Sailing to the Republic of Ireland from UK-rules and regulations??

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

We are planning to sail to the Republic of Ireland and stay at marinas and harbours along the East coast, what regulations and restriction are there? Is it mandatory requirement to have holding tank? I presume we will need Medical cover for the duration.

 

[dunedin]

Well for a start Ireland isn’t in Schengen, but is in The Common Travel Area, so the 90/180 restriction does not apply.
Boat VAT status does apply, but assuming UK resident owned boat not staying for more than 18 months should not be an issue.
if taking a pet need to research that.
Enjoy the craic

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Well for a start Ireland isn’t in Schengen, but is in The Common Travel Area, so the 90/180 restriction does not apply.
Boat VAT status does apply, but assuming UK resident owned boat not staying for more than 18 months should not be an issue.
if taking a pet need to research that.
Enjoy the craic

Thanks for the reply; my mistake about Schengen, you are right, Ireland id outside.

 

[Kelpie]

I think they have stricter rules on lifejackets.
In practise we have had no contact with any officials on any of our visits to Ireland, including post Brexit.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

We are planning to sail to the Republic of Ireland and stay at marinas and harbours along the East coast, what regulations and restriction are there? Is it mandatory requirement to have holding tank? I presume we will need Medical cover for the duration.

If you stay more than 183 days in one year or 280 days in 2 years you become tax resident and VAT becomes liable on your boat if it's anywhere in the EU immediately. You can no longer use the 18 month Temporary Admission scheme if you become tax resident.

 

[awol]

Does it change things if one enters the South from Noriron?

 

[cpedw]

I think they have stricter rules on lifejackets.

I forget the detail (I think it's a boat length limit) but for most of us, it means that LJ wearing is compulsory in a dinghy but not on board a yacht.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Never had a holding tank on our last two visits, and never saw any officials except harbour master bobbing around in launches or strolling along quayside.

Dungarvan, Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay, Waterford, Wexford, Courtown, Arklow, Wicklow, Dun laoghaire, etc.

They are mostly harbours or rivers though Dun Laoghaire is a marina and Arklow has a marina off to one side which we didnt use.

We plan to make passage up the Eire East coat on our way from S Cornwall to the Hebrides so wont be calling in at all of them this summer though Wexford is fun if you can pass tidal flats, and Dun Laoghaire has good train or bus links to Dublin. (Dublin port on the Liffey is an insecure pontoon miles from centre) Running inside the grounds much of the route gives you good shelter from moderate easterlies and kills both southerly and northerly roughness

Howth is a great harbour too

 

[dunedin]

I think they have stricter rules on lifejackets.
In practise we have had no contact with any officials on any of our visits to Ireland, including post Brexit.

Good point - as noted below need to use in dinghy, I think.

Also for completeness
- I believe in many places there are strict rules on disposing of rubbish - and you may need to pay for this; and
- red diesel will no longer be available to yachts in Northern Ireland, which is being required to change to white diesel for yachts due to its oddball semi-EU status created by Brexit - worth checking with RYA the latest position on carrying evidence of payment for diesel in tanks on boats visiting, and avoid any red diesel in portable cans (changes too recent for anybody to be sure yet)
NB. I am not an expert (and even our Government doesn’t seem to understand the NI & Ireland rules yet) so check with RYA and/or CA closer to departure date.

 

[eebygum]

We are planning to sail to the Republic of Ireland and stay at marinas and harbours along the East coast, what regulations and restriction are there? Is it mandatory requirement to have holding tank? I presume we will need Medical cover for the duration.

Hi, I regularly go up the East coast of Ireland on my way up to Scotland and back; most recently last year.

My observations would be:
Howth is a nice marina/place but expensive ; the facilities at Dun Laoghaire are a lot better. The Poolbeg YC is very friendly but can be too noisey/bouncy opposite the ferries turning. Both Howth and Dun Laoghaire are a short hop into Dublin on the metro.

Going North, Ardglass is a favorite stop. Best showers on the east coast, quirky village. Nice pub 10 mins walk up towards the golf course. Good supermarket/garage/butchers and excellent chip shop 5 mins away.

Strangford Lough; a beautiful place worth spending three days in.... at anchor, on the pontoon at the Quoile Yacht Clubs or tied up to the marina at Strangford (excellent pubs again). It's easy to get into but needs more careful timing on the exit !

Bangor (better facilities and pubs) rather Carrickfergus

Glenarm is a lovely marina and a good stop before heading around to Ballycastle. Only one small shop, some nice walks and two pubs.

