Port Dandy on Copeland Island, one of the Copeland Islands group, is located in the Irish Sea off the northeast coast of Ireland. The island group is situated on the south side of the entrance to Belfast Lough, and Copeland Island is the largest island and closest to the mainland. Port Dandy is a very small inlet on the northwest side of the secluded island that provides a popular anchorage for a maximum of two or three boats.

The bay provides good anchorage in the north through east to southerly conditions, but is exposed to all conditions with a westerly quadrant and holding is not the best. Access is straightforward in daylight at any stage of the tide although a great measure of tidal planning will be required to operate in this area.

Any trip to the Copeland Islands will require good charts and careful navigation as the waters are shoal, encumbered with rocks and the channels between are swept by rapid tides. This is particularly true of Donaghadee Sound, where streams achieve 4.5 knots in places and great care plus tidal planning is necessary on approach and departure. In thick weather, the area should be avoided entirely.

Keyfacts for Port Dandy

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 40.552' N, 005° 32.705' W

This is in the middle of Port Dandy inlet on the inner point of Admiralty Chart 1753’s three meter contour.

What is the initial fix?

This is just over half a mile directly west of the inlet. It is set well outside the Port Dandy inlet to ensure a southern approach, from the Foreland Red Can Buoy Fl R 6s, is well clear of ‘Rid Rock’ and ‘Carn Point’.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Port Dandy is a narrow bay facing west situated on the north side of the uninhabited Copeland Island, the largest of the island group off the southern entrance to Belfast Lough. Set at the southern entrance to Belfast Lough the Bangor Harbour , situated five miles to the west, provides general approach directions to the area.

The single exception to this is for a vessel approaching Chapel Bay from around the north side of the island and hugging the shoreline. Do not be tempted to follow the western coastline of Copeland Island from Chapel Bay into port Dandy. A drying area extends a quarter of a mile southward from the islands westernmost point. This terminates at the continually exposed 1 metre high Carn Point. Foul ground then extends a further 200 metres southward from Carn Point to the dangerous and covered Rid Rock. Hence vessels approaching from the adjacent Chapel Bay cannot cut into Port Dandy or directly from Donaghadee Sound. Rather it is necessary to drop south of the Chapel Bay, circle around Rid Rock, before approaching Port Dandy from the west.

The Port Dandy initial fix is set well outside Port Dandy to ensure a southern approach is well clear of Carn Point and its outlying danger of Rid Rock. Vessels approaching from all other directions may cut in closer as there are no dangers metres 150 metres out from the shoreline.


From the initial fix turn due east to approach the inlet that is just over half a mile away. Be vigilant not to be pushed off course by the tidal streams of Donaghadee Sound. Port Dandy’s sheltered waters lie close inside the small and narrow slot.



Come right into the centre of the slot where enough space will be found to accommodate at least a couple of boats. The inlet is steep-too with good water close in. Anchor in a depth to your preference on rock and stones where holding is not great.

Dinghy landings are possible on the rocky beach at the head of the inlet.

Why visit here?

Port Dandy is an alternative anchorage to Copeland Island’s spacious primary anchorage situated in the adjacent Chapel Bay.

Small and enclosed it is very different to Chapel Bay and very popular during the sailing season. Those who wish to come ashore here will find the island is well covered in the Chapel Bay entry.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities available off this secluded island.

Any security concerns?

Never an incident known to have happened to a vessel anchored in Port Dandy.

With thanks to:

Michael Fitzsimons, Groomsport Harbour Master. Photography with thanks to Francis Robinson.

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