Pilotage information.. on your phone
Contacts; Bray Sailing Club VHF #11 (when racing) tel no +353 (0)1 2860272 http://www.braysailingclub.ie/
This is a super little harbour about 1.5 miles North of the prominent Bray Head. The only chart information is a couple of small marks on AC1468 and you’d be forgiven for missing that. The harbour is an extension of the River Dargle which flows along its Northern wall and the stream is outgoing throughout the tidal cycle. You’ll only be able to get in for a couple of hours either side of HW and, if you want to stop for more than lunch you’ll need to be able to take the ground.
The Sailing Club runs the moorings on the South side of the harbour, so contact them if you want to stay a while. The Sailing Club is reported to be very welcoming towards visiting yachties and Google maps has a lovely coverage of the harbour; try this link:-
Bray is only about twelve miles from Dublin, well connected by public transport (road and rail) so is a popular tourist venue with all the amenities that entails. Of particular note is the Bray Summerfest which takes place for six weeks in July and August when the whole town comes alight with funfairs, live music, carnivals etc. For more details see:-
http://www.braysummerfest.com/
All in all Bray is a great place to visit, it’s well sheltered in off shore winds though its entrance would be difficult in very strong easterly winds. So, if you can take the ground, don’t overlook this harbour. The best advice would be for you to contact the Sailing Club and make your number if you intend an overnight visit here.
There are no problems close in, in the vicinity of the harbour but don’t....
.... come too close to Bray head because it sports a few off-lying rocks, namely the Cable Rock, Periwinkle Rocks and Crab Rock but they are very close in and would not normally affect the cruising yachtie.
When entering the harbour favour the South wall which, at the entrance, has the deeper water but as soon as you have entered switch to the North wall (where the river is running) and peg the current to one of the three landing stages that are on that wall. The outflow is quite noticeable even if the tide is flooding and if there is a northerly set in the wind there are small overfalls where the river meets the sea.
There are landing stages against the North wall and you might be able....
.... to get alongside the South wall though there are not too many ladders. One of the landing stages has a pontoon but that is only for short stops while you can overnight on one of the other two if you can take the ground. Usually one of the residents may be away cruising for a few days and you might be able to use one of the Sailing Club moorings but you should contact the Sailing Club to arrange that in advance; the harbour dries to sand so getting back aboard at low tide is not a problem (assuming you have a boarding ladder?). There may even be room to anchor fore and aft but again that depends on the Sailing Club.
If you arrive at Low Water (as is likely if you’ve come down from the North) you can anchor off the harbour to wait for water to get in, or even choose to stay at anchor outside but be aware that there will be quite a cross current to be negotiated getting ashore as well as the outflow from the harbour.
At the moment there is no information as to harbour Dues at Bray.
Showers and toilets are available at the Sailing Club and you will have to ask there about the other facilities.
There are boat services and a sail maker in the harbour and water can be obtained from the Sailing Club compound.
Petrol and diesel will have to be lugged in cans from the petrol station on the far corner of the golf course unless arrangements can be made for a tanker to deliver diesel.
The hardware store can deal with refills for most Gas/Gaz bottles
It’s a tourist town so you are spoiled for choice but a list of the more popular spots can be found at
http://www.yelp.ie/search?cflt=nightlife&find_desc=&find_loc=Bray%2C+Co.+Wicklow
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