Sailing in Northern Ireland?

[JumbleDuck]

The only two marinas I'm considering are Bangor and Carrick with my preference being Bangor marina.

Bangor is a cheerful sunny marina in the middle of a Victorian seaside resort. You don't have to look a long way behind the elegant front to see the scars of the troubles, but it's a nice place to be. As well as the chandlers and the chart shop there is a Co-op near the marina, a big Asda only slightly further away, a superb swimming pool and leisure centre and some nice cafés and restaurants.

Carrickfergus Marina is a rectangular basin surrounded by an 80's (I'm guessing) housing development whose design was rejected by the East German authorities as "unnecessarily depressing". There is a Sainsbury's across the road, next to a Macdonalds. The castle is superb. The town is both a dump and scary.

Both have good train services into Belfast from stations which are not particularly handy (at a similar level of not-particularly-handiness) from the marinas. Carrickfergus is a lot handier for Larne ferries; Bangor is a lot handier for Belfast City (aka "George Best") airport. The people at both marinas are friendly.

I was thinking of leaving my boat in NI after the summer. Bangor offered me a very tempting deal and Carrickfergus is just so depressing that you couldn't pay me to be based there so I didn't ask. As it turned out I brought the boat back to the Clyde for an engine transplant and some other work to be done before departing for a few years.

 

[lpdsn]

Thanks for the replies again.

You guys are selling the place well, who needs the Solent!

The only two marinas I'm considering are Bangor and Carrick with my preference being Bangor marina.

I plan to sail the boat over from the Solent in March/April next year. I will be doing most of it single handled, so I will spilt it up into 60nm legs. Thinking something like.

Southampton - Weymouth
Weymouth to Torquay
Torquay to Plymouth
Plymouth to Falmouth
Falmouth to Newlyn
Newlyn - Padstow
Padstow - Milford Haven
Milford Haven - Wexford
Wexford - Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire - Carlingford
Carlingford - Bangor

I will most likely get someone to come along for the Padstow - Milford Haven - Wexford passage. Perhaps if that person is experienced enough opt to skip Milford Haven altogether.

Wexford is a very tricky entrance so make sure you get local advice.

Arklow is an alternative but beware surging swell in the entrance if much swell from NE.

You can go alongside the breakwater at Wicklow if not much onshore swell (I've had no trouble with 2.1m draught) and furter up the harbour if shallow draught - but you'd want advice from someone else about where's the best place to berth further up.

Marinas at Greystones, DL, Howth and Malahide. All on DART. Dun Laoghaire is the easiest in any onshore heavy weather but can still get a bit confused between piers. Still, the gap between the piers was aparently sized by what the RN through appropriate for a frigate under sail. Dublin marinas ain't cheap.

Carlingford is very scenic. Entrance is very tidal and you may not be able to overcome the flow on a full ebb. Also check bylaws on sharing a channel with a ferry or commercial vessel. Marina is a dump and not cheap. Not worth the diversion.

Ardglass is the normal passage port when going north or south.

You could also nip up the Lough entrance to Strangford Village if tides suit. There's a visitor's pontoon there. Also marina at Portaferry to remind you of the berthing at Buckler's Hard on a full spring ebb experience. (Don't try it on the full ebb).

 

[JumbleDuck]

Carlingford is very scenic.

Is the Newry Canal worth doing? As I recall, it used to be a pain because they needed 48 hours notice to lock you in, but I think that situation improved a bit.

 

[saltylegs]

If you are looking for scenic I would not do Newry and IIRC you still need to notify 48 hours in advance.

 

[macd]

Carrickfergus Marina is a rectangular basin surrounded by an 80's (I'm guessing) housing development whose design was rejected by the East German authorities as "unnecessarily depressing".

Are you angling to write their tourist brochure, JD?
(Puts me in mind of Joe Stalin's present to the people of Warsaw, the hideous 'Palace of Culture'. With sublime irony it now houses, amongst others, the Coca-Cola corporation.)

But yes, back on topic, Bangor is altogether more agreeable.

 

[wully1]

From Campbeltown to Ballycastle is about four hours on an ebb tide, it is about 13 hours in a BMW.

I think my BMW would sink if I tried that crossing in it....

 

[wully1]

But yes, back on topic, Bangor is altogether more agreeable.

I went into Bangor one time to top off the diesel tank. It was three days later before we were in any fit state to leave.

Ive very fond memories of that town

 

[dslittle]

Thanks for the replies again.

You guys are selling the place well, who needs the Solent!

The only two marinas I'm considering are Bangor and Carrick with my preference being Bangor marina.

I plan to sail the boat over from the Solent in March/April next year. I will be doing most of it single handled, so I will spilt it up into 60nm legs. Thinking something like.

Southampton - Weymouth
Weymouth to Torquay
Torquay to Plymouth
Plymouth to Falmouth
Falmouth to Newlyn
Newlyn - Padstow
Padstow - Milford Haven
Milford Haven - Wexford
Wexford - Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire - Carlingford
Carlingford - Bangor

I will most likely get someone to come along for the Padstow - Milford Haven - Wexford passage. Perhaps if that person is experienced enough opt to skip Milford Haven altogether.

DEFINITELY stop at Ardglass and treat yourselves to lunch at Aldo's. It was the best lunch (and dinner!) that we had all summer last year. Apparently folk drive down from Belfast to eat there...

