Blindstrand Bay is located on the southwest coast of Ireland about twenty miles southwest of Cork Harbour and on the western shores of Courtmacsherry Bay. It is the smaller of two beautiful coves that offer convenient and secluded passage anchorages.

Blindstrand Bay is a good anchorage that is well sheltered from the seaway from south round through west to west-northwest. The problem with the outer anchorages of Courtmacsherry Bay is that the land is not very high on the western shores and can be exposed to wind. Access is straightforward at any stage of the tide as the bay itself is free of outlying dangers and gradually shelves up to its head.

Keyfacts for Blindstrand Bay

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 36.650' N, 008° 40.985' W

Within the 3 metre contour on the south side of the bay beneath Barry Point.

What is the initial fix?

This is on the approach path to Wood Point and further in than the Courtmacsherry Initial Fix to provide a clear path north of Horse Rock.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Blindstrand Bay lies on the western shore of Courtmacsherry Bay that is entered between Seven Heads and the Old Head of Kinsale. The secluded bay is situated 2¾ miles northward of Seven Heads and is entered between Barry’s Point and Quarry Point situated 800 metres northwest of the former.

Tucked in under the steep-too Barry’s Point, Blindstrand Bay offers good protection from southwesterly winds. The outer Horse Rock tends to break up any wrap-around swell making the anchorage comfortable. Likewise, it affords good shelter from westerly conditions albeit without much air cover. The northwest corner of the adjacent Broadstrand Bay is the superior anchoring area during northwesterly conditions.

How to get in?

Use southwestern Ireland’s coastal overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head for coastal planning and for Courtmacsherry Harbour for seaward approaches. The key is to pass to the Northeast of Horse Rock and after this, there are no further offshore dangers on the approach to either of these adjacent bays. From the Courtmacsherry Harbour Initial Fix, Horse and Foal Rocks will be clearly visible.




Horse Rock, and its close-lying Foal Rock, lies a ⅓ of a mile off Barry's Point and dries to 3.6 metres. It is usually visible except for at high water springs when a breaker may be expected. If uncertain of the position of Horse Rock progress a little further northward before turning to address Blindstrand Bay. At night the Wood Point Light, which provides a white sector between 315° and 332°, keeps a vessel clear of the Horse Rock and the dangers in the middle of the bay.




From the Blindstrand Bay Initial Fix steer westward into the bay passing to the north of Horse Rock. Then proceed to pass to the north of Barry’s Point and into the bay. The bay gradually shelves to its head and dries to a line south of Quarry Point.




Anchor according to draft in sand where good holding will be found. In southerly quadrant winds, the best protection will be found under Barry’s Point that is steep-too and offers some wind protection. Land at the beach or at the slip in Coolbaun.

Why visit here?

Blindstrand Bay is a beautiful secluded bay overlooked by the little fishing hamlet of Coolbaun. The bay is thought to have got its name for being a hidden recess that coasters approaching Courtmacsherry from the southwest would not see. This made it the perfect location for pirates to lie in wait to, literally, 'blindside' a merchant ship that would dare not run off into the exposed Courtmacsherry Bay with the dangerous rocks that encumber it.




Coolbaun’s name is derived from the Irish 'An Cúl Bán' meaning 'the white hill'. This was once the site of Lislee Castle one of the many that were constructed here at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland. At the time it was one of the major Norman strongholds that included Timoleague, Barryroe and Dunworly. The castle is now gone with the only traces being the scattered remains of outer walls.




In later times Coolbaun headland was a densely populated area and had a busy slate quarry giving the headland the name Quarry Point. Back in its heyday, it had a lifeboat station and a seawall that was overlooked by a lifeboat station on Barry’s Point. This came to an end as the slate was exhausted and the seawall was destroyed in a storm in December 1989. Today Blindstrand is a simply beautiful bay with little tide and beautiful white sands that make it a perfect family swimming location.



From a boating perspective, it has a beautiful secluded natural anchorage. Being only 3 miles north of Seven Heads, it is also an ideal easy, quick-access 'lunch stop, or rest-stop for vessels making passage up this coast or as a tide wait location for Courtmacsherry.

What facilities are available?

There is nothing available in this remote secluded bay. The village of Courtmacsherry is about a 25 minute walk to the north offering most basic provisions, a choice of pubs and a post office.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in Blindstrand Bay.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photographs with thanks to Niall at the Pink Elephant and burke Corbett.