Cuan Sound

[Vegable]

3 days after spring tides in June I'd like to go through Cuan Sound from west to east. My pilot books are on my boat so can't to refer to them. Having never been through the sound before, can you go through the sound with the tide or do you have to wait for slack water. Having gone through, what is the tidal current like. i.e. if you go through with the last of the tide can you proceed southwards or have to find somewhere to anchor.
Lastly if heading for Crinan Canal what's the ideal time to go through?
Many thanks
Mike

 

[Romeo]

You can go through with the tide, although handling can be quite amusing as it is a bit swirly as well as being fast flowing. Avoid the rocks. Once through the sound itself and at the top of Torsa there will be no tide significant enough to stop you going where you want to go, at least until you reach the Doris Mor.

 

[macd]

I've been through a few times, always with the tide and never at slack water. Great fun: you're actually going distinctly downhill by An Cleiteadh rock. In the narrows* there's lots of swirly eddies, but just look well ahead and steer to suit and you'll be fine.

As you make the turn around the N end of Torsa, stick quite close to the shore: there's a rock about 1 1/2 cables NE of the point.

Afraid I don't have any reference bumf handy, but it's easy enough to maximise help from the tides.

* which aren't all that narrow: there's plenty of room.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Good luck Mike and enjoy the passage.
I went through west-east, at slack water. Not a ripple.
I have seen pics of the "downhill" and the "slalom" - that's why I aimed for slack tide. But I'm not the bravest in swirls and lumps if I'm not entirely familiar with an area.

Lovely little anchorage at the south end of Torsa (Ardinamirr) - very shallow and narrow entrance. Enter from the east, NOT by Torsa Beag and follow the perches.
As for onwards to Crinan, look out for various "toothy bits" sticking-up all the way from Shuna.

'Course, you could always go via Corryvreckan.........

 

[Quandary]

3 days after spring tides in June I'd like to go through Cuan Sound from west to east. My pilot books are on my boat so can't to refer to them. Having never been through the sound before, can you go through the sound with the tide or do you have to wait for slack water. Having gone through, what is the tidal current like. i.e. if you go through with the last of the tide can you proceed southwards or have to find somewhere to anchor.
Lastly if heading for Crinan Canal what's the ideal time to go through?
Many thanks
Mike

If you are going to Crinan, why go through Cuan Sound, unless yo want the excitement, it is quite a diversion unless you want to go to Croabh, going through West to East is rarely a problem, the other way it can be distinctly bumpy if meeting a westerly.
Our home berth is in Crinan, from the north we come straight down the Sound of Luing with up to 8kts. of tide under us and smooth if swirly water. It is really enjoyable, if you are beating you are making something like 20 degrees. Note that the tide in the Dorus Mohr turns almost an hour before you would expect it too, but if it has, you stick close to Craignish Point and follow it round as there is something approach an eddy there and it is clean right in to the point. The Dorus Mohr is rarely as rough as some pilot books imply and it is a short distance through it. The most uncomfortable part of the passage from the Sound of Mull to Crinan in strong westerlies is off Easdale, you can avoid the worst of this by going through Easdale harbour though this is tricky if you are beating. Once you get near the lighthouse the sea is flat in the Sound.

re tide times ---- the change at the Dorus in summer is usually quoted as Dover high water without the application of the hour for BST this equates to nearly an hour before Oban LW.
For Cuan Sound the difference is around minus two hours on Oban but all of these passages are better with the tide than at slack water. If you have a set of Oban tide table there is a note with the Constants on both Cuan and Crinan.

 

[aquaplane]

I have usually gone through with the start of the ebb so the tide is still good when I got to Dorus Mor.

I tend to aim at Cliet rock (which is marked) and turn a couple of boat lengths away from it, this avoids the rock on the inside of the bend which isn't marked.

We saw someone sat on the rock North of Torsa last season and was surprised how far off the tip of the island it was, the gap is wider than I thought.

'Course you could always go via Luing.........

 

[Vegable]

Thanks for all your replys guys, very helpful.
The reason for choosing Cuan is because I've done Luing many times and Robert, 2 years ago I did Correyvreken...intentionally, but that was at slack water neeps and was definately under-whelming. But have never done Cuan. Still got Grey Dogs to do as well, but that's for another time. I'm bringing Conspiracy home on a booze cruise so wanting to show everyone something a bit different.
So, thanks once again.
Mike.
Robert, was in Arisaig getting Conspiracy in the water 2 weeks ago. In the water on Sunday morning and a lovely day, Tuesday Wednesday F9 N'ly, Thursday 2" snow on the deck and 4 degrees C inside the cabin! Friday I came home! Spotted some polar bears heading south for warmth!!

 

[snowleopard]

The first time I went through was against the tide. 8 knots through the water and less than 2 over the ground. OK as long as you have the horsepower!

 

[Robert Wilson]

Thanks for all your replys guys, very helpful.
The reason for choosing Cuan is because I've done Luing many times and Robert, 2 years ago I did Correyvreken...intentionally, but that was at slack water neeps and was definately under-whelming. But have never done Cuan. Still got Grey Dogs to do as well, but that's for another time. I'm bringing Conspiracy home on a booze cruise so wanting to show everyone something a bit different.
So, thanks once again.
Mike.
Robert, was in Arisaig getting Conspiracy in the water 2 weeks ago. In the water on Sunday morning and a lovely day, Tuesday Wednesday F9 N'ly, Thursday 2" snow on the deck and 4 degrees C inside the cabin! Friday I came home! Spotted some polar bears heading south for warmth!![/QUOTE]

 

[agurney]

3 days after spring tides in June I'd like to go through Cuan Sound from west to east. My pilot books are on my boat so can't to refer to them. Having never been through the sound before, can you go through the sound with the tide or do you have to wait for slack water. Having gone through, what is the tidal current like. i.e. if you go through with the last of the tide can you proceed southwards or have to find somewhere to anchor.
Lastly if heading for Crinan Canal what's the ideal time to go through?
Many thanks
Mike

Times for tidal gates are here: http://agurney.com/oban-tides

 

[Vegable]

Yes, thanks. I downloaded it all in January or Feb when you posted they were available. Extreemly useful and thanks for doing it. It's very much appreciated.
Mike

 

[Kylora]

https://claymore2015.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/claymores-definitive-tidal-gate-chart/

Ash