Copeland Marina is located on the northeast coast of Ireland, close outside the southern entrance to Belfast Lough and immediately south of Donaghadee Harbour. It is a small very tight marina that sets aside a small number of visitor berths in the sailing season.

The marina offers complete protection behind its high surrounding walls and a tide gate which can be fully raised in the event of strong onshore winds. Careful navigation is required for the final length of the approach, that although well marked, is tightly bounded by rocks and the entrance itself is very narrow. Access is also only available at the top end of the tide to clear a drying sill at the entrance.

Berths are scarce and it is best to confirm availability in advance. The marina should not be approached in strong onshore winds or at night.

Keyfacts for Copelands Marina

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 38.437' N, 005° 31.750' W

At the entrance to the marina.

What is the initial fix?

400 metres out from the entrance on the 276° preferred line of approach. Tracking in on this bearing should take you to where you may see the orange triangle leading marks in-line 276°.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Copelands Marina is located 2 miles south of Copeland Island and immediately south of Donaghadee Harbour. It is a small privately owned and family-run marina enclosed within a basin in a former quarry cut that was cut into the rocky foreshore of Meetinghouse Point. Enclosed within the original high walls of the quarry the marina has significant protection. At the entrance to the marina, there is a sill to be cleared and the entrance channel is also very narrow and rocks on either side. Careful pilotage is required for the approach and good offshore conditions, but it is very well-marked.




The sill dries to 1 metre above LAT and 1.5 metres can be expected at half tide. Inside there are berths for up to 90 craft on pontoons piles. The marina accommodates vessels of up to 11 metres LOA and normally sets aside six berths for visiting boats. However, it is a popular location so it is highly advisable to make berthing arrangements in advance. The Copelands Marina Manager, Gerald Nicholas, can be reached on Ch. 16, 11 & 80 [Copelands Marina], +44 2891 992184, +44 7802 36 3382, gerald.nicholas@o2.co.uk.

How to get in?

Use the details available in the northeast Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Malin Head to Strangford Lough for local approaches and the Donaghadee Sound for local tidal optimisations. The marina is located 400 metres south of the Donaghadee Harbour which is made conspicuous by its tower and the marina by its walls.




Marina access is HW +/- 3 hours depending upon draft. Expect about 1.5 metres over the sill at half-tide, making it advisable for moderate to deep vessels to seek advice from the Marina Manager on how to clear the sill on the day of approach.


Although tight, the marina's access path and entrance are very well-marked. If there are any concerns the option is always available to temporarily come into Donaghadee town harbour and stroll around to inspect the marina layout and approaches personally. But do not be tempted to come round the head of the South Pier and steer directly along the coast to approach the marina.




The entire area between Donaghadee Harbour and Copeland Marina is occupied by outlying coastal rocks that cover at high water. It is therefore essential to head out to sea from Donaghadee and come back into the marina from eastward.




From the initial fix the marina entrance will be visible about 400 metres away. The marina’s seawall has a large painted sign with an arrow that indicates the position of the entrance on its northern side.




Stay outside the 10-metre contour, about 300 – 400 metres out, until the leading marks are positively identified. These are two conspicuous orange triangles on poles close north of the entrance. They are close north of the entrance with the front on the gravelly foreshore and the rear, higher up, on the fence of the boat park close behind. In line, they mark the fairway on a bearing 276° T. The track is further supported by a starboard perch making the extremity of the rock on the north side of the channel.



Once identified track in steadily keeping the leading marks on transit. The latter inshore half of that distance will be between drying rocks, and the final stretch is particularly narrow. Keep the orange triangular marks in line in the entrance channel, then follow the concrete quay under the wall on the edge of the channel that leads into the marina. Once the marina entrance and its sill opens turn sharp to port.




Berth on pontoon piles as directed.

Why visit here?

Copelands Marina takes its name from the islands it overlooks. The origins of the name are from Old Norse 'Kaupmennayer' meaning 'merchant land' or 'bought land' a feature worthy of note during the early Middle Ages, when the land was rarely sold, but held by feudal tenure and handed down from one generation to the next. This became shortened to Copman over time.




However, the Copeland Islands most likely derive their name from the de Coupland family who arrived here in 1183 as part of the Norman invasion and settled in the Newtownards area. The Anglo-Norman family lent them their name as is the case with Copeland Water near Carrickfergus and the townland of Ballycopeland in the civil parish of Donaghadee.




The marina came about as a consequence of the construction of the massive walls and lighthouse of the adjacent Donaghadee Harbour in the 1820s. The outer walls and back slopes were all made from the local dark 'greywacke' stone. This was blasted from the seabed within the harbour area and from, what was then called, the 'Quarry Hole' at Meetinghouse Point which could be conveniently taken by boat to the site. The harbour’s beautiful inner faces were made from limestone taken from the Moelfre quarries of Angelsey, in north Wales, and it is this 'Anglesea marble' with the finest ashlar dressing that has made the handsome piers a lasting triumph. The original 'Quarry Hole' was established in 1977 as Copelands Marina which perhaps makes it the oldest marina, as we would define it today, in Ireland.




From a boating point of view, Copelands Marina is within a day's sail, and sometimes in sight of the Scottish coast and the Isle of Man. It is an ideal destination to enjoy the historic town of Donaghadee and the Ard’s Peninsula and is completely protected behind the marina’s high-sided walls and the tidal gate should strong easterlies develop.

What facilities are available?

Marina berths have water, electricity, toilets, and showers; and a 20 tonnes capacity crane and some repair work are available locally. Donaghadee is very convenient as shops, pubs and restaurants which serve the local population in excess of six thousand, are easily reached within a small area local to the harbour. Donaghadee Sailing Club welcomes visitors and is open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The harbour is about 29 km (18 miles) from Belfast and about 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Newtownards. A bus service is available to Belfast that offers connections to any location in Ireland. Likewise flights to domestic and international destinations operate from Belfast City and Belfast International Airports. There are frequent ferry crossings from Belfast and Larne.

Any security concerns?

The marina is a secured area.

With thanks to:

Charlie Kavanagh - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner.