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Adjacent Haven NAdjacent Haven E

Little Saltee (west side)

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Overview





The Saltee Islands are two small islands that are situated off the southeast corner of Ireland, approximately halfway between Hook Head and Carnsore Point. This is a secluded anchorage on the west side of Little Saltee Island, the smaller and northernmost of the two islands.

The Saltee Islands are two small islands that are situated off the southeast corner of Ireland, approximately halfway between Hook Head and Carnsore Point. This is a secluded anchorage on the west side of Little Saltee Island, the smaller and northernmost of the two islands.

The western side of Little Saltee is a stay aboard anchorage that offers protection for up to about a force four from the East. The Saltee Islands require careful navigation owing to the numerous outlying rocks and strong currents. They are however very workable in settled clear conditions and highly enjoyable.
Please note

Currents can attain speeds of 3.4 knots on springs in this area. Those planning to explore these waters should have the benefit of a good plotter, or large scale charts, and a reliable engine.




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Keyfacts for Little Saltee (west side)
Facilities
None listed


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: landing not recommended, possible or permitted here

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
1 stars: Stay-aboard; lunch stop or tide-wait exposed or tenacious holding location where a vessel should not be left unattended.



Last modified
May 3rd 2018

Summary* Restrictions apply

A stay-aboard location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
None listed


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
Restriction: landing not recommended, possible or permitted here



Position and approaches
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Haven position

52° 8.205' N, 006° 35.618' W

In the anchorage situated 200 metres off Little Saltee Island’s western shore about midway along the island.

What is the initial fix?

The following Kilmore Quay initial fix will set up a final approach:
52° 9.200' N, 006° 35.300' W
This waypoint is Kilmore Quay’s safe water marker, a red and white buoy with a long white flash (Iso 10s). The buoy is positioned between Kilmore Quay and Little Saltee Island.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southeastern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour Route location. The Kilmore Quay Click to view haven entry provides approach directions for this haven.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Little Saltee (west side) for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Little Saltee (landing beach) - 0.4 nautical miles NE
  2. Little Saltee (east side) - 0.5 nautical miles E
  3. Great Saltee (landing beach) - 1.1 nautical miles SW
  4. Gilert Bay - 1.5 nautical miles SSW
  5. Georgina’s Bay - 1.7 nautical miles SSW
  6. Kilmore Quay - 2 nautical miles N
  7. Bannow Bay - 8.6 nautical miles WNW
  8. Baginbun Bay - 8.9 nautical miles WNW
  9. Fethard On Sea - 9.1 nautical miles WNW
  10. Carne - 9.9 nautical miles ENE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Little Saltee (landing beach) - 0.4 miles NE
  2. Little Saltee (east side) - 0.5 miles E
  3. Great Saltee (landing beach) - 1.1 miles SW
  4. Gilert Bay - 1.5 miles SSW
  5. Georgina’s Bay - 1.7 miles SSW
  6. Kilmore Quay - 2 miles N
  7. Bannow Bay - 8.6 miles WNW
  8. Baginbun Bay - 8.9 miles WNW
  9. Fethard On Sea - 9.1 miles WNW
  10. Carne - 9.9 miles ENE
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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How to get in?
Convergance Point The Kilmore Quay Click to view haven entry provides approach directions for this haven.
Please note

Those planning to cruise this area should study the ’Additional notes for the Saltee Islands’ set out in these coastal descriptions or in the Kilmore Quay entry. A sharp lookout should always be kept for lobster pots in and around the Kilmore Quay area.






Initial fix location From the initial fix head due south towards Little Saltee Island. Then pass along the western side of Little Saltee keeping within the island’s 2 - 4 metre contours until the midpoint of the island.
Please note

Be careful not to drift into the island as the shoreline shelves abruptly.



This approach keeps a vessel well clear of the two covered dangers situated west of Little Saltee; Murroch's Rock and Jackeen Rock. Murroch's Rock, awash at low water, lies just under ¾ of a mile to the northwest of the Little Saltee Island.

Murrock’s Rock – position: 52 08.753’N, 006° 35.919’W

Jackeen Rock, with 1.5 metres of cover, is situated just over a mile west by southwest of the north tip of Little Saltee Island.

Jackeen Rock – position: 52 08.438’N, 006 36.722’W

The unnamed Privateer Rock, clearly marked on the charts half a mile west of the centre of Little Saltee Island, has 3 metres of cover and should present no difficulty for leisure craft.

Privateer Rock – position: 52° 08.349’N, 006° 35.635’W





Continue along the coast until Goose Rock is identified ahead.

Goose Rock – position: 52° 08.042’N, 006° 35.546’W

The rock dries to 2.6 metres and lies 300 metres off the southwest corner of Little Saltee Island and as such will be clearly visible.


Haven location When Goose Rock is approximately 200 metres directly south anchor according to draft and conditions, approximately 200 metres off the shore. Excellent kelp free fine sand holding will be found here.



No landing is typically possible here. However at low water, in very settled conditions, the three storm beaches that face Great Saltee, around the islands southwest corner of Little Saltee, may offer landing opportunities. Keep offshore on the approach as a reef extends from the southwest corner.


Why visit here?
The Little Saltee Island Landing Beach Click to view haven entry provides island information.

From a sailing perspective this is another excellent Little Saltee Island lunch stop or tide wait location for those who do not want to commit to the time or expense of entering Kilmore Marina. It is also close enough to St. Patrick’s Bridge to observe the precise turn of the tide so as to maximise the route Route location ‘eight hours of a following tide from Kilmore Quay; east or westbound’.


What facilities are available?
There are no facilities on the Little Saltee Island and this anchorage offers no landing capability. Immediately ashore Kilmore Quay has all facilities.


Any security concerns?
Security issues are unheard of on the Saltee Islands. In fact if anything the reverse is more likely to be encountered. Local boatmen are very welcoming and you can take it that they will by good nature be keeping an eye on the welfare of your vessel, should she drag whilst you are ashore, and be ready to assist you.


With thanks to:
Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photography with thanks to Burke Corbett and Michael Harpur.












About Little Saltee (west side)

The Little Saltee Island Landing Beach Click to view haven entry provides island information.

From a sailing perspective this is another excellent Little Saltee Island lunch stop or tide wait location for those who do not want to commit to the time or expense of entering Kilmore Marina. It is also close enough to St. Patrick’s Bridge to observe the precise turn of the tide so as to maximise the route Route location ‘eight hours of a following tide from Kilmore Quay; east or westbound’.

Other options in this area


Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Kilmore Quay - 1.3 miles N
Great Saltee (landing beach) - 0.7 miles SW
Gilert Bay - 0.9 miles SSW
Georgina’s Bay - 1 miles SSW
Bannow Bay - 5.4 miles WNW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Little Saltee (east side) - 0.3 miles E
Little Saltee (landing beach) - 0.2 miles NE
Carne - 6.2 miles ENE
Ballytrent - 6.5 miles ENE
Rosslare Europort (Rosslare Harbour) - 7.2 miles NE

Navigational pictures


These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Little Saltee (west side).











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Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.