Best idiot proof passage past Luing

[seafox67]

I'm heading from Crinan to Mull this summer...

Which is the best idiot proof route past Luing? East of Luing and through Cuan or West of Luing?


Paul

 

[Quandary]

Out of Crinan, (LW Oban minus 1) through the Dorus Mor, keeping a bit to the west toward main channel then straight for Fladda lighthouse, give Easdale a reasonable offing if it is a lee shore. Against the tide you can sneak up through the bays on the Luing shore but you need to keep a close eye on the chart as you go north. Easy passage and you could have 8 kts of tide assist at springs. The sound runs like a swirly river there are rarely big waves once you clear the Dorus.
Through Cuan sound is interesting too, and the navigation past the Cliet rock is easy enough if you leave it close to port, you won't hit it the tide will keep you off but do not cut the corner. Sound of Luing more straightforward and direct, you can be in Tobermory in one tide.

From the light house continue on course to leave the cardinal buoy ahead to port then come round to leave the high island beyond it to starboard then straight to Duart point staying off the Mull shore until you are close to the point. Round the point, head for the islands mid channel pass either side and nothing to worry about after that.

Cuan sound is a bit more difficult than Sound Of Luing having more hazards but that may be because I am Crinan based, I am told that Claymore of this parish knows a bit about Cuan Sound.

 

[seafox67]

Thanks Quandary... Perfect :encouragement:

 

[zoidberg]

I am told that Claymore of this parish knows a bit about Cuan Sound.

Someone 'in another place' suggested the venerable Claymore is on intimate terms with every barnacle on Cleit Rock.....

 

[Minchsailor]

The 'down escalator' at Luing can be exciting. I would add keep to the east side on the approach to Corrywreckan to avoid the worst of the overfalls and being dragged into the race.

Cuan Sound - This is my normal route to/from Loch Melfort. At the eastern entrance note the rock/reef N of the point; either round the point within a couple of boat lengths of the shoreline, then head due W to avoid another rock very close inshore just SW of the point, or head well north of the point to avoid the reef entirely. Unfortunately there are no obvious clearing marks for this passage.

Cleit rock beacon can be difficult to identify against the background - keep closer to it than the Seil shore as there is reef off Seil. Watch the cross tides and the whirly pools as you do a 90deg turn. In fine weather this is an 'interesting' passage. I took one of my Solent based crew through it on a big tide and he was well impressed, especially, as if sailing, there is gybe on the turn.

 

[dunedin]

Perfect advice from Quandary as ever.
And I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Provided you don’t mess with gales and have the tide with you, the Sound of Luing is fun speedy elevator to take you swiftly where you want to go. Fun rather than frightening. Routine run for most boats on the West Coast.

Cuan definitely the more tricky route, both Cleit Rock and importantly at low tide, the rocks to the East just before you turn in. But apparently Cleit Rock is being better marked this year and again more interesting/ challenging than scary (but can get wet if head Westwards with strong tide and meet fresh Westerly at other side).

 

[seafox67]

Thanks everyone.... Sound of Luing definitely appears to be the more stress free option.

It will be my first experience of strong tides. Thankfully, I will have plenty of time to wait for some good weather

Paul

 

[webcraft]

.
Definitely Sound of Luing for the most direct and simplest route. It's a doddle, virtually no dangers. Catch the first of the flood at Dorus Mor and you should be able to carry a fair tide up into the Sound of Mull and pretty much all the way to Tobermory.

For best tidal assistance go between Seil and Insch, but be careful altering course for Duart once clear of Insh - there are rocks off the N. end of Insch. Once clear of these make for the entrance to Loch Don and pick up a strong tide from there round Duart Point into the Sound of Mull.

If you lose the tide and fancy a break, Lochaline is a great place to pull into, about a third of the way up the Sound of Mull. There's great locally run pontoons, plus it is by far the most sheltered anchorage on your route.

- W

 

[claymore]

Someone 'in another place' suggested the venerable Claymore is on intimate terms with every barnacle on Cleit Rock.....

Jest shows whit a band o' untruthfu' and inaccurate bunch o' jessies they are - ah've never touched ra Cleit an never embraced ony barnacles belangin' tae the fekker

 

[claymore]

Thanks everyone.... Sound of Luing definitely appears to be the more stress free option.

