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Fahy Bay is tucked into the southern arm of Ballynakill Harbour on the west coast of Ireland between Cleggan Point and Rinvyle Point. It offers one of the best anchorages of the inlet in an entirely sequestered location with lovely views of the surrounding hills.

Fahy Bay is tucked into the southern arm of Ballynakill Harbour on the west coast of Ireland between Cleggan Point and Rinvyle Point. It offers one of the best anchorages of the inlet in an entirely sequestered location with lovely views of the surrounding hills.

The bay offers good protection from north round through west to south and should it become exposed perfect protection may be obtained via a short move. Harbour access is straightforward at any stage of the tide but only during daylight and the bay is obstructed by a sand bar that requires a rise of the tide to pass over.



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Keyfacts for Fahy Bay
Facilities
None listed


Nature
Remote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: may be subject to a sand bar

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
2.5 metres (8.2 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
March 5th 2020

Summary* Restrictions apply

A good location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
None listed


Nature
Remote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: may be subject to a sand bar



Position and approaches
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Haven position

53° 33.539' N, 010° 0.753' W

This is the anchoring position in about 2.5 metres inside the sandbanks in Fahy Bay.

What is the initial fix?

The following Ballynakill Harbour Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
53° 35.243' N, 010° 4.363' W
This sets up the preferred approach to the northward of Freaghillaun South. It is set on the alignment of the summit of Diamond Hill, 6 miles southeastward and a lofty conical mountain at the head of the harbour, with the northeastern side of Freaghillaun South on 113°T.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in Western Ireland’s coastal overview from Slyne Head to Erris Head Route location harbour access detailed in Ballynakill Harbour Click to view haven.


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 Fahy Bay for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Ballynakill Harbour - 1.4 nautical miles NE
  2. Cleggan Bay - 3.4 nautical miles W
  3. Clifden - 4.5 nautical miles S
  4. Clifden Boat Club - 4.7 nautical miles SSW
  5. Little Killary Bay (Salrock) - 6.6 nautical miles ENE
  6. Mannin Bay - 7.3 nautical miles SSW
  7. Bofin Harbour - 7.8 nautical miles WNW
  8. Inishturk - 9.2 nautical miles NNW
  9. Bunowen Bay - 9.9 nautical miles SSW
  10. Roundstone Bay - 10.3 nautical miles SSE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Ballynakill Harbour - 1.4 miles NE
  2. Cleggan Bay - 3.4 miles W
  3. Clifden - 4.5 miles S
  4. Clifden Boat Club - 4.7 miles SSW
  5. Little Killary Bay (Salrock) - 6.6 miles ENE
  6. Mannin Bay - 7.3 miles SSW
  7. Bofin Harbour - 7.8 miles WNW
  8. Inishturk - 9.2 miles NNW
  9. Bunowen Bay - 9.9 miles SSW
  10. Roundstone Bay - 10.3 miles SSE
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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What's the story here?
Fany Bay between Knocknahaw Point and Ross Point (central)
Image: James Stringer via CC BY-SA 2.0


Fahy Bay, known locally as Ross Bay, is one of the best anchorages of Ballynakill Harbour where a vessel may lie in great security out of the tide. The sequestered bay is entered over a bar that lies between Ross Point and Knocknahaw Point that is situated about ½ a mile southward.

The shallow bar dries in place to 0.2 metres on low springs so a rise of tide will be required to enter. Nevertheless, the bar lies in very sheltered waters and has several passages through it with charted depths of as much as 0.3 metres LAT. So it will not tame much of a rise to pass over and it would be possible for a yacht drawing as much as 1.5 metres to enter at LW neaps.

Fahy Bay is somewhat exposed to easterly conditions but it is only rough here in a southeasterly blow. This is not overly challenging as all that is required in these conditions is to move across to the small inlet south of Roeillaun, ¾ east-northeastward, that is accessible at half tide, has nearly 4 metres LAT at its centre and is perfectly protected from that quarter.


How to get in?
Convergance Point Use western Ireland’s coastal overview from Slyne Head to Erris Head Route location for approaches and the a Ballynakill Harbour Click to view haven entrance and south channel for local approaches.


The foreshore at Fahy Bay
Image: Google


Haven location Anchor in 2 to 3 metres over excellent mud holding. The southern end of the bay is slightly deeper reaching charted depths of 3.7 metres. Boats that can take to the bottom may dry on the gravel beach at the head of the bay.


Why visit here?
Fahy Bay is a snug berth that offers tranquillity. It is very secluded set in a rural hinterland. It is a good point for exploring the intricate bays in this area by tender.


What facilities are available?
There are no facilities around the shoreline of this location, except freshwater is available from a pump in the yard of Ross Lodge House by arrangement with the owner.

At Tullycross, 2 Km from Derryinver Quay, there is a small supermarket and a pub and, 3 km away, at Letterfrack there is a provisions store, two pubs, a post office, and filling station. This is less than a kilometre from Keelkyle Quay. Also, at Moyard, 2 Km from Keelkyle Quay has an excellent shop for provisions, a post office, and gas refills are available. Major restocking or other services are likely to be found at Clifden 9 miles away.


With thanks to:
PETER CRAVEN & Michael Harpur eOceanic.




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