Contacts:  Wicklow HM  VHF #14      tel no +353 (0) 40467455; 
Wicklow Sailing Club tel no +353 (0) 40467526 http://www.wicklowsailingclub.com/

Wicklow Harbour consist of an inner and outer harbour; the outer harbour is an extension of the banks of the River Leitrim (some times know as the Vartry River) whilst the inner harbour is formed by the piers reinforcing the north and south banks of the river as far as the arched bridge across the river in linking the Murrough spit with the main town. The river itself flows along parallel to the Murrough spit from the North for a couple of miles behind the sand dunes separating the low lying hinterland from the sea.

The outer harbour has two walls known as the East and West walls and the middle is fairly shallow. It is sheltered from all but Northerly and North Easterly winds which set up a swell inside the harbour.  The river piers are the North and South piers which are reserved for commercial traffic but in exceptional circumstances (like the Round Ireland Race) may be use by yachts.

A few years ago the road access to the harbour for HGVs was improved and now you can expect to see large coasters coming in to Wicklow and tying up at the Packet Pier between the inner and outer harbours two or three time a week
From the yachties point of view Wicklow is most famous for its Sailing Club’s hosting of the biennial Round Ireland Race.  The next Race is presumably in 2024 but Notice of the Race has not yet been posted with the main website at:-

SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race 2022 

Obviously the harbour will be pretty full of competitors during the sailing of that internationally famous race so, unless you are involved in the event or have booked a berth very early, I’d give it a miss. For the weekend of the race the town hosts a “Fest” which starts on the Thursday, well before the race itself, which starts at lunchtime on the Sunday and you can expect finishers to start appearing back over the Northern horizon early on the Wednesday morning.

Outside that weekend there’s normally a good welcome to be found here and the Sailing Club is a cheerful host.
If you want an overview of the harbour from the shore go to our link below

Street view

There is a yellow marker buoy at the end of a sewage outflow

...... about half a mile NE of the harbour entrance which is as good a point to make for as any other if coming from the North; from the South give Wicklow Head a reasonable offing and beware of the tidal streams close in to the North of the Head which can set you in towards the shore.

Note also that if approaching at night the “safe” sector of the red/white sector light on the East Pierhead is Red and will keep you clear of the rocks lying off the East Pier.  Be careful of those rocks if approaching close in from the South, there are rocks awash at HW outside the more obvious drying rocks.

Other than that the approach is trouble free as long as you make sufficient allowance for the tidal streams running up and down the coast and of course are not making your approach in strong N or NE winds when the harbour entrance can become impassable.

The moorings to the South of the West pier belong to the Sailing Club and not

...... to be used without prior arrangements and the inner harbour is reserved for commercial traffic. Visiting yachts should tie up at the East Pier. Harbour dues (2019) are still a straight 15.00 Euros per craft. (And there is still no power available on the East Pier)

Should the wind turn into the North or NE it is normally possible for a visiting boat to move into the inner harbour but you should expect to be rafted against a fishing vessel.

Anchoring within the harbour is not an option due to the large vessels entering and leaving from the Packet Quay which need the room to turn.

There is a water tap on the East pier but no shore power. Toilets are available and when it’s open (most evenings) visitors are welcome to use the showers at the Sailing Club. As County Wicklow’s County town it is well endowed with shops, supermarkets and is a good spot to re-provision. Gas/Gaz is available near the pier.

You should contact the HM to organise diesel but petrol will have to be found in the town (it’s beside the Tescos Supermarket on the old Dublin Road)

This is a lovely place for a run ashore; for a start the sailing club would be hurt if you did not drop in for a yarn and after that you are spoiled for choice.

If it’s raining there’s always the cinema or the bowling alley and several games arcades; this is, after all, a holiday destination as well as a port so plenty to do.