 

[mdonnelly]

Have sailed out of Bangor Marina for 15 years. Quite simply it's perfect! The marina is well run, staff extremely helpful and has the normal facilities expected from a marina. It is well sheltered and access at all states of tide. Compared to some places on the mainland it is quite reasonably priced and for smaller boats ( 26 feet and below) the unserviced pontoons are discounted which offers a significant saving. I do a lot of day sailing and Belfast Lough is fantastic. Rarely busy unless the local clubs are racing and only occasional ships to avoid. Carrickfergus is only an hours sail away, and despite some opinions is quite a nice lunch stop. Belfast Marina is 2 hours away and another great place to visit, given all the new Titanic related development. Also within a couple of hours is Donaghadee harbour and marina, though they are tidal. Portpatrick is 4 hours away and one of our favourite places for an overnight stay. The Clyde and Scottish West coast, Southern Ireland East coast and Isle of Man are also within reach of a days sailing.
Bangor itself is a lovely little town, though I'm biased as I live there, overlooking the marina. It has many fabulous bars and restaurants. Within 10 minutes walk is the train station which will take you close to the George Best Airport and Belfast. The chandlers, Bosun Bobs, is across the road from the marina and Johnny in the boat yard beside the marina is an excellent resource!
Yep, would recommend Bangor and its marina.

 

[Paddydog`1]

Having spent the last 2 years sailing between Plymouth and the Western Isles of Scotland (on and off) I can reassure you you will not find a better run Marina than Bangor, well located both by land and sea with superb facilities as well as being excellent value for money. I was tempted to keep my boat there but in the end was seduced by home

 

[Andrew E]

What is the difference between Pier A and B at Bangor marina. Is Pier A unserviced? My boat is 7.9 metres.

The difference in another 10 cm is about 500 quid extra per year!!

Are they strict on boat lengths at Bangor... on a bad day my boat might touch 8 metres +

 

[mdonnelly]

Pontoon A has a 20% discount on fees and the south side of B pontoon has a 10% discount. Couldn't comment on how strict they are regarding length but always worth talking to them. Have always found them reasonable.

Just checked their handbook, max length on the discounted berths is 8m.

 

[JClarkes]

I have a swinging mooring at Ballydorn. The other side of sketrick island is Strangford Yacht club. Superb facilities. Great restaurant also on Sketrick island. I would venture out through the bar mouth into the Irish sea to do a bit of fishing but the majority of the time is spent in the lough. Lots of coves, sheltered areas and islands for BBQ's.

Bangor and Carrick would be the next big marina close by but I have to say, I do love the lough.

The Lough can be flat calm on some nights during the summer and its picturesque with the Mournes in the background.

Within a 10 mile radius of Whiterock you have sailmakers, cover repairers, outboard engine mechanics, winter storage right at whiterock, cranes etc.... mooring maintenance, boat electrics doctor, a local rigger. I could give you the name of each one if needed.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Pontoon A has a 20% discount on fees and the south side of B pontoon has a 10% discount. Couldn't comment on how strict they are regarding length but always worth talking to them. Have always found them reasonable.

Just checked their handbook, max length on the discounted berths is 8m.

When I was thinking of keeping my boat (8m) there, they were happy to offer me an unserviced berth - perhaps it helped that anther boat with the same hull was already on B. I checked, and they were also happy for me to move the boat to a serviced berth when I was actually on board and pay a small fee each time I did so.

It really is a hell of a good marina, and I'm quite sad that it's just too close to home to make berthing there worthwhile.

 

[Sybarite]

I have a swinging mooring at Ballydorn. The other side of sketrick island is Strangford Yacht club. Superb facilities. Great restaurant also on Sketrick island. I would venture out through the bar mouth into the Irish sea to do a bit of fishing but the majority of the time is spent in the lough. Lots of coves, sheltered areas and islands for BBQ's.

Bangor and Carrick would be the next big marina close by but I have to say, I do love the lough.

The Lough can be flat calm on some nights during the summer and its picturesque with the Mournes in the background.

Within a 10 mile radius of Whiterock you have sailmakers, cover repairers, outboard engine mechanics, winter storage right at whiterock, cranes etc.... mooring maintenance, boat electrics doctor, a local rigger. I could give you the name of each one if needed.

Another vote for Strangford Lough. I started sailing there and there are just so many places to visit with sheltered anchorages everywhere.

 

[lpdsn]

What is the difference between Pier A and B at Bangor marina. Is Pier A unserviced? My boat is 7.9 metres.

As you say it is unserviced, but tucked away around the back so a little more sheltered, not that shelter is an issue.

Not had an issue with boat length, but the figure I gave them corresponded to published data.

Bangor are good for electricity if you're on the serviced berths as they charge you by the KWh. I did have one issue of overcharging and rather than trying to get me to pay some of it they admitted they made a mistake and wrote off the entire bill.

 

[lpdsn]

Is the Newry Canal worth doing? As I recall, it used to be a pain because they needed 48 hours notice to lock you in, but I think that situation improved a bit.

It's a real waste. They spent a lot of money refurbishing the canal and lock and facilities then left it to be mis-managed by the local authority. You need to give notice and I think only during office hours Mon-Fri. I've not heard of improvements.

The lock is available only at HW, but is sizeable and the canal is wide and deep. It was sized for coasters. The dock is fair-sized and there is plenty of land around it so you wonder what a facility a bit of private enterprise could make of it.

The berths are open to the public. There have been issues with 'travellers' but the security guards at the shopping centre keep a good eye on boats. It's very cheap for long-term berthing such as overwintering.

Newry is a friendly city these days and the approaches are scenic. You do have to remember that apart from some northern suburbs it is strongly republican, but you'd not really notice these days unless you strayed into some of the dodgier suburbs up the hill to the south.

I've also heard reports of silting at Victoria Lock. It is genuinely off the map as BA coverage ends just past Warrenpoint, but there used to be a chartlet available online. Warrenpoint also has delusions of being a major port and tries to get yachties to report in just in case they disrupt their two or three shipping movements per day. It's also a long way up the lough from the open sea before you even reach the lock.