Mull of Kintyre

[sighmoon]

Hi all,

We were wanting to round the mull of Kintyre next week (from the Clyde to Islay).

On Monday there's a SSW of 20kts gusting 30kts. Assuming we get to Sanda about an hour before high tide(?), what would the Mull of Kintyre be like in those conditions?

The wind in itself doesn't bother me too much, it's the sea state that has me thinking maybe the Crinan is the way to go.

OTOH, conditions aren't so different today, and the shipping forecast is saying slight or moderate for the Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre, so maybe it won't be too bad?

There's strong Westerlies on Tuesday and Wednesday which I can imagine would be awful, and perhaps the left over swell will write Thursday off too, and then we're out of time.

Any local knowledge to set my mind at ease / sell me on the canal?

Thanks!

 

[Quandary]

You are going with wind and tide and going past at slack water so it will not be as uncomfortable as going south but the forecast would not need to get a lot worse, from Sanda Sound head along the shore and round it close too so that you are in the area for a shorter time. There is claimed to be an eddy close to the cliffs but I have only really noticed it as weaker tide. If in doubt give it an offing of 2 miles. beyond that distance it will be similar to the rest of the N Channel. but you will be doing a big loop, about an hour past the Light and there will be nothing. I once had to put my kids below with the boards in but that was going south after a long period of strong weather. if you go round at HW you will have a strong current against you until well past Macrihanish. Coming from the South (Belfast Lough) we aimed to be at the light at LW.
Keep watching the forecast it may change.

 

[Spyro]

Windguru is showing SSE with gust to 30knts for mon. That direction isn't too bad and as Quandry says you will be at the mull around slack water. even a bit later and you will have the tide and wind in the same direction. If I was choosing a direction for the wind that is one I'd probably go for going west bound as long as there is not a big rolling swell coming from the Atlantic meeting wind blown waves from the south. If you are staying close in then stay REALLY close in. It might be uncomfortable for a short while. It is a bit early for a forecast so if would leave the decision as late as possible.

 

[JumbleDuck]

If you are staying close in then stay REALLY close in.

+1. The inshore "lane" is clearly marked by a thin line of broken water at its outer edge, which is perhaps a hundred feet from the shore.

 

[stevepick]

I would go, my standard route is to "go around the outside", far enough south of sanda to avoid any nasty stuff, then avoid any rough stuff by keeping west until you can head due north and just stay to the east of the North channel TSS, obviously you need to keep an eye out far any big boats coming up into the the north bound lane, but the NC is not usually that busy . By doing this I seem to be able to avoid any kind tidal race. Enjoy the trip.

 

[sighmoon]

Thanks all for the replies.

+1. The inshore "lane" is clearly marked by a thin line of broken water at its outer edge, which is perhaps a hundred feet from the shore.

A hundred feet from the (lee) shore? Eeek!

 

[wully1]

Thanks all for the replies.



A hundred feet from the (lee) shore? Eeek!

A rocky, cliff and gully ridden steep to shore.. I'd stay well out.

 

[sighmoon]

A rocky, cliff and gully ridden steep to shore.. I'd stay well out.

That's my instinct too.

My plan was too go inside Sanda and then offshore. Is that reasonable or would the overfalls by the eddies make it prudent to go outside Sanda?

 

[A1Sailor]

If going from Troon you can reasonably get enough "sea room" to go south of Sanda. If not, going south of Sanda is a pretty big detour and the worry is that you wouldn't end up far enough south to feel comfortable. I'd go through the Sound of Sanda, then head "offshore". If the weather changes and you decide to bail out, you can seek shelter at Sanda - but not easily if you are south...

 

[Spyro]

That's my instinct too.

My plan was too go inside Sanda and then offshore. Is that reasonable or would the overfalls by the eddies make it prudent to go outside Sanda?

If you time it right and arrive at the mull at slack water there wont be any eddies or overfalls. You'd be making a big detour going south of Sanda. It can also get quite nasty around Pladda. Anything like 30knots from the south around there will be quite lively. Where are you leaving from?

 

[sighmoon]

Where are you leaving from?

Campbeltown.

Inside Sanda it is.

 

[doraymefa]

This is how close really close means

 

[Robert Wilson]

If you time it right and arrive at the mull at slack water there wont be any eddies or overfalls. You'd be making a big detour going south of Sanda. It can also get quite nasty around Pladda. Anything like 30knots from the south around there will be quite lively. Where are you leaving from?

Been there, got the T-shirt. Give Pladda a healthy offing.

 

[dunedin]

The boat may be fine. But who are the crew, and are you bothered if they don't want to come back?

20-30 knots at the Mull in late March early April may be fun for some - but certainly would not be for me (actually probably not in July either unless guaranteed sunny - we prefer to have one only of the parameters Wet, Cold, Windy)

 

[JumbleDuck]

A hundred feet from the (lee) shore? Eeek!

Yes. I've only ever used that route in calm conditions, and it was worrying enough then.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Campbeltown.

Inside Sanda it is.

Have you seen the Campbeltown SC advice on rounding the Mull?

http://www.campbeltownsc.co.uk/rounding-the-mull-of-kintyre-or-heading-for-n-ireland/

 

[wully1]

Any time I've been round the Mull there has been one bit that was bumpy, the 'egg box' wave bit that seems to move just where your going.. It could be glass calm with oily swirls in the water as you're hacking along at 14 knots SOG then they appear and you get you tea spilled. 5 mins later back to glassy calm swirly water.

The twice I've been round in ' conditions' were both east to west. Once inside Sanda and once outside. On the inside passage in a 41 foot excellent sea boat we were fine until just level with the lighthouse and a good long way offshore beam reaching when I saw what looked like beach break suddenly appear straight ahead.We had two reefs in and got rolled over enough to scoop plenty water in the bunts of the reefs. Repeatedly. After 10 mins all was normal again.
I miss that boat.

 

[Spyro]

I'd go on Sunday.

 

[A1Sailor]

20-30 knots at the Mull in late March early April may be fun for some - but certainly would not be for me (actually probably not in July either unless guaranteed sunny - we prefer to have one only of the parameters Wet, Cold, Windy)

It would worry me...
I've only been round a few times. On one occasion I sailed overnight from Largs and had a fantastic reach from Pladda towards Sanda in a steadily increasing north-easterly. Force 4 perhaps. I bailed out and rested at Sanda...
1. It felt as if the wind was rising.
2. I didn't fancy wind against tide west of MoK.
3. Wanted some rest, although could have carried on without it. Crew had sailed overnight, I and another had slept a bit.
Our destination was Ballycastle or Rathlin, or elsewhere in NI - but discretion was the better part of valour. Gut instinct.
We rested, went to the pub, then carried on 24 hours later and had a lovely sail to Rathlin then Ballycastle.:encouragement:

 

[BigJoe]

I wouldn't go.................................................... in that wind