APPROACHES TO SKERRIES BY SEA

In all approaches to Skerries by sea great care should be taken to steer well clear of the islands including Red Island due to the rocky foreshores and sandy banks that stretch out from them. Sailing between the land and Colt or Shenick Islands is not recommended without very good local knowledge. Mooring possibilities include anchorage in the bay (exposed to north and west) or tying up alongside at the outer extreme of the harbour wall (southerly side). The inner harbour dries but its sandy bottom is suitable for bilge keelers. Water is available at the inner end of the pier, diesel from a filling station about a mile away, provisions from several excellent shops in the town. The Sailing Club as well as some excellent eating and drinking locations are ready at hand along the Harbour Road. Those who venture further from the water's edge into the town itself will find a wonderful range of quality places to dine and drink. The restored windmills complex is well worth a visit.

Of boating interest are the Mermaid dingies that are very popular in Skerries. It is also on record that St. Patrick himself did some boating in Skerries as he frequently went to the outer island to pray. His footprint is still visible at the Springboards swimming site on Red Island. Suitable boating trips from Skerries as a base include Rockabill Lighthouse, Shenick Island (accessible on foot at low tide), Lambay (island), Lough Shinny and Balbriggan.

The following chart and waypoints are offered only as a guide and should not be used for navigation.

Skerries Waypoints


WAYPOINT LATITUDE LONGITUDE DESCRIPTION
HARB N53 35.08 W006 06.60 W OF HARBOUR
PERCH N53 35.44 W006 06.66 NW OF PERCH BUOY
COLT N53 35.30 W006 04.93 NE OF COLT ISLAND
BAY N53 34.80 W006 05.02 TURNING POINT AMID ISLANDS
SHENIK N53 34.20 W006 04.30 E OF S TIP OF SHENICK ISLAND
PATRIC N53 35.35 W006 03.80 NE OF ST PATRICK'S ISLAND
SPRING N53 34.88 W006 05.80 SE OF SPRINGBOARDS LANDING STAGE
CAPTN N53 35.10 W006 05.75 NE OF CAPTAINS SWIMMING AREA
REDISL N53 35.25 W006 06.10 N OF RED ISLAND
ROCKBL N53 35.80 W006 00.30 ROCKABILL LIGHTHOUSE


FROM THE SOUTH: The route SHENIK-BAY-COLT-PERCH-HARB gives a safe approach to Skerries Harbour through the islands with a chart-datum clearance of approximately 3 metres. PATRIC provides a turning point enroute to PERCH for those choosing the more relaxed sail outside the islands.

The route through the islands for those without GPS: sailing north leave Shenick Island about a quarter mile to port, sail towards the centre of Colt Island when bearing 325T, turning to 007T when the Martello Tower on Shenick lines up with Popeshall Hill behind it on a bearing of 187T. Then about a quarter mile past Colt Island, turn due west to round the Perch buoy leaving it to port. The end of the harbour and anchorage areas should now be visible. Watch out for lobster pots in the approaches.

FROM THE EAST: A very useful landfall is the Rockabill Lighthouse, waypoint ROCKBL (not shown on the chart above), proceeding from there to PATRIC-PERCH-HARB.

FROM THE NORTH or NORTH-EAST: Approaches from the north or north-east could use PERCH as a landfall waypoint.

Before using these waypoints for navigation it is essential that you check their accuracy, their suitablity for your vessel and the precision of your GPS


BERTHING IN SKERRIES


To get information about visitors' moorings and facilities contact:

  • Skerries Sailing Club:  +353 1 8491233
  • VHF CH72 is usually monitored by those who staff the Skerries punt by day during the sailing season.  Contact them and find out about moorings that might be available to suit your boat.

Note that the inner harbour dries out but there is always water at the outer end of the pier.  Check if it suites the draft of your boat.  Be respectful too of the needs of the fishing fleet.


USEFUL REFERENCES

  • Admiralty Chart 633 for details of depths, navigational aids, suitable anchorages, etc.
  • East & North Coasts of Ireland by the Irish Cruising Club for detailed sailing directions.

Sailing Distances (nautical miles)  from Skerries, Co. Dublin



PORT DISTANCE
Ardglass 45
Balbriggan 3
Carlingford 30
Carrickfergus 85
Clogher Head 14
Dun Laoire 19
Drogheda 14
Holyhead (Wales) 55
Howth 13
Isle of Man (Port St. Mary)  58
Kilkeel 29
Lough Shinny 3
Malahide 11
Milford Haven (Wales) 130
Portpatrick (Scotland) 85
Wicklow 38

NAUTICAL HUMOUR

Once upon a time there was a very respected skipper in the club. This skipper had led his crew in may successful trips around these islands.

He was greatly admired by his crew and fellow skippers. However, there was one unusual thing about this skipper. Every time he was due to go on watch  he went through a strange ritual. He would huddle at his chart table and, with his back to his crew,  would take out a metal cash box and unlock it carefully.

In the box was an envelope with a piece of paper inside. He would stare at the paper for a minute, and then lock it away in the box again. Then he would go on watch and go about his  duties.

For years this went on and his crew became very curious. Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of the strange envelope.

Eventually the sad day arrived when the good skipper breathed his last. After bidding their farewells the crew assembled one last time aboard the boat. They couldn't resist the temptation to open the cash box.  One of them found the envelope, opened it and read the contents. He went pale and then showed the paper to the others. Four words were on the paper, two on two lines: "Port Left, Starboard Right".