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eOceanic has been made aware of this haven. We are looking for a sailor with first-hand experience to provide their direct personal insights so that we may complete our write up. In advance of this we have posted these preliminary research notes. Do you know this location? Please contact us or click the 'Report a Mistake or Omission' button below to help share this location with the sailing community.


Cruit Bay is a small north facing inlet off the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest coast of Ireland about 40 miles west of Letterkenny. It offers a quiet and peaceful anchorage well into the bay, with the possibility of berthing alongside the quay or drying out at the pier.

Cruit Bay is a small north facing inlet off the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest coast of Ireland about 40 miles west of Letterkenny. It offers a quiet and peaceful anchorage well into the bay, with the possibility of berthing alongside the quay or drying out at the pier.

The shelter in the bay is good except in onshore winds with a northern quadrant that can make it uncomfortable at times. The access is generally straightforward but requires careful navigation and good visibility to keep clear of rocks and islets.



1 comment
Keyfacts for Cruit Bay
Facilities
Water available via tapShop with basic provisions availablePost Office in the areaRegional or international airport within 25 kilometres


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationAnchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
2 metres (6.56 feet).

Approaches
2 stars: Careful navigation; good visibility and conditions with dangers that require careful navigation.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
May 30th 2017

Summary

A good location with careful navigation required for access.

Facilities
Water available via tapShop with basic provisions availablePost Office in the areaRegional or international airport within 25 kilometres


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationAnchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed



Position and approaches
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Haven position

55° 2.127' N, 008° 24.274' W

this is the position at the quayside at Gortnasate on the east shore

What is the initial fix?

The following Cruit Bay initial fix will set up a final approach:
55° 2.741' N, 008° 24.048' W
In the Atlantic Ocean midway between Illannanoon Islet and Rinnalea Point



Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Cruit Bay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Owey Island - 1.6 nautical miles NW
  2. Bunbeg - 3.4 nautical miles ENE
  3. Burtonport - 3.5 nautical miles SSW
  4. Rutland Harbour & Island - 3.7 nautical miles SSW
  5. Gola Island - 3.7 nautical miles NNE
  6. Arranmore Island - 4.2 nautical miles SW
  7. Inishsirrer Island - 5.5 nautical miles NNE
  8. Church Pool & Portnoo - 11.5 nautical miles S
  9. Toberglassan Bay - 11.8 nautical miles NE
  10. Dawros Bay - 13.6 nautical miles SSW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Owey Island - 1.6 miles NW
  2. Bunbeg - 3.4 miles ENE
  3. Burtonport - 3.5 miles SSW
  4. Rutland Harbour & Island - 3.7 miles SSW
  5. Gola Island - 3.7 miles NNE
  6. Arranmore Island - 4.2 miles SW
  7. Inishsirrer Island - 5.5 miles NNE
  8. Church Pool & Portnoo - 11.5 miles S
  9. Toberglassan Bay - 11.8 miles NE
  10. Dawros Bay - 13.6 miles SSW
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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How to get in?
Route location The 'Erris Head to Malin Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northeast bound Route location sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southwest bound Route location sequence; western approaches may use either description.

This open north facing small inlet, the southwestern fork of the larger Inishfree Bay off the Atlantic Ocean, is situated immediately to the east of Cruit Island and is part of the Rosses district of County Donegal.The entrance to the inlet lies between Illannanoon Islet and Rinnalea Point, but care must be taken not to mistake the entrance with the bay immediately to the west of Tordermot and Inishillintry Islets, which is very foul.

Haven locationThe best anchorage with 2 metres depth is well into the bay just south of Corillan Islet, also known as Odd Island, though at times the anchorage tends to be occupied by local fishing vessels. Whilst obtaining water and stores it is also possible to go alongside at Gortnasate Quay on the mainland due east of Corillan which has at least 3 metres depth at low water springs. Kincasla Pier just southeast of Gortnasate Point dries to 0.5 metres alongside but is completely sheltered and is a good place for a yacht to dry out.


