Mull of Kintyre passage advice, please

[Robert Wilson]

I'm hoping to sail my Javelin30 down and round the Mull of Kintyre in June to get to the Fife Regatta at Fairlie. I aware of its proximity to the North Channel and separation lanes, also the distances involved - but I'm seeking sound advice from those who know about the conditions I might experience (sea, tides, weather etc), any anchorages/bolt-holes available, pilotage hints etc etc.
I'll possibly be sailing single-handed; coming down the Sound of Mull or west of Mull (weather etc permitting), then the Firth of Lorne, Sound of Jura and hopefully over-nighting at Sanda Island/Campbeltown.
I shall transit the Crinan Canal at least in one direction, providing I have a crew to assist with locks etc., but I would like to try the Mull of Kintyre for the experience and interest.

The area is out of my usual cruising zone, but I am well aware that there are many of you who have the experience I wish to "tap".
Any advice would be most welcome - but I hope it's not ALL doom 'n' Gloom.!

Many thanks in anticipation.

RW
P.S. Any of you have any experience of the Fife Regatta (the event itself, facilities during the event, good spectating spots, no-go areas etc?? ??)

 

[macad]

Hello.

I have been around several times racing and on one occasion ended up exactly where you don't want to be; a mile off in a wind against tide situation! The standing waves were something else and at one point we were surfing at over ten knots in the water while going nowhere over the ground!

Successful roundings have been either right on the edge of the traffic separation scheme around two miles offshore or a 'boathook' distance from the cliffs which makes Gigha a possible overnight stop if wanted. Both ways can have their interesting elements but I preferred the former! Racing competitively did not allow the choice of when to round but avoid wind against tide and I would sit and drink tea in a wee tearoom if blowing more than F4.

With all the usual considerations one would make for a passage plan there really is nothing to be overly concerned about if F4 or less.

Have a great time.

 

[NormanS]

The "Kintyre to Ardnamurchan" Sailing Directions from the Clyde Cruising Club, is probably your best bet.
Go to clyde.org

 

[Uricanejack]

Hi

I guess the first question would be where are you starting from.
There are lots of stopping off points. Tobermory, Oban, Phuildorran, Craighouse, Crinan, to name a few. there are loads more. Crinan Cannal is great shortcut but it takes all day and is labour intensive, I think you can get up to 4 smaller boats in a lock a a time. we used to do it every spring with 2 boats and lots of friends.
when short of crew we used to go round the mull.

Mcbreans Cape Horn. Take the inshore route. its na bother pal.

If the tides with you its Na bother. If its against there is a back eddy tight inshore about 1 cable off the cliffs. its a clean shore, and deep.

I think the little note on the chart advises avoiding in a SW Gale and flood tide. After a night in the pub in Cambeltown we decided to try it anyway or foget the weekend.
We were going to take it well off shore, about 3 miles out from the Mull and avoid the overfalls. Can't recall the name of the island or light off the Mull. we were planning to go out arround. But found ourselfs being blown towards the shoals between the mull and the light.
I had done the inshore route several times south bound but not N bound.
We changed plan and headed for the inshore route. about 1 cable off the cliffs. there is a back edie, It was pretty rough till we got back inshore. Once in close the swell was still large and we could see the overfalls out side us but we came round just fine. when we turned and headed up for Ghiha it calmed right down.

rounded the Mull several ties both ways since, allways use the inshore route close tight in to the cliffs and catch the back eddy.

Id still say avoid the place in a gale but then avoid anywhere in a gale.
stick close in the shore is steep to and clear. No hazzards I can remember.
should point out its about 25yrs since i last rounded the Mull. Check the chart and read the pilot book.
Strongly recomend the inside, I think pilot book says requirse local knowladge. Even the Locals have a first time.

Set out from Ghiha. its an easy day trip to Cambeltown.

Hope this helps.

 

[uxb]

In fine settled, calm weather it is a pleasant sail with the tide..wind against tide and/or a heavy sea would be very unpleasant.

There is a TSS but I've never seen any T using it.p

If you are going through the canal, call the office in Ardrishaig and get the phone numbers of the pilots - £50 and you'd be through the canal in 5 hours without stepping off your boat. ( on top of your canal fee..)
You could also check if the assisted passage scheme is going to run this year.

 

[claymore]

We usually set of from Gigha and as Urricanejack says, its a decent day sail round to Campbeltown. I always time it so that we get the tide taking us down to the Mull and then being there around slack water usually gives a straightforward run around and up into the Clyde. Ideally the breeze would be Northwesterly and if its in the South/Southwest and above a 4 we would probably head over towards the Irish side and give the Mull a wide berth. If not then take the inside line which is a splendid experience and not one to get stressed about.

 

[Sgeir]

Robert, it's fine if you stick to the times recommended in the Sailing Directions. Going with the tide, it is clearly easiest with a following breeze (as Claysie suggests, above a four or a low five, it can be unpleasant). We've done it a few times and find it best to prepare by closing all vents, fitting the companion way washboards and by clipping on, just in case.

