Contacts:  There are no shore-side contacts unless you count the pub which is +353 (0)18495454

The pier at Loughshinny it is normally home to quite a few fishing boats; it dries along most of its length, although you might be able to come alongside for a short time at the end of the pier at HW.  The bay provides a good sheltered anchorage in winds from the SSW through to the NNW and has good holding in sand.  It is totally unsheltered from the NE through to the SSE and, into the bargain, has problems with the number of lobster pots in the bay: if you intend to anchor here it would be wise to use a tripping line and even then you could end up bringing a pot up with your warp.

It’s the sort of anchorage to run up to on the flood from Malahide for Sunday lunch at the pub and then run back down in the afternoon on the ebb or do the same on an evening tide for an overnight stop on a Saturday and back the next day; the pub is recommended for its music on Saturday evening.

Lambay Island has even less in the way of facilities and, in fact, the privately owned island prohibits landing; the plus side is that the anchorages on the North and South side of the island are in deep water close into cliffs with good holding and you have a choice depending on which way the weather is coming from. 

There are actually three anchorages, one in the cove on the North coast called Saltpan Bay (formerly Swallow Cove), another on the South coast which is Talbot’s Bay and finally the unnamed bay on the West side where there is a small drying harbour reserved for use by the owners of the island.

The anchorages, especially the Northern and Southern ones are bounded by steep to cliffs and you can anchor really close in; it is very snug in these bays and even if it’s blowing a hooley outside it’ll be flat calm underneath the cliffs. These two anchorages are possibly the best on the whole of East of Ireland coast and useful to have in mind as a bolt hole if weather has caught you out!. 

The anchorage in the westerly bay is not so sheltered and is only of use as a temporary anchorage suitable for a lunchtime stop or to wait out the tide in settled conditions.

The approach to Loughshinny couldn’t be simpler;

........ just sail in to the middle of the bay and pick a spot that suits your draft and drop the pick. There is a Martello Tower on the Southern Headland of the bay which will distinguish it from the small cove to the South. Be aware of the shallows extending out from the end of the pier which are marked at their outer end by a piece of bent angle iron; well, it’s a bit more than angle iron but you get my meaning.

There are no problems getting in to the anchorages around Lambay Island except for the rocks around the Western side which are clearly marked by buoys (a SHB on the SW corner and a NCM on the NW corner.)  There is also a rock just to the north of the pier which has only 1.2 meters and sits about 200 meters out from the shore.  This means that if you want to make use of the bay off the pier you need to run in from a point due west of the pier itself and about 300yards out and only in daylight.  The East side of the island is steep to and has no hidden off shore hazards.

You might get alongside the outer end of Loughshinny pier at HW but,

.......... even if it’s free, you are likely to be asked to move by a returning fishing vessel and as there are no services whatsoever it’s not worth the hassle. 

At Lambay Island the anchorages, especially the Northern and Southern ones are bounded by steep to cliffs and you can anchor really close in; it is very snug in these bays even if it’s blowing a hooley outside it’ll be flat calm underneath the cliffs

None, but if you are desperate you might get a top of water from one of the cottages at Loughshinny. Do not land at Lambay.

The only other thing of remark is that the mackerel fishing in Saltpan Bay is reputed to be good.

Pub and shop. Pub website

http://theyachtbar.com/