Am I too inexperienced to take my boat round mull of kintyre ?

[Crinan12]

Hi folks
Advice please
We have a mooring in Crinan and we can keep our boat in the boatyard for the winter but I'm keen to get it back near Glasgow (sandpoint marina) because the boatyard fees are half that of Crinan and we have jobs to do this winter so access easier.

We only have 2 summers sailing experience and I am wondering if we should not make this trip. Obviously we would only contemplate it in very fair weather and we would plan the passage properly. But do people think even then it's a bit much for new sailors and best not tackled until we have more experience?
The furthest we've ever been is gigha for an overnight trip.
I would be concerned that we would go in a favourable forecast but the weather would not be as expected and it might be a bit of a nightmare - my observation from sailing about the sound of jura that it's often way windier than what the various apps say.
It's a seamaster 925 by the way.

Thanks v much
Douglas
P.s another boater at Crinan suggested leaving boat on our mooring for the winter- it would save a lot of money and it would be great to use the boat a bit over the winter- but i would be worried something would happen.

 

[PCUK]

Go and get the experience. If the weather is worse than expected turn round and go back. There is no shame in this, in fact it is good seamanship.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Check the forecast, don't go if there's the least uncertainty, but there's no reason not to go. Have escape routes planned in case things go pear-shaped - probably turn back to Gigha if north of the Mull, Sanda if southerly winds kick up and Campbelltown otherwise.

The main "tip" I observed when going round the MoK was to stay as close inshore as I dared at the Mull itself. I could see that the sea further offshore was much nastier than that close inshore.

The other thing worth bearing in mind is that your boat will stand a lot more than you will, and that the safest place to be is well clear of anything hard! If trouble brews, getting sea room is always a good idea.

It is my personal opinion that providing you go on a decent forecast, the MoK is less of a concern than many other locations on the West Coast with strong tidal races. The Sound of Luing, the Doruis Mor and many others are much nastier in the wrong conditions! The MoK is fearsome in westerly gales, especially wind over tide, but much of its reputation arises because it is a hazard on a major shipping route.

 

[bikedaft]

Go for it - i was nervous before first time. Etc. Still.am nervous, depending on forecast. As others have said - just turn back if it becomes rubbish...

I have often ended up motoring overnight as no wind.

Mind you, leacing her on a mooring in Crinan Harbour would be fun too ☺ as long as your insurer is happy. You would probably move to a more tucked away buoy.

Mebbe see you at Sandpoint. We're staying in the water this winter but live in Dumbarton

 

[nicho]

Why not take a more experienced skipper with you?

 

[noelex]

You have a seaworthy boat and obviously a careful attitude. I don’t think you will have any problems.

 

[JumbleDuck]

We only have 2 summers sailing experience and I am wondering if we should not make this trip. Obviously we would only contemplate it in very fair weather and we would plan the passage properly. But do people think even then it's a bit much for new sailors and best not tackled until we have more experience?

The first time I went round was in my first full year of owning myself what had been the family Westerly Jouster - 21' long. We waited two days in Campbeltown for a nice forecast and then went round with no problems.

P.s another boater at Crinan suggested leaving boat on our mooring for the winter- it would save a lot of money and it would be great to use the boat a bit over the winter- but i would be worried something would happen.

The Jouster stayed at Crinan for years, on a Crinan Boats mooring, but had to leave in the winter. I used to put her in the canal, but that's a lot less easy than it was because of the Boat Safety Scheme nonsense.

Check the forecast, don't go if there's the least uncertainty, but there's no reason not to go. Have escape routes planned in case things go pear-shaped - probably turn back to Gigha if north of the Mull, Sanda if southerly winds kick up and Campbelltown otherwise.

The main "tip" I observed when going round the MoK was to stay as close inshore as I dared at the Mull itself. I could see that the sea further offshore was much nastier than that close inshore.

I agree on both counts. The inshore route is very, very inshore - you have to dodge round every point and into every bay - but it works well and is entertaining. We passed the lighthouse heading east at over 11kt this summer, of which only 4kt was the boat ...

 

[Crinan12]

Thanks folks that all sounds very positive and glad to know it's potentially a goer
Hopefully we will get a weather window now
Nicho yes that would be good- it's just finding someone available- although I do have a potential offer via this forum !

It's just the distance that worries me - we had to cross the sound of jura after spending the night in pig bay earlier in the summer and it was horrible conditions - but it was only an hour of motoring- rounding the mull is a long way in comparison and it just makes me nervous
Thanks

 

[JumbleDuck]

It's just the distance that worries me - we had to cross the sound of jura after spending the night in pig bay earlier in the summer and it was horrible conditions - but it was only an hour of motoring- rounding the mull is a long way in comparison and it just makes me nervous

From Gigha the plod south to Machrihanish seems to take for ever, but it's only four or five hours. Once you're at the south end of the bay there and you start picking up the tide and things go nice and quickly. Note what AntarcticPilot says, though and either go VERY close in or stay well off. That could be 1/2 mile or more - you'll see the no-go zone clearly.

Once you are round the Mull itself the Sound of Sanda is fine as long as the tide is with you and then up to Campbeltown's a doddle. We did it in about ten hours last time.

