Contacts:

Warrenpoint HM VHF #12             tel  +44 (0)2841 752878
Carlingford Lough Yacht Club     tel  +44 (0)2841 738604
Carlingford Sailing Club               tel  +353 (0)42 937 3238 (International rates from UK mobile)
Carlingford Marina    VHF #37          tel  +353 (0)42 937 3073 (International rates from UK mobile)

The first thing to note about Carlingford Lough is that the NE shore is in Northern Ireland and the SW shore is in the Irish Republic.  As both are part of the European Union there is no restriction on travel between the two and no there are no border controls or customs posts and so no immigration formalities to be observed in going from one shore to the other.  You should note that, if you are using a UK based mobile phone, calls to the SW shore are the same as calls to the other side of the English Channel from Dover; ie expensive! It’s also worth noting that dialling codes are different in Southern Ireland – numbers starting 08…. are generally mobiles. If you have a ship’s cat or dog it might be wise to check on the rules regarding landing those before you set off (They might not take kindly to stoppage of shore leave!)

Right, having sorted the admin out, Carlingford is more like a Norwegian Fiord than its neighbour Strangford, having steeper sides and a deeper bottom, but it resembles it in that there is a large body of water passing in and out of a narrow entrance with every tide so you need fairly settled conditions and a favourable tide to pass through. There are two approach channels to the neck at Cranfield Point; one is a straight run in on the leading marks off Greencastle the other a dog leg around the shallows to the South of Haulbowline which is subject to cross tides. Our chart shows both, with the transits to be followed. ... read more

Tidal Information:

It is worth noting that tides at Cranfield Point are as Liverpool so ingoing stream starts at LW Liverpool and the outgoing stream at HW Liverpool.  Out at the Hellyhunter Buoy where your approach will start the tidal streams are coastal and the change to in/out streams occurs as one gets closer in. At their height the currents will slowly increase to 3½ kts in the approach, reaching 4½ kts abeam the Haulbowline Light and further increase to 5kts at Greenore Point.  They then reduce quite rapidly to about 2½ kts between the Watson Rocks and Stalka Rocks and then down to 1½ kts at the Marina. In the bight of the bay off Rostrevor there is very little tide whilst in amongst the shoals at Greencastle you can expect to be anchored in a tideway.

Approach:

The coast in this area, from St John’s Point to Dublin, is such that in any onshore conditions above F4 to F5, unless you are trying to make it in to shelter, it’s best to stay a good two or three miles off shore. The slope of the bottom and frequent shoals mean that the surf will start to gather quite a long way out and cause quite challenging conditions for a yacht on passage.  If intending to close with Carlingford Lough you should pick settled conditions and if unfamiliar with this coast make your approach in daylight. Coming from the North you’ll be coming down on the ebb aiming to arrive off the entrance about LW to go in on the beginnings of the flood and, if from the South, it’s a bit more ticklish because you’ll be coming up on the flood but don’t want to arrive in the middle of that but you must get there before the ebb starts (which is why you’ll probably need to drop anchor at Greencastle as soon as you get in). ... read more