Just one other thing about the wind; a couple of years ago we had a rough passage south, a 6, but around Gigha, a few hours before reaching the Mull, the wind dropped to a very pleasant westerly four with a substantial and rapid improvement in the sea state. It was very pleasant and fast sailing as the dawn broke. That improvement took us unawares as the conditions going round the Mull had not abated; bloody horrendous, with mountainous waves. Steerage was well nigh impossible without the engine running. It really does seem to take some time before the energy of the Atlantic has expended itself after strong winds.

It might seem odd, but sticking close to the Mull usually avoids the rougher stuff further out.

In iffy conditions, an alternative could be going to Rathlin Island or Ballycastle for a rest before landfall in the Clyde, but the timings at the MacDonnell Race and Slough na Morra present their own challenges (standing waves etc).

Stick to the SDs, and have a Plan B if the weather isn't in your favour.

 

[snooks]

[voice of experience]Get the tides right, otherwise you can spend 6 hours going no where fast...[/voice of experience]

In Gigha, engine wouldn't start, the skipper spent and hour or so sorting out, left late, wind build from the south, just missed the last of the tide...I realised we weren't going to be going anywhere soon, kicked off the watch system, went down below for 6 hours sleep, came up and still not round!

 

[aquaplane]

We went round for the first time last year, Sanda to Gigha and Port Ellen to Campbelltown. It was easy, but we followed the advice given here.
We were motoring with not much wind, and probably way too far off to be in the inside passage but it was calm so pretty boring which is good.
If it looks dodgy as you come South to Crinan, use the canal, you can always see what it's like for the trip back.
Enjoy.

 

[Spyro]

It's not that easy arriving just at slack water as the nearest place to sail from on your route is islay or Gigha which are about 24 miles away so depending on conditions you might be too late or too early but if you can get it just right aim to be at or just before the light house at slack low tide and pick up the flood just as you pass the lighthouse. If you get it wrong and arrive too early you will be battling the tide, arrive too late and it's not a problem you will go wizzing past the lighthouse. I've done it several times, opting for the inshore passage which really is as close as you dare more that 50m off is too far. I've motored inshore in an almost flat see and been amazed at the size of the waves just 100m off the beam. Conditions can be quite varied close in as the cliffs have quite an efect on wind speed and direction so be prepared for anything.

 

[claymore]

"It's not that easy arriving just at slack water as the nearest place to sail from on your route is islay or Gigha which are about 24 miles away so depending on conditions you might be too late or too early"

If you know the time of slack water and you know what speed your boat goes along at, then it is not impossible to get as near as dammit.

 

[westhinder]

opting for the inshore passage which really is as close as you dare more that 50m off is too far.

A look at the Navionics app shows a number of isolated rocks close inshore. 50m off sounds a bit close for comfort, surely?
Very interested as I intend to do the trip northbound in June.

 

[Fascadale]

Distance off as shown on plotter. I think I could have been closer to the shore but I was in the north going tide.

Its quite a dramatic headland and it feels remote

My water speed would have been about 5 kts

 

[JayBee]

The "Kintyre to Ardnamurchan" Sailing Directions from the Clyde Cruising Club, is probably your best bet.
Go to clyde.org

Spot on. Just follow the advice within and don't overtax your brain. It works!

You will need the book anyway.

 

[Spyro]

"It's not that easy arriving just at slack water as the nearest place to sail from on your route is islay or Gigha which are about 24 miles away so depending on conditions you might be too late or too early"

If you know the time of slack water and you know what speed your boat goes along at, then it is not impossible to get as near as dammit.

If motoring perhaps you could adjust accordingly but under sail over that distance you could easily be out an hour either way.

 

[Spyro]

A look at the Navionics app shows a number of isolated rocks close inshore. 50m off sounds a bit close for comfort, surely?
Very interested as I intend to do the trip northbound in June.

Ok perhaps 100m at a push

 

[iain789]

If motoring perhaps you could adjust accordingly but under sail over that distance you could easily be out an hour either way.

If the wind's ok you could anchor temporarily in Machrihanish Bay and wait for the tide, as I did last year and took advantage of the inshore back eddy.

 

[aquaplane]

I think we were a bit further off than 100m

Coming back I reconed it was a 5 hour trip from Port Ellen which took 6 so the tide was well in our favour by the time we got to the corner.

 

[bikedaft]

as above (get the CCC guidebook!)

sanda is more sheltered than it looks. even in a northerly there's not much fetch

some pics/vid here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNIdFQnVMNg

have fun

 

[claymore]

If motoring perhaps you could adjust accordingly but under sail over that distance you could easily be out an hour either way.

That's true but I would always try to make sure that I made a tidal gate, either by setting off sooner, even if it meant plugging the tide for a time or slowing down if I was going to be too early, or anchoring and waiting for the tide as the learned Professor Jermain observes.