Please note that the CCC guides get the tides horribly wrong. If you do what they say you'll have a foul tide for hours and it Will Not Be Fun. In my boat I leave Gigha at HWD-4, but a handy guideline I was given here is to aim to arrive at the lighthouse for LW Greenock.

If you really, really don't fancy it, just stay three miles off and it's like any other bit of water with slightly stronger than usual tides, but that will add hours to your trip, partly because it's further and partly because you'll lose the tidal boost.

 

[Crinan12]

Thanks jumbleduck
Yes I've read various threads on this site and elsewhere about the tide times
I am new to this game but I was amazed that the CCC could get something as important as this wrong. Surely these things are triple triple triple checked
Presumably they have been notified and will correct it (and apologise)
Ta

 

[awol]

Is the canal closed?

 

[Crinan12]

No it's open all year
We came up that way but I don't subscribe to the 'it's a fun day out' thing - found it quite boring to be honest

Ta

 

[Gwylan]

No it's open all year
We came up that way but I don't subscribe to the 'it's a fun day out' thing - found it quite boring to be honest

Ta

Crinan is a lot easier and more predictable than the MoK.

Surprised that you are going to Sandpoint - that is the one at Dumbarton?
Have they sorted the place out?

 

[Crinan12]

Yeah I know - canal just doesn't appeal really.
What's up with sandpoint? I just picked somewhere close to my house that was cheap (£750 including lifts)- I don't know much about it really.
Thanks

 

[Gwylan]

Re the canal - at this time of year I would take the canal. You are unlikely to have issues with tide timing and weather.
suppose it depends on whether you want to get to the Clyde or have an adventure.

Re Sandpoint. We stayed there a while ago and the owner seemed to be having some problems with the local authority over his other activities. And the pontoons were needing a bit of tlc.
But is was well priced and very handy for the City.

Just looked at the website and it doesn't seem to have moved forwards. But it is very handy and cheap.
Has the entrance bee ndredged recently?
Is the chap in the shed still there?
Assume the pontoon have been repaired, replaced.

 

[Crinan12]

I suppose the reason I'm keen to go via the mull is because it could be a great trip- and I'm not fussed about the canal.
You know more about sandpoint than I do i think. the pontoons were a mess (dangerous actually) when they launched our boat in April 2018 - but it didn't bother me personally.
Don't know anything about a guy in a shed!
To be honest cost was the main factor in choosing sandpoint, next was distance from house !
Cheers

 

[Spyro]

You have a problem leaving it this late in the year. How are you with sailing in the dark? Re' turning back its not really an option after taking 5 hours to get there from Isaly or Gigha. Daylight is getting shorter this time of year.
You need to be arriving at the mull at slack low water so you are fighting the tide on the way there and assuming you leave around first light you need a slack low water of 1300_1500hrs that limits your options and so does the weather. So you could be waiting weeks for the right timings and conditions. As time goes on less and less daylight. Also if you do get there and decide to turn back you have another 24 miles back against a foul tide to the nearest resting point ( Islay or Gigha). If you feel you have a good weather forecast and the tide timings are right then I'd say go for it after reading up on the various options. The inshore route is very very close but can make things a lot more comfortable if the tide is well under way. There are a few videos on youtube showing what conditions can be like. I wouldn't want to do that in the dark. Who is the "we"?

 

[Blue_mischief]

A pertinent thread to me. I am currently sitting in Tobermory, wanting to get back to the Clyde. Weather tomorrow is fair for Craobh, but then I need to think about the next step. Have done both ways, the canal and round MoK and would prefer to do the latter, but the winds for the next week, after tomorrow, are rather against this. I fully concur with the view that it's a bit late in the year and getting later (!) which increases the chance of doing at least some of the journey in the dark. Not a problem for many, but not necessarily to be recommended to someone who feels inexperienced. I like the idea of setting off and turning back if the weather is considered too bad, but agree with view that this may not be easy, possibly trying to fight wind or tide.
For what it's worth I hope to head for Crinan from Craobh on Monday afternoon when there is a bit of a lull, weather gods permitting, so I can get through Doris Mor with last of the ebb, anchor overnight at Crinan and enter the canal on Tuesday morning. I don't see any chance of getting round MoK in the next week, by which time the days will be shorter still and we will be back into springs. Or maybe I'm just a wimp.

 

[voyager35]

I have been past the MoK numerous times as i keep our boat in Cumbria in the winter and Scotland in the summer. Going south i would normally aim to be off Machrihanish around slack water then gradually move out from the coast and skim down the edge of the traffic zone which keeps you just outside of the really disturbed water. One you are clear of the end of the mull the swirly water soon settles down. I would try to avoid anything more than a F3/4 if from the SE/SW but wind with tide normally ok upto a good 5/6. If there have been gales then watch out for a big swell as this can be more intimidating than wind waves. I always find big headlands feel intimidating but there is a great sense of satisfaction when rounding them. Plan well and they dont usually bite back.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

The canal is there for a reason. At this time of year it can be dangerous and the inshore passage very dangerous.

In your shoes, I would go through the canal. On the other hand if you have lots of experience, entirely possible in your time frame, then you would not be asking and would go.

It’s not the sailing, it’s dealing with tough conditions in waters that can be quite hostile. Take the easy road through the canal, probably faster, more predictable.