 Bantry Bay : Profile
Bantry Bay is the largest of the long inlets in south-west Ireland. It is approximately 21 miles long and 4 miles wide at its entrance. At the head of this inlet is the town of Bantry.
Centre of the town can be reached by Dinghy at high tide, otherwise a good
walk from the sailing club slip.
The northern shore provides many sheltered anchorages, although the Bay itself is exposed to the SW’lies. Lawrence Cove marina is tucked into an inlet on the N side of Bear Island and Whiddy Island protects Bantry and provides several sheltered swinging moorings.
Also providing shelter in substantial inlets, are Adrigole Harbour and, the stunning setting of Glengarriff Harbour.
Castletown Bere, north of Bear Island, is closely protected by the small Dinish Island which forms the southern side of the harbour. The western entrance, Piper Sound, is the normal approach, as the eastern one is spanned by a low bridge. The anchorage is good in about 2.5m, in mud.
Adrigole Harbour
A rock-strewn inlet which provides good shelter but which can be squally in W or N gales. There are 7 yellow visitors' buoys NE of Orthons Island. Drumlave has a pier with water and showers are available at the sailing club. Diesel (in cans), provisions and LPG are available in the village, which has a post office. (Half a mile from the pier).
Bantry Bay Sailing Club
Tel:+353 (0)27 50081
Swinging moorings, dinghy landing, water, showers.
Bantry Harbour
Tel:+353 (0)27 51253, VHF Channel 14
Position 51°40.85'N 009°27.85'W. Contact for visitors moorings.
Bantry Harbour Master
Tel:+353 (0)27 53277, VHF Channel 14, 11,16 (24hrs)
Castletownbere
Harbour Master
Tel:+353 (0)27 70220, VHF Channel 14, 16
51deg38.8'N 09deg54.45'W. Anchorage NW of Dinish Is in 2.4m, or in Dunboy Bay. There are 4 yellow buoys(summer only) E of Dinish Is. Water and diesel on the quay.
Harbourmaster may move yachts out if he feels they impede commercial traffic (ferry and fishing). Good chandlery.
Glengarriff Harbour
51deg 44.2'N 09deg31.9'W. Not a formal harbour, but a beautiful bay with both good anchorages and 6 yellow visitors' buoys. Do not use the channel spanned by the high voltage cable from Illnacullen to the mainland. The Eccles Hotel has showers as well as a restaurant and bar. The village has water at the ferry berth(1800-1900); fuel available in cans; a post office; provisions. Good selection of bars and restaurants closeby.
Lawrence Cove Marina
Lawrence Cove, Bere Island, Co Cork
Tel:+353 27 75044, Fax:+353 27 75044
www.lawrencecovemarina.com, lcm@iol.ie
Good place to ride out bad weather as it is sheltered from all corners with the exception of the NE. The marina has electricity, water, showers, toilets, launderette. Lift out facilities up to 13 ton. Shop and pub in Rerrin village about 15 minutes walk.
|