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Contacts:  Howth Marina VHF #80    tel  +353 (0)1 839 27777   

Howth (the "o" is short as in "hope") is a harbour about five miles north of Dublin on the north side of the Ben of Howth and a mile west of the Nose of Howth.  It’s tucked in behind Ireland’s Eye and is well protected from winds in most quarters except that when the wind is in the East the swell in the East Channel has a chance to build up so that the turn to port to enter the harbour will be across the swell and quite exciting!

The harbour is home to both leisure sailors and fishing vessels but their use is delineated by a central pier; fishing vessels use the Western Basin and leisure craft the Inner and Outer Eastern Basins.  The channel in to the Marina in the outer basin has been well dredged but at LWS may not be deep enough for deep drafted boats; there have been reports of a mud bank close the channel within the harbour with depths of as little as 1.2m (so with MLWS at 0.5m, if you have a draft of 1.8+, you do the maths!)
 
The marina here is, along with Malahide Marina, one of Ireland’s finest yachting facilities and a popular spot for yachtsmen from Dublin. 

It is a top of the range marina and offers sheltered berths and access to all the services you would normally expect of a top class marina but at a cost marginally less than Malahide.  The Marina here is owned by the Howth Yacht Club who must be congratulated on the development; along with the marina they have an impressive Club house which is open to all visiting yachts.

The Yacht Club is housed in quite a large building and has all the usual facilities, in spades; a large bar with several seating areas, an a la carte restaurant, modern changing rooms including a laundrette; it has to be seen to be believed.  Obviously such facilities come at a price and if you clew up here you must expect to pay for it, admittedly not quite as much as up the road at Malahide but certainly as much as one would expect in the marinas in the Solent.

If you come up from the South entry is simple;

....... you will presumably be running up with the flood so depth is not a real problem. Leave the Nose of Howth three or four hundred yards to port, head NW for the Howth SHM and when the end of the pier bears just south of West turn towards it; you will have both the old pierhead lighthouse (quite substantial) and the mast light on the pier extension in sight to its right; give the mast light which is lit at night at least fifty yards offing to avoid the boulders around it and when the harbour entrance is well open turn towards that.

From the North you have the choice of coming round to seaward of Ireland’s Eye or popping down through Howth Sound to the West of it. If coming round the outside don’t turn towards the harbour too early; stay outside the Rowan Rocks ECM and the Howth SHM unless you are very familiar with these waters.  The course to the inside of Ireland’s Eye is not a problem as long as you remember the Baldoyle Spit and keep within 2 cables of the Martello Tower on the North end of the Eye until it is well astern and then pass to the West of the South Rowan SHM (the flood is north here so the buoy should be left to port). If you are deep draft and you are coming down on the ebb you need to be careful of the depths, especially if your final run in is from the east and there is a heavy swell developed where you could find yourself bouncing off the bottom in the troughs as you get in close.

You might consider dropping the pick in Carrigeen Bay (West side of the Eye) to wait for deeper water

It’s here that the fun could start; ahead of you, to the right of the West pierhead, you will see the red marked end of the central pier dividing the commercial harbour from the leisure harbour; that is not red for your benefit, it’s for the fishing vessels; your marks are the green poles ahead to the left of that, you leave them to starboard (and the red poles, even further to the left, to port). At the same time be aware that at any time (and normally at the narrowest bit when Murphy is operating) a fishing vessel could appear leaving harbour on your starboard bow; and guess who the burden vessel is?!! 

If you are lucky you may have noticed his masts moving over the harbour wall and adjusted accordingly; if not, be prepared to alter to starboard to cross his stern and be aware of the small reef extending out from the west pier before resuming your course into the marina.  The channel into the marina is well marked and the fingers are labelled alphabetically (A/B being the first you come to). Once through the channel stay to the marina side of the red poles surrounding it as outside them the harbour dries at low water.

The small craft moorings in the outer harbour are all allocated

...... and there’s a waiting list so your only option here is the marina unless you anchor off Ireland’s Eye in Carrigeen Bay. 

Advanced bookings are required

If you haven't been given a berth by radio or phone, tie up to the nearest hammer head to port or, if they are all occupied, tie up under the crane and walk ashore to get instructions.

We have added a new enlarged plan of the marina with the berth numbers. Note that J1 thro' J9 are narrow berths and may not be suitable for beamy boats. 

Howth Yacht Club is extremely active and on big racing weekends visiting berths are at a premium and, unless you are involved in the racing, you may well find that there’s no room in the inn so it would be wise to book ahead. 

Their charges for 20212 remain at 3.96 Euros per meter/day with a minimum of 23.76 Euros ( includes free shore power unless staying for a week). 

Note our members note re the security arrangements where you need separate security for the Marina at night.

As you would expect the marina has every facility you could want and has attracted ancillary engineering services galore. Diesel and petrol is available but you’ll have to pick up the petrol in cans from the marina office.

There is, of course, the Yacht Club restaurant and bar but there are also a good few eateries, bars and fast food outlets just outside the harbour on the shore road. 

Those of you who prefer the bright lights will find a good bus and rail service into Dublin and all it has to offer.