Contributions by Heikki Kauppi

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

Access to the mooring buoys is easy. To my knowledge the pier is not available for visitors.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

The pier is not available for visitors (as of April 2023). There are a few buoys on the bay which are free of charge. Access to pier by dinghy. There’s a nice pub a few steps from the pier.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025 | updated_on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

The Killybegs Marina is on the pontoon SW from the town piers. The visitor berths are at the end of the pontoon that is nearer to the shore (as per April 2023). When I visited the harbour a new harbour office was under construction near the pontoon entrance.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025 | updated_on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

The entry to the harbour is along a dredged channel south of Eighter and Inishcoo Islands. The navigation may be tricky during low tide so make sure you have a good chart available. This is principally a fishing and ferry harbour but with the permission of the harbourmaster and the fishing vessel concerned one may be allowed to moor alongside a fishing vessel. Once in, there is a good seafood restaurant (The Lobster Pot) and a pub (O’Donnell’s Bar) about 100 m from the pier. The toilet is on the pier. (info from April 2023)

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025 | updated_on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

I have visited the harbour in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2024 it did not function as guest harbour anymore and there was no manned harbour office. There was a phone number on the wall of a shed, but no one answered. The nearest proper guest harbour is in Portrush.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

description

Portrush harbour is small but the facilities are quite good. It’s home to one of the largest yacht clubs in North Ireland and their clubhouse is right next to the harbour office. Visitors moor alongside on a pontoon on the north side, in columns if necessary. It is always advisable to contact the harbour office in advance to check the availability. The number can be found on the website, a link to which is provided on this page. Portrush is a popular holiday destination and there is a good supply of bars and restaurants. Portrush provides access to the magnificent Giant’s Causeway. Entry is not recommended for boats with a draft of more than 2 meters. The water is shallow to the south of the harbour. It is advisable to approach from NNE-NE and make a left turn off the harbour entry.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025 | updated_on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

There are at least two marina operators in Kinsale. When approaching the town from the sea up Bandon River one sees first lots of buoys on port side. Most of them are private but some can be reserved for temporary mooring from Kinsale Yacht Club (KYC). KYC also operates the large marina a little further up river on starboard side. A bit further up the river is another marina but I know nothing about it. KYC is conveniently located as it provides an easy access to the town. It is very popular though and at times they may not be able to accommodate all boats that would like to come in. The other marina looked clearly less busy. All services (toilets, showers, harbour office, garbage collection, restaurant) are located in or at the clubhouse (see map). KYC has two very helpful harbour masters that are experienced seafarers themselves. If you need something for the boat, or want to know something of Kinsale, ask them. If you need reparations for your boat, Kinsale Boatyard Ltd a couple of miles down the river is at your service.

Kinsale is sort of Ireland’s Brighton: a busy holiday town with lots of excellent restaurants, hotels, shops etc. Kinsale is also a good place to change crew: there’s a frequent bus connection from the old market hall to Cork and its international airport.

Access to Kinsale is very straightforward. As always in rivers, the deep channel is closer to the outside of a bend. Otherwise no worries.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2025 | updated_on 9. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

description

This is primarily a fishing and ferry harbour but they welcome occasional sailors. The facilities are quite basic and the mooring is alongside by the fishing pier (see photo). When I visited in 2023 I just sailed in and asked the fishermen where it was appropriate to moor. There was a plan to build a pontoon for the visitors but it is unclear whether the plan has materialized. In 2025 the harbourmaster’s phone number was given as +353 87 335 4831 on goldenpages.ie but I have never spoken to them.

1 x helpful | written on 10. Aug 2025

Heikki Kauppi says:

area

maritime qualities

description

The bay north of the pier is suitable for anchoring. The area south of the pier is used for anchoring fishing vessels and there are some buoys as well. I don’t know whether the buoys are meant for visitors but at least we were not chased away when using one. The scenery on Broad Haven Bay is beautiful but the harbour itself has little to offer except shelter.

1 x helpful | written on 10. Aug 2025