OVERVIEW
The 70 miles of coast between Dublin Bay and Rosslare Harbour is partly obstructed by a long discontinuous chain of detached sand banks. The banks lie parallel to the coast varying from just over a mile to almost ten miles offshore and some are as long as five miles in length. Caution is required at the southeast corner of Ireland where the Atlantic Ocean and the St. George's Channel collide with tidal flows that attain up to 2.5 knots. To say the least it can be a very rough corner, both close in and well out to sea.

In heavy weather conditions, with wind-against-tide, heavy overfalls will be found all along the coast and it should be entirely avoided. In fair conditions, availing of the waypoints and tidal planning provided, it is more than manageable. This well-tested route should present little difficulty in reasonable conditions for a modern sailing vessel with auxiliary power.

LISTED WAYPOINTS
The complete course is 84.26 miles from the waypoint 'Baily Lighthouse' to 'East of Kilmore Quay entrance' tending in a south south westerly direction (reciprocal north north easterly).













Attention should be paid to the prolific sand banks off the east coast as the tide does not flow parallel to the banks but tends to flow diagonally across them so a vessel can be easily swept up onto them. Around the banks, the north going flood tides tends to flow across the banks northwest, and the south going ebb tide tends to the southeast. This causes the water to ride up and break on the west side of the banks on the flood and the eastern side on the ebb. It also draws the vessel in along these lines. Close inshore off Arklow the streams run alongside the coast.

Please advise Rosslare Harbour [Rosslare Radio] on 16, working channel 23, when approaching the commercial channel into Rosslare. Cross in the vicinity of the South Long and the Splaugh Rock Buoys.

East, central and west St. Patrick’s Bridge waypoints are indicated so as to allow an approach to the Bridge at angles and line up the crossing to be at the optimum to point.


NORTHBOUND
Best time to leave Kilmore Quay is when the tide turns on St. Patrick's Bridge immediately outside. This is up to 2 hours earlier than in Saltee Sound and high water Kilmore Quay which is at High Water Dover -0535 (Cobh +0015). This will have the tide turning on St. Patrick's Bridge at approximately Dover +0450 and a boat should be there awaiting the slack 30 minutes earlier as presented above.

A back eddy situated in the bight between the Saltee Islands and Carnsore can then be utilised to take the vessel to Carnsore Point where the start of the north going tide can be picked up at the Fundale Buoy. This, when combined with the local back-eddy, will thereby provide a northbound passage with 8 hours of supporting tide. Availing of this a vessel capable of maintaining six knots or above, should be able to get past Wicklow Head before the tide turns south.


SOUTHBOUND
Southbound vessels should aim to be at Wicklow Head at slack water ready to pick up the south going tide. Again this uses the local tide eddy from Fundale to St. Patrick’s Bridge. Although not as favourable as it is for a north going passage, the tide is slack and not adverse allowing approximately 8 hours of favourable, or at least neutral, tidal streams for the passage.

The tide turns west on St. Patrick's Bridge at low water Kilmore, Dover HW +0037, -2 hours which is Dover -0123. Kilmore Quay's channel and entrance are narrow at low water and subject to silting. So clawing back time to avoid a low water entry will be helpful, especially so for vessels carrying deeper drafts. Prepare to the last bit under power.

What is the best sailing time?

Sailing season 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 a known issue to have occurred sailing off the Irish coast.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.