OVERVIEW
The Skerries island group are located off the east coast of Ireland four miles to the southeast of Balbriggan and about 12 miles north of Howth Harbour. The group is made up three small islands of St Patrick’s, Colt, Shenick’s Islands, with a further Red Island that is joined to the shore and more of a headland. They vary from 15 to 18 metres in height and all have extensive rocky foreshores.



St Patrick’s, the outermost island, is distinguished by the ruins of a church on its southwest end, Shenick's and Red islands by Martello towers. The two latter are connected with the mainland, Shenick's at low water only, and Red Island by a causeway, which provides shelter to the drying Skerries Bay and Harbour on its north-west side. There is a passage between St Patrick’s Island and Colt Island, with a least depth of 3 metres, and it is this passage that is described here.



LISTED WAYPOINTS
The complete course is 2.64 miles from the waypoint 'Skerries Harbour' to 'Shenick’s Island' tending in a east south easterly direction (reciprocal west north westerly).







PASSAGE NOTES

This description is sequenced from south to north but may be used either way. The below chartlet outlines the positions of the above-listed waypoints but the sightlines and charted lines of transits may best be seen on Admiralty Chart No. 633 'Plans on the East Coast of Ireland' that is recommended.




Admiralty Chart 633 illustrates the primary transits for the cut, the crown of Colt Island on 325° T, as a lead-in, and the alignment of Shenick’s Martello on the crest of the round Popeshall Hill, to the south, on 187°T to pass between Colt and St Patrick’s island.

The islands themselves are easily identified when those taking this cut. St Patrick’s is readily distinguished by the conspicuous church ruins on its southwest end and the principal dangers to be avoided are around this end of St Patrick’s Island.




Key amongst these is the covered Dthaun Spit that is a sandy spit extending almost 400 metres to the southwest of St Patrick’s Island, encroach almost midway upon the fairway that lies between St Patrick’s and Colt islands. It has a least depth of 0.6 metres about 250 metres out from the shoreline. Another drying reef extends 500 metres to the south of St Patrick’s Island that encloses Plough Rocks drying to 2.5 metres, and Roaring Rocks on its southern extremity.




The 'SHENIK' waypoint sets the route up to leave Shenick Island about ¼ mile to port. Shenick, like Red Island, may be readily identified by its Martello tower, and Shenick again like Red Island, connects to the mainland but only at low water.




Steering towards the central 'BAY' waypoint is achieved by aligning on the centre of Colt Island on a bearing 325° T as seen on the chart.



Break off this at the 'BAY' waypoint to steer to 007° T towards 'COLT' where an astern bearing, as seen on the chart, the Martello Tower on Shenick lines up with Popeshall Hill behind it on a bearing of 187 T°.




This line of bearing then leads between St Patrick's Island and Colt favouring the latter to keep clear of Dthaun Spit extending from St Patrick's Island. This said, all boats are well-advised to stay at least 200 metres off Colt. Its southeast shoreline is particularly deceptive with an outlying rock that drys to 1.5 metres 300 metres south of the island. Likewise, it has rocky shelves extending from the island most notably to the southeast. The northeast tip of Colt Island needs good clearance also.




North of the islands at the 'COLT' waypoint, situated about a ¼ mile past Colt Island, a boat may either continue northward, if northbound, or turn due west to the 'PERCH' waypoint to approach Skerries Bay and Harbour. The end of the harbour and anchorage areas should be visible at this point.




The waypoint is located close northwest of the Perch buoy which should be should be left to port, passed on its northern side, to avoid the Cross Rock. This is located on the outer end of a ledge extending to the northward of Red Island and dries at low water.




The final Skerries Harbour waypoint is set west of the pier in the middle of the anchoring area in the harbour supporting drafts of about 2 metres.
The listed waypoints are offered as a guide and should not be used for navigation. Before using waypoints it is essential that you check their accuracy, their suitability for your vessel and the precision of your GPS.

What is the best sailing time?

Sailing season for Ireland is May to September, with June and July offering some of the best weather. Nevertheless the incidence of gales in June and July are on average two days of winds each month of winds up to force seven. So you may be either held up or having a blast depending on your sailing preferences. Ireland is not subject to persistent fog – statistically complete days of persistent fog occur less than once in a decade.

Are there any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a pleasure vessel sailing off the Irish coast.

With thanks to:

With thanks to Brian Lennon from the Skerries Sailing Club.