the season and then, assuming some settled weather in the summer, I'd like to have a crack at getting to Ireland. So where should I go? What places are good, which places best avoided and whats the best pilot book to use?

thanks for you help!

 

[graham]

The shortest crossing from Dale is to Kilmore Quay about 60 miles.To make it easier go to North haven on Skomer the night before then leave from there just as the tide starts running Northward.

kilmore Quay is a fishing Harbour with part of it turned into a Marina .

Small village with a couple of pubs and restaraunts close to the harbour.

 

[Alcyone]

Graham, can you stay at North Haven? I know you can anchor in South Haven, but I thought there was eel grass or somesuch in North Haven and you couldn't stay there?

 

[Allan]

I'm also hoping for a trip to Ireland this year, but I will be going to France first. Before both trips I hope to head for Instow, so would be interested to hear any secrets you have for a trip to The Boathouse for food and The Quay (I will always call it that) for some apple juice.
Allan

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Last time I stayed there (Skomer), there were visitor's buoys to tie up to. Was a few years ago though.

Starting from Dale will still give you plenty of time for a daylight passage in summer.

Go between the Islands (Sk's). Sometimes an interesting sea state as you leave the islands. Never been a problem though.

Just avoid the Smalls like a plague!

 

[graham]

Re north Haven there were mooring buoys there about 2 years ago but cant say for definite that they are still there.

 

[Alcyone]

Ah, right. It's probably longer than that since I was there. There's a wreck in 40 metres just off the Haven. Also saw a yachtsman drop 100m of stainless chain near the entrance, as well, not realising how quickly it gets deep.

 

[damo]

Settled weather probably isn't the best, unless you like motoring! Should be no more than 12 hours or so to Kilmore Quay (although I prefer Waterford/River Suir), and less than 24 to Cork/Crosshaven.

One suggestion I have heard, which may take a bit of nerve but gives a fast passage, is go with the SE/S wind ahead of a depression for the best reaching conditions. I did that from Gower a couple of years ago and had a fantastic reach through the night with a 5/6 SE to Kilmore Quay.

The River Suir is superb, and Waterford quite attractive. There is a great anchorage halfway up, where the river takes a big turn west (in the wooded bay on the east side) - St Catherines Bay I think it's called...

River Suir and Waterford...

Kilmore Quay has some tricky pilotage, is a commercial harbour, and the village is a bit scruffy. You will also probably have to raft up in the summer.

Dunmore East at the entrance to the Suir is a pretty place, and there are moorings outside.

Crosshaven has some flashy marinas, but the river is jammed full of moorings now. If you go all the way up to Drakes Pool ( a marked anchorage) you will find it is now full of moorings, but I have always found one or two empty. An old fella called Patrick (honestly!) will row across to you to say it is taken,to be sure, but the owner will be away for a few days! For a small consideration he may also trek to the supermarket to get supplies for you. (You can get a bus into Cork City from there as well). A gorgeous hidden-away place and one of my favourite cruising spots.

There are very comprehensive cruising guides/pilot books by the Irish cruising club/assoc which you can buy online (google for it). There are 2 sections iirc - South and West, North and East or something similar.

 

[bluedragon]

Just to confirm the mooring buoys in Skomer N.Haven are still there. They are marked as "day moorings" but when I was there last summer, one of the wardens (having a swim after all the day-trippers had gone) asked me if we planned to stay the night...he didn't have a problem with it.

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

They get put out every spring (or at least the surface buoys are) - and are probably as well serviced as any I know. Railway wheels on the bottom of them are buried in the silt - but serviced by divers at least once a season. But as always use at your own risk.

They are "day" moorings because someone suggested they had less liability that way - can't really see it myself but there you go I'm not a lwayer.

No one has any problem with you using them overnight - though if its a dark night you may find the shearwaters trying to take your wind instruments off (still can't decide if its better or worse with mast head anchor light on !)

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

From Dale probably best going W (though you can go N as well if the weather is looking grim from the W - though W is better IMO)

Depending how long you've got etc - on suggestion is to push as far W as you can / want to in a big hit at the start (Kinsale is just over 24hrs from Dale) and then another hop W ? Idea being winds are prevailing SW - so once you've got W comong home "should" be easier - ha ha.

W of Kilmore Quay there are many small fishing harbours you can use - certainly recommend the Irish Cruising Guide (S&W) as others have said

 

[NigelBirch]

Thanks Graham! Isn't the tide fairly neutral with a 12 hour crossing? Just wondering why you recommend setting out with the tide just turning northward.....

 

[graham]

If you were heading for Kilmore or Dunmore East Tide on the Welsh side is much stronger than on the Irish side so better to have helpfull tide this side. Also its not wise to put yourself in a situation where the tide could sweep you in amongst the smalls rocks.

If you were heading further South perhaps to Cork for example then you would pass south of the smalls so a different plan would be needed.

 

[NigelBirch]

Ok I follow...thanks a lot!