It will be my first experience of strong tides. Thankfully, I will have plenty of time to wait for some good weather

Paul

If you can buck the last of the ebb at Dorus Mor - which isn't difficult and then get some coal on you can enjoy being tidally assisted through Cuan - its good to go through on a rising tide as you see more of the Cleit and other less prominent obstacles. - then head over to Easdale and you'll have achieved the trio.

 

[Minchsailor]

Thanks everyone.... Sound of Luing definitely appears to be the more stress free option.

Paul

Cuan Sound - There has to be the first time for everyone, plenty have done it and survived to tell the tale.

 

[Mataji]

Cuan Sound. If you are only going that way once it will be something you remember forever. Pick your weather and get your tides right and whizz through.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Cuan Sound. If you are only going that way once it will be something you remember forever. Pick your weather and get your tides right and whizz through.

Frank Cowper probably wouldn’t agree with you, if his description in Sailing Tours is to be believed.

 

[mainsail1]

IMHO Cuan Sound is always stressful and sometimes very stressful.

 

[Daydream believer]

IMHO Cuan Sound is always stressful and sometimes very stressful.

I have been though twice (stopped at Croabh on way) & had no problem. Just treated it like a quick trip across the Thames estuary, but with loads of water (Only weird thing about it really)
You must all be pussies up there.:ambivalence:

 

[wully1]

Thanks everyone.... Sound of Luing definitely appears to be the more stress free option.

It will be my first experience of strong tides. Thankfully, I will have plenty of time to wait for some good weather

Paul

It’ll be fine.. you can get the odd evil day between Crinan and Lochaline which can be easily avoided - by avoiding big winds and big tides and especially both together.

if you haven’t already done so, invest in the Antares charts....so very useful for getting out the well ploughed rut to Tobermory.

 

[pagoda]

.
Definitely Sound of Luing for the most direct and simplest route. It's a doddle, virtually no dangers. Catch the first of the flood at Dorus Mor and you should be able to carry a fair tide up into the Sound of Mull and pretty much all the way to Tobermory.

For best tidal assistance go between Seil and Insch, but be careful altering course for Duart once clear of Insh - there are rocks off the N. end of Insch. Once clear of these make for the entrance to Loch Don and pick up a strong tide from there round Duart Point into the Sound of Mull.

If you lose the tide and fancy a break, Lochaline is a great place to pull into, about a third of the way up the Sound of Mull. There's great locally run pontoons, plus it is by far the most sheltered anchorage on your route.

- W

If you keep well off Luing, there are a couple of rocks of interest if you have a deep draft?. I tend to go east of Fladda for simplicity. Bono Rock -west of Cuan is well marked and often breaks in a lively fashion as some Atlantic swell gets in here, it least until past Insch Island, where the other rocks mentioned also often break.
Atlantic Swell has it's uses!

 

[pagoda]

If you keep well off Luing, there are a couple of rocks of interest if you have a deep draft?. I tend to go east of Fladda for simplicity. Bono Rock -west of Cuan is well marked and often breaks in a lively fashion as some Atlantic swell gets in here, it least until past Insch Island, where the other rocks mentioned also often break.
Atlantic Swell has it's uses!

Lochaline has moorings, a recent pontoon and nice sticky mud!

 

[ctva]

Thanks everyone.... Sound of Luing definitely appears to be the more stress free option.

It will be my first experience of strong tides. Thankfully, I will have plenty of time to wait for some good weather

Paul

Reading this thread is like reading pilot books... scares the pants off you!!!

Get a chart and tide tables, go up the middle of Dorus Mor, middle of Sound of Luing, miss Bono rock, job done.

Let us know when you are coming through the Crinan Canal as we could be going in the same direction and at the very least if we are around, a few drams to steady the nerves!

 

[JumbleDuck]

IMHO Cuan Sound is always stressful and sometimes very stressful.

One has to be prepared, but my young crew took us unaided (save for occasional words of advice) through Cuan eastwards with the tide at full chat last year. The trick I have found for that direction is to aim directly for the Cleit Rock beacon and let the tide whizz you northwards and away from it just as you think it's looking rather close. A wee bit less easy the other way.

However, the main advantage I find of the Cuan Sound is that one can sneak through at slack water before or after using Loch Melfort to avoid an unfavourable tide in the Sound of Luing.

Also it's fun. Not many places where you can actually see a slope in the water. I'm far too fearty to try the Grey Dogs, particularly since I did it in a Sea.fari rib ...