Why visit here?
Cruit Bay, pronounced Critch Bay, is a quiet and peaceful anchorage with good shelter and with generally easy access but does require careful navigation to keep clear of rocks and islets, particularly Nicholas, Sylvia and Yellow rocks. It is secure in all summer winds though swell and a northerly wind make it uncomfortable at times, and it should also be noted that the ebb tide runs out strongly. It used to be very suitable for visiting yachts to drop into but now the best part of the bay is filled with local moored fishing boats, so it is best to anchor just north of them.

Cruit Bay is part of The Rosses, Irish : Na Rosa, a geographical and social region in the west of County Donegal centred around the town of Dungloe, approx. 5 miles from Burtonport, which acts as the educational, shopping and civic centre for the area. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language, the area has a distinctive identity, separate from the rest of Donegal. The Rosses, Cloughaneely and Gweedore, known locally as “the three parishes” with over 16,000 Irish speakers together form a social and cultural region different from the rest of the county, with Gweedore serving as the main centre for socialising and industry.

The area is generally bleak and desolate but nevertheless has a unique scenic charm that attracts many visitors, particularly walkers and fishermen.

There are no facilities at this inlet except for water which is available at Gortnasate Quay, and a small shop for provisions 0.5 miles away at the village of Kincaslough, and fuel can be obtained in a further 2 miles up the road. Donegal regional airport at Carrickfin is conveniently located nearby.


What facilities are available?
there are no facilities at Cruit Bay except for water at Gortnasate Quay; a small shop for provisions and a post office are available at Kincaslough 0.5 miles away and fuel can be obtained in a further 2 miles along the road.


With thanks to:
inyourfootsteps.com site research. Photography with thanks to Suzanne and Joseph Mischyshyn and Kieran Evans.























The following videos may be useful to help first time visitors familiarise themselves with Cruit Bay.


The following video presents various views around Kincasslagh and clearly shows the quay at about 50 seconds into the film.



About Cruit Bay

Cruit Bay, pronounced Critch Bay, is a quiet and peaceful anchorage with good shelter and with generally easy access but does require careful navigation to keep clear of rocks and islets, particularly Nicholas, Sylvia and Yellow rocks. It is secure in all summer winds though swell and a northerly wind make it uncomfortable at times, and it should also be noted that the ebb tide runs out strongly. It used to be very suitable for visiting yachts to drop into but now the best part of the bay is filled with local moored fishing boats, so it is best to anchor just north of them.

Cruit Bay is part of The Rosses, Irish : Na Rosa, a geographical and social region in the west of County Donegal centred around the town of Dungloe, approx. 5 miles from Burtonport, which acts as the educational, shopping and civic centre for the area. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language, the area has a distinctive identity, separate from the rest of Donegal. The Rosses, Cloughaneely and Gweedore, known locally as “the three parishes” with over 16,000 Irish speakers together form a social and cultural region different from the rest of the county, with Gweedore serving as the main centre for socialising and industry.

The area is generally bleak and desolate but nevertheless has a unique scenic charm that attracts many visitors, particularly walkers and fishermen.

There are no facilities at this inlet except for water which is available at Gortnasate Quay, and a small shop for provisions 0.5 miles away at the village of Kincaslough, and fuel can be obtained in a further 2 miles up the road. Donegal regional airport at Carrickfin is conveniently located nearby.

Other options in this area


Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Bunbeg - 2.1 miles ENE
Gola Island - 2.3 miles NNE
Inishsirrer Island - 3.4 miles NNE
Toberglassan Bay - 7.3 miles NE
Tory Island - 9.3 miles NNE
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Owey Island - 1 miles NW
Arranmore Island - 2.6 miles SW
Rutland Harbour & Island - 2.3 miles SSW
Burtonport - 2.1 miles SSW
Church Pool & Portnoo - 7.1 miles S




The following videos may be useful to help first time visitors familiarise themselves with Cruit Bay.


The following video presents various views around Kincasslagh and clearly shows the quay at about 50 seconds into the film.




A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.


Add your review or comment:


Iain Miller wrote this review on Oct 19th 2017:

Cruit Island sits at the western tip of The Rosses area of western Donegal. It is one of the most developed rock climbing venues in Ireland containing a tad over 300 recorded routes from Diff to E2 in a relatively small geographical area. The climbing on the island is found on 24 sea cliffs around its entire coastline.

http://uniqueascent.ie/cruit_island_guide

Average Rating: Unrated

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