Ballycastle is my favorite stop on the east coast. Lovely marina, very helpful staff and great town with nicer pubs and excellent butchers, Co-op. Easy access from here to the Giant Steps which is well worth a visit.

And.... I don't have a holding tank and never been asked about one. I also sail with my dog which post brexit is more complicated now if you wish to follow the rules.

 

[stephen_h]

I also sail with my dog which post brexit is more complicated now if you wish to follow the rules.

We looked at sailing to Ireland last year but new rules for dogs looked like only way in was by ferry. Has this changed?

 

[eebygum]

We looked at sailing to Ireland last year but new rules for dogs looked like only way in was by ferry. Has this changed?

No, that's still the case.

Last summer I sailed up the East coast without my 2nd mate - Jake Russell, my 1st mate joined us at Oban with the dog and we continued up to Orkney. Returning singlehanded I never planned to stop off in NI but I pulled my back coming down the North Channel so decided the safe course of action was to divert, rest-up and then continue day sailing down the East Coast back to Anglesey. Nobody was the least bit bothered about my dog in any of the places I stopped at.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I believe in many places there are strict rules on disposing of rubbish - and you may need to pay for this; and

The international catering waste rules will apply to any food waste if sailing from mainland UK or any food waste generated from food taken from the UK (i.e. eat a banana you bought in the UK in Ireland). It involves forms and paperwork on arrival. The rules are pretty much impossible to fulfil completely on a small leisure craft.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

The international catering waste rules will apply to any food waste if sailing from mainland UK or any food waste generated from food taken from the UK (i.e. eat a banana you bought in the UK in Ireland). It involves forms and paperwork on arrival. The rules are pretty much impossible to fulfil completely on a small leisure craft.

However the Irish seemed oblivious to most rules including licencing and health and safety. I worked in Dublin for a bit and step DIL is from the suburb of Raheny. I often felt I was simply in A More Westerly Part of Britain, though with accents more familiar to my time in Kilburn, not Plymouth. I doubt Brexit has changed that. Great people and great cruising grounds

 

[AngusMcDoon]

However the Irish seemed oblivious to most rules including licencing and health and safety.

I expect so too. However, like plod and cars, if they find one thing out of order, maybe then they are likely to check everything else and throw the book of expensive mistakes at you.

 

[dgadee]

Does it change things if one enters the South from Noriron?

No.

 

[dgadee]

Never had a holding tank on our last two visits, and never saw any officials except harbour master bobbing around in launches or strolling along quayside.

Dungarvan, Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay, Waterford, Wexford, Courtown, Arklow, Wicklow, Dun laoghaire, etc.

They are mostly harbours or rivers though Dun Laoghaire is a marina and Arklow has a marina off to one side which we didnt use.

We plan to make passage up the Eire East coat on our way from S Cornwall to the Hebrides so wont be calling in at all of them this summer though Wexford is fun if you can pass tidal flats, and Dun Laoghaire has good train or bus links to Dublin. (Dublin port on the Liffey is an insecure pontoon miles from centre) Running inside the grounds much of the route gives you good shelter from moderate easterlies and kills both southerly and northerly roughness

Howth is a great harbour too

Arklow is known as an open sewer. I presume it hasn't changed. But good stopping off point.

"Irish coast". Not "Eire coast". Unless you want to stand out.

 

[TSB240]

Arklow is known as an open sewer. I presume it hasn't changed. But good stopping off point.

I find that description harsh but fair considering what we saw floating by when I last visited!
I would be tempted to miss Arklow out as Wicklow is easily reached on one tide from Kilmore Quay and has had more recent investment and improved facilities.

Oldman of the hills made no mention of Greystones.

I enjoyed a stopover there far more than Arklow! It is a short hop from Wicklow.
The marina is relatively new and bit pricey but the village is great for restaurants, pubs and shopping.
It is on the Dart route so you can enjoy a trip to explore Dublin without going near Dun Laoghaire.
There is also a great scenic cliff walk to or from Bray with return by Bus or Dart which we enjoyed.
Greystones is exactly 60NM due west from Caernarfon Bar making it the nearest all tide access marina in Eire for us in North Wales.

 

[dgadee]

Greystones is exactly 60NM due west from Caernarfon Bar making it the nearest all tide access marina in Eire for us in North Wales.

"... making it the nearest all tide access marina in Ireland for us in North Wales." It's only polite to call their country what they call it.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Arklow was indeed the least attractive town, but the river is useful enough as an easily entered stopping point. I sailed straight past Greystones as had a plane to catch so cannot comment on it other than the amount of mobos and raggies in the offing reminded me of solent.