Yachting Monthly - November 2015

48 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015

PILOTAGE

Cork Harbour has seven Martello towers,

including one on Haulbowline and one

on Fota Island.

Hundreds of these circular forts were

built in England, Ireland and across the

Empire during the Napoleonic War.

They mounted one heavy cannon on

top with a 360° arc of fire. None ever fired

Martello towers

circumnavigate Spike Island. Its name is

deceptive – it actually derives from the

Irish for ‘bishop’s island’ and Spike has

ancient monastic and Viking remains

as well as its more recent military ones.

Its pontoon and pier are signposted for

licensed passenger vessels only, but in

practice there is no objection to berthing

on the back of the pontoon, provided its

front face is left clear for the ferry. It’s

always possible to anchor, but avoid the

area at the northwest of the island, because

the bottom is fouled by cables and pipes.

Independent visitors are advised to make

themselves known to the staff (identifiable

by their hi-vis jackets) mainly so that they

don’t accidentally get locked in the fort

when it closes for the night at 1730. It still

makes a pretty good prison.

Beyond the oil jetty at Whitegate, East

Channel leads to the wooded and scenic

East Passage, which separates Great Island

from the mainland to the east. Here is

East Ferry marina, in a beautiful location.

Opposite is East Grove Quay, once used by

the little paddle steamers that served the

Monning Fort, near Fota Island, was the only Martello Tower ever captured

Spit Bank has one of only two screw-pile lighthouses in Ireland. Designer Alexander Mitchell supervised their construction despite being blind

Haulbowline Island, with its
Napoleonic-era buildings
and Naval HQ control tower

Founded in 1720, the Royal Cork Yacht Club

is the world’s oldest

a shot in anger, and only one was ever

captured; the Monning Fort, near Fota

Island, was taken over briefly in 1867 by

rebel forces during the Fenian rebellion.

The name Martello is due to a misprint.

The design was inspired by the fort at Punta

Mortella (Myrtle Point) in Corsica, which

in 1794 resisted all attempts to destroy

it by naval gunfire. They should be called

Mortella towers.

PHOTO: CMRC