Balbriggan
At a Glance
Berthing Master. +353 (0)87 2815705
This is another of the ports on this coast which has developed
over the years to support the local fishermen. There has been some
sort of settlement here since the Middle Ages and the harbour
itself is basically an extension of the banks of the Bracken River
which flows through it. The harbour is very badly silted up with
huge banks in various places at bends and against the walls. There
are also several wrecks sitting on these banks.
The river meanders through the harbour and is un-navigable below
half tide. This means that the depths in the harbour are variable
and it dries alongside all the walls. The scouring action of the
river has developed a channel through the harbour entrance which is
deepest near the outside wall and then forms a sandbank as an
extension to that wall in a NW direction for about half a cable;
this sandbank is completely unmarked.
There is a sandy beach along the front of the town which generates
surf in an Easterly wind and at certain states of wind and tide the
entrance to the harbour will be interesting to say the least as
you'll have to turn across this surf to head into the harbour. It's
alright at HW as the surf develops further in.
The town itself has plenty of amenities but it's not much use as an
overnight stop; if you are travelling South on the ebb you'll
arrive at low water and will have to anchor off before you can get
in, and then have to go out and anchor off before you can pick up
the next ebb South. On the other hand if you are cruising up from
the South you'll be ok to get in at HW but won't be able to get out
again at LW to pick up the next flood North. This may not be a
problem if you have a big enough boat to peg the tides round here
(1.5 to 2.0 kts Springs) but then, if your boat is big enough to do
that you'll have a draft which precludes the use of a drying
harbour anyway!! The fishing vessel pattern round here is to drop
in one or two times a week to offload their catches and then, about
once a fortnight come in and tie up for a long weekend. Having said
all that, if you have a shallow draft boat and want somewhere
different to spend a couple of days this is ideal in all but strong
winds from the easterly quadrant which will make the entrance all
but impossible in the surf.
There had been a few studies by the local Council to find a way of
improving this harbour to increase its attraction for leisure boats
but basically all schemes recognised that any income generated
would be rapidly eaten up by the cost of constantly dredging the
harbour necessitated by the proximity of the beach.
As of 2019 this will all change as many millions of public money is being used to improve Balbriggan. The problem is that all that seems to be planned for the harbour itself is a facelift ; the surrounds will become a nice place for visitors to sit and eat ice cream and take in the view of a quaint old harbour. They are examining the possibility of a breakwater to protect the harbour entrance and the beach. We can find no plans for improvements to the facilities for yachtsmen You can view Balbriggan from the air in this YouTube Video
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Balbriggan
Approach
Before making an approach to the harbour it is essential that....
..... the Berthing Master be contacted in advance to ensure that they have room in the harbour for a visiting boat
The initial approach is free from danger apart from the Cardy
Rocks off Braymore Point. Run in on a SW heading for the middle of
the bay about 50 to 100 meters to the NW of the prominent light on
the pierhead and when the entrance starts to open make for the
centre of the entrance. Be very aware that there are sandbanks
extending 30 to 50 meters out from the end of both piers so keep a
close watch on your echo sounder.
The river's flow out into the sea has been diverted by the harbour
walls to flow out in a westerly direction close to the north wall
but is slow to curve back round in its escape to the sea and the
NE. If you are entering at HW (recommended) you should not be in
much danger of grounding but at lower states of the tide you will
be probing for an unmarked "river bed" which could well be masked
by surf or, if you are lucky, could be indicated by a break in the
surf.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the sector light atop the NE
pierhead has anything to do with the close in approach to the
harbour entrance; it's there to indicate a safe passage clear of
the Skerries to the South and the Cardy Rocks to the North, once
clear of either of those on the approach ignore the sectors of this
light. The close in approach is on a SW heading (as mentioned
above) with the light on your port bow.
This Youtube link is very useful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa3FdWw9k5Q
Euro GMT
Waypoint
Charts
Rules & Regs
Hazards
Tides
Berthing
Where you tie up will depend very much on the time of the week,.....
.... the day and the state of the tide. Mid week at High water there'll probably be plenty of room and the wall to port will be an option but at half ebb with a fin keeler you risk grounding and ending up on your side going for there. As has been said above, advanced arrangements with the Berthing Master are necessary before planning to pay this harbour a visit.
There are various options but it is very unlikely that you will
be able to find a spot at which you can remain afloat for the whole
tide.
They are in the process of setting the new berthing charges for
2013 but it is still uncertain whether there will be a charge for
visiting yachts.
Update 2019 They still haven't set any charges and the Berthing Master says that you'd be ok for a couple of nights.
Facilities
Surprisingly enough you will find that water, diesel (delivered
by tanker), gas and even shore power are available on the quay.
There are also engineering facilities which have developed over the
years to look after the fishing boats. They have a slip and a nine
ton travel lift if you need to come out. Unfortunately the toilets
near the harbour are a disgrace and not to be recommended.
The town is expanding as a dormitory town for Dublin so plentiful
provisions are available nearby, as are a Post Office and Banks.
There are a couple of filling stations, one on the Drogheda Road
and one on the Dublin Road; not too much of a walk but the Drogheda
Road one is marginally closer
What to Do
The town is quite large and has its fair share of pubs,
restaurants and fast food outlets (fish and chippers to you and me)
There is a modern cinema showing the latest releases on Mill street
just on the other side of the railway from the harbour.
A list of some of the larger pubs can be found at:
http://www.mytown.ie/balbriggan/Pubs-Clubs
History
Local Business
Uncategorised
Tide Information for balbriggan
Tidal Information