Muglins Sound is located between the small Dalkey Island and a separate cluster of rocks with a light tower called The Muglins. Both lie off Sorrento Point the southern extremity of Dublin Bay.

Image: Passps via ASA 4.0
Passing through Muglins Sound, or Dalkey Sound, cuts about 1 mile off a typical passage between Killiney and Dublin bays. The sequence of description is from south to north.
Why sail this route?
There are three main ways for a northbound vessel to enter the southern side of Dublin Bay. Or, conversely, for a southbound vessel to connect with the inshore passage which is the preferred route as far as Wicklow.- (i) Pass between Dalkey Island and the mainland via Dalkey Island Sound.
- (ii) Pass between Dalkey Island and the Muglins via Muglins Sound.
- (iii) Pass outside the Muglins, offshore and in open water.
The Dalkey Sound

Image: William Murphy via CC BY-SA 2.0
The much more straightforward offshore route, detailed in the Dublin Bay to Rosslare
Tidal overview
Today's summary tidal overview for this route as of Friday, February 26th at 03:21. Muglins Sound and further offshore the tides turn half an hour later than in Dalkey Sound. The north going stream begins at Dover -0530, (HW Dublin -0600). The south going stream begins at Dover +0030 (HW Dublin HW).Southbound
(HW Dover +0030 to +0642)

Starts in 07:33:16
(Fri 10:55 to 17:07)
Northbound
(HW Dover -0530 to +0042) 
Starts in 01:33:16
(Fri 04:55 to 11:07)
What are the navigational notes?
Muglins Sound, 53° 16.460' N, 006° 4.760' W
This is about midway between Dalkey Island and Muglins.
► Next waypoint: 0.21 miles, course ⇓ 327.73°T (reciprocal ⇑ 147.73°T)
East of Leac Buidhe Rock, 53° 16.640' N, 006° 4.950' W
250 metres east of the covered Leac Buidhe Rock that dries to 0.2 metres.

Navigating through the Muglins Sound is straightforward as the channel is 300 metres wide with a general depth of 15 metres, with the exception of and one small area of 6.4 metres.
To go between Dalkey Island and the Muglins, keep slightly to The Muglins side of mid-channel. Remaining outside the 10-metre contour, deeper, and adjusted for the tide, will avoid all dangers.

Photo: Tourism Ireland
Muglins is bold-to with clear water all around, except for one rock, with 0.8 of a metre LAT of cover, that lies about 100 metres to the west of the light. Below half tide most leisure craft should keep 200 metres out from Muglins in order to avoid this rock.

Image: Michael Harpur
Most of the dangers are however on the Dalkey Island side of the sound and the reef that extends northward from Dalkey island that terminates in Maiden Rock with straggling outliers on both sides of it.

Image: Tourism Ireland
The principal danger is the mostly covered Leac Buidhe which barely dries at low water. It is situated approximately ¼ of a mile north of Dalkey Island and 200 metres southeastward of Clare Rock that stands about 600 metres northwest of Dalkey Island. Keep at least 200 metres off the northeast side of Dalkey Island, and off Clare Rock will avoid the dangers on the island side of the sound, including Leac Buidhe.

Photo: Tourism Ireland
A simple rules of thumb for Muglins Sound is that a northbound vessel, not using the provided waypoints, may avoid Leac Buidhe by progressing due north through the middle of the sound until Maiden Rock is abeam. Likewise, a southbound vessel should steer for mid-channel on a bearing of due south, maintaining depths of greater than 10 metres of water, until Muglins is abeam before turning off southeastward.
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 winds up to force seven and above in June and July are on average two days each month. 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.With thanks to:
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