Rathlin Island and Rathlin Sound
At a Glance
Contacts: HM Ballycastle VHF Channel 80. Tel No 02820768525. Mob 07803505084
Local helpful number 07912 939461
The Island main harbour (which is run by the HM at Ballycastle) is
in the NE corner of Church Bay and provides good shelter from the
NW through North to the ESE. It is worth noting that if you
were to arrive in these waters running before a N to NE gale this
is about the only place on this coast which would realistically
provide shelter between Lough Foyle and Larne. There is a small
inner harbour to which is attached a pontoon and the whole lot is
contained in quite a large outer harbour protected two boulder
based piers.
The few families who live on the island are fighting a rear guard
action to remain on the island. As in many of the Hebridean
Islands there is no work here apart from farming and fishing so the
youngsters are migrating to the mainland and quite a few of the
present population commute across to the mainland to work. The
local school is fast approaching the stage when it will become
unviable and may have to close which will increase the pressure on
the diminishing population.
During the summer months it is busy with tourists who come across
from the mainland attracted by the birds, seals and scenery but for
the visiting sailor the attraction is that most of the tourists are
day trippers and the island becomes a peaceful haven once the last
boat has gone back to the mainland!! From a bird life point of
view most sailors will be familiar with the varieties here having
had to scrub their topsides clean of their visiting cards though
you may get the chance to get a close up of a puffin to add to your
album.
Rathlin Island and Rathlin Sound
Approach
Expand the "More Information" section for detailed tidal information.
The harbour in the notch on the NE corner of Church Bay poses no
difficulties except in conditions produced by a strong W or NW
wind. There is a SCM in the approach which should be left about a
cable to port; it marks the sight of a wreck which used to be a
hazard but is now dredged to a depth of 8m.
Take care to approach and enter the harbour on a ENE heading with
the seaward end of the Manor House Pier open through the harbour
entrance; If you can't see that and your heading is getting on for
North then you are in danger of running aground on the rocks and
shallows off the South Breakwater.
The harbour entrance will appear to be quite narrow from this
aspect but will open up as you pass the end of the North (West)
Breakwater. At night there is a sector light (shown on the charts)
which will lead one safely through the harbour entrance. The North
Breakwater referred to on the Admiralty Chart is often called the
"West" breakwater by the locals which can be confusing
£ GMT
Waypoint
Charts
Rules & Regs
Hazards
Tides
Berthing
There are now three pontoons in Church Bay with about 2 m depth.
Take care if going alongside on the SE side of the outside
pontoon as there is deep water only out to about 20m, ie. not much
of a turning circle, if any.
Aside from this, it is possible to anchor inside the North(West)
Breakwater in 1.2m but there may not be sufficient water at LWS,
especially if one ends up swinging to landwards of ones original
spot. The old South pier inside the harbour and the Quay just to
the West of the harbour both dry at Low Tide.If you do choose to
anchor outside to the West of the harbour, stay to the East of a
line North/South through the old quay to avoid the submarine cable
from Ballycastle.
A berth here costs you £2.50 per metre per night in 2022
Facilities
There is water and shore power on the pontoons but no fuel. There are toilets and showers in a block on the shore and there are a few shops and a Post Office.
What to Do
The area around the harbour is set up to cater for the holiday
trade.
There is a groceries shop with limited hours (opens mid morning,
closes for lunch and opens again for an hour in the afternoon and
is closed on Sundays). There are also a Gift Shop, a pub, a
restaurant, a chip shop and the Manor Guest House which has a
licenced restaurant catering to non residents. The village also
has a Visitor Centre and an RSPB Bird Centre open from April to
August.
History
Local Business
Uncategorised
Tide Information for rathlin-sound
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