Wexford or Arklow

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F_McMillan

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Next month we're planning a trip from Cardigan, West Wales to Clontarf, Dublin for the E Boat Irish nationals. Current thoughts are heading for either Arklow or Wexford, having a rest and possibly a Guinness or 3 then up the coast to Dublin next day.
Does anyone have an opinion on which of these would be favorite?
 
Wexford is not an easy entrance at all! The fairway buoy is a long way out and there is many unlit buoys after that. The channel is shallow and moves all the time. It should not be attempted in moderate winds with any east in them. There is a variety of concrete walls to tie up to inside. Not too bad a town.

I would prefer Arklow any day. Easy crossing from Cardigan to south Arklow light. It has a short deep entrance which also should avoided with strong easterly winds. Inside, to port is a large fish dock where you tie up to a convenient fishing boat. Bit dirty, showers in RNLI house for a donation. Longish walk to town. Alternatively carry on main river to a long pontoon or turn to starboard into the small marina. Shorter walk to sailing club and town. Swell can penetrate up to pontoon and marina.

Arklow is only 12 miles south of Wicklow which is much larger. No marina but the cost last week to tie to the east pier was 12 euros. Shallow banks line the coast about 5 to 10 miles offshore, do not cross them except in calm conditions! The tides are strong inside the banks, make sure that you arrive uptide of your destination.
 
Prince is spot on...

Skip Wexford, use Arklow or Wicklow. Mind the tides and the sand bars. Windfarm on approach to Arklow is impressive. Enjoy the Guinness and enjoy Clontarf, good people at that club.
 
went into wicklow last year for first time, easy access, and excellent sailing club, town is good for provisions, you have to tie up against wall or other boats but if you require marina you will have to go to arklow....
 
Arklow is an easy entrance and you can overnight on the pontoon on the river with shore power etc. The only fuel available is full price from a filling station though. The town has a reputation as a prty town at the w/e but can't confirm that one.
 
Did the cruise a couple of years ago including both Arklow and Wexford. Wexford is a tricky entrance but would also be a shame to miss. See my Cruise to Ireland pages to give some ideas.

Well worth buying or borrowing the Irish cruising clubs 'East and North Coasts of Ireland Sailing Directions'. ISBN 0950171786. This is a wonderful book and helped us with the tricky Wexford entrance which we did in a E F6, definitely not recommended unless surfing is your thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also a good site which we found afterwards is the Wexford Harbour Boat and Tennis Club who are the guys who mark the channel. They have an updated chart for download and printing which you should do anyway as it will give you the choice to go if you fancy a great couple of days in a pretty town with great people. Do have a look at the site, there is lots of pilotage info available too. Also, we did not get charged for 3 days on the wall, but do take a fender board as the piles on the walls were far to wide even for our balloon fenders.

Pm me if I can be of further help, suffice to say we had a great trip and look forward to visiting Ireland again.

Edit>> I would suggest that Wexford is no more difficult than Cardigan to be fair...
 
Woofy,

Many thanks, all very useful and a very nice website.
I've printed off the relevant bits as memory not what it should be (Radars must have fried bit's of my brain over the years).

I'll not mention the surfing bit to one of our crew as he is a surfer and would probably relish the challenge.

I know what you mean about Cardigan, the channel get narrower by the minute, a lifting keel is good.
If you're down this way again give us a call we're the wee E Boat called Eufo.
Cheers
Fraser
 
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