The approach could not be simpler; start from the SWM and proceed inwards along the well marked channel. The channel is dredged periodically to a depth of 2.3 meters but the shallowest part is said to be 2m less than the depth as you pass the SWM; entrance is possible for most drafts four hours either side of HW.
A wise skipper would arrive at the SWM an hour before HW to transit the channel with max depth on a still rising tide and potter into the marina when there is least current through it!! Don’t forget that the anchorages around Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye are less than an hour away to pause for a while.
There are three sets of perches marking the outer channel and then three sets of buoys. If you stick to the channel you will be OK but be careful as you pass close to the club moorings outside and to the south of the channel as there may still be some mud banks left over from dredging.
Finally, as with many of the harbours on this coast, onshore winds and an ebb tide out of the channel, go somewhere else. Of course, the same goes for departure - leave the marina on the ebb and with onshore winds over the bar and it’ll be like launching a dinghy off Bondi Beach, exciting!
Waypoint
Charts
AC 44 Nose of Howth to Ballyquintin Point; AC 633 Malahide Inlet; SC5621.4 C Malahide InletHazards
There are sandbanks to Port and
Starboard and a bar at the entrance so take advice from the marina on
depths in the channel. Tide runs strongly through the marina. Tide in
the fairway can reach 3.5kts so, with onshore winds and an ebb tide,
there can be a fierce chop at the entrance.
Tidal Data Times & Range
HW is Dublin +0005; MHWS 4.2m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 2.1m MLWS 0.5m; Outside the inlet the tides run north/south at up to 1knot, north from half an hour before HW Dublin and South from half an hour before LW. In the fairway they run in/out as one would expect with the local HW/LW but, because of the lagoon inland of the marina, there’s quite a lot of water involved and the streams can reach up to 3.5 knots.
Contacts: Marina VHF #37 tel +353 (0)1 8454129: Yacht Club tel +353 (0)1 453372
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