Pilotage in Cuan Sound tomorrow.

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RobbieH

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Planning to head to Oban from Crinan tomorrow evening. Passing through Dorus Mhor at hw Dover puts me exiting Cuan sound at around HW Dover +2. Forecast is 4-5 S or SE. Can't tell from the pilot whether exiting Cuan at this time is a good idea or not.

Any local advice would be welcome ...
 
The pilot is mildly discouraging for the Sound of Luing regarding overfalls etc. I thought Cuan might be a more sheltered and calm experience (given the forecast) even if it is a bit longer.
 
The west going stream will start at approximately HW Dover -0030 tomorrow, but timing is a bit inexact. The stream will be in full flood by HW Dover +0200, so it will be moving considerably. Tomorrow is springs + 4 days which at least means it won't be at its worst, but there will probably still be an impressive drop in water height from one side of the rock in the middle of the sound to the other.

The wind direction helps you. There should be no lumpiness coming out into open water, but there will be lots of swirling about.

The deep water between the rock with the perch and the shore isn't wide. Don't cut the corner after the perch; keep going west for a while before turning north-west. watch out for the rock awash and 0.3m depth to the north east when you are out of the sound. Antares charts are useful if you have them or can get them.

Sound of Luing will be less alarming and gives more room for cock-up.
 
RobbieH said:
The pilot is mildly discouraging for the Sound of Luing regarding overfalls etc. I thought Cuan might be a more sheltered and calm experience (given the forecast) even if it is a bit longer.
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You will have wind with tide and be going approximately downwind so it won't be that bad. The worst that will happen is it will be bumpy for an hour. However, a cock-up in Cuan Sound would probably spoil your day.
 
Fair enough. Mild discomfort in Luing trumps loss of boat in Cuan. Luing it is. Thanks very much for the local knowledge and the advice. Much appreciated.
 
RobbieH said:
Fair enough. Mild discomfort in Luing trumps loss of boat in Cuan. Luing it is. Thanks very much for the local knowledge and the advice. Much appreciated.
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Cuan Sound is great to do sometime though. Leave it for a day when you can arrive at slack water, for example when heading south leaving from Oban. It's a pussycat then.
 
Sounds great for next time. I'm solo and this is my first time in Scottish/Welsh waters so the rocks, races, big tides, intricate pilotage etc. is a bit of a steep learning curve. Currently loving the Crinan canal (propping up bar in Carn Barra hotel ��) after a lot of seatime over the last 6 weeks.
 
+1 for Crinan to Oban via Luing.

Dorus Mor will give you a nice slingshot towards Luing, and the forecast wind will give you a nice reach.
There's no intricate pilotage around Luing - if you stick the middle of the Dorus Mor and the Sound of Luing you'll be fine; keep a camera handy, you never know what you might see.

There's nothing wrong with going via Cuan, but it will take a bit longer.

Don't leave it too late, the best of the tide will be in your favour for a few hours from 15:00 and will be foul by 2100.
http://agurney.com/oban-tides
 
I went through Cuan yesterday en route from Ulva to Craobh. The timing was a bit tight - I wasn't expecting to make it until the wind picked up south of Mull and we went through at HW Oban - 1h15 or so, while at springs the book says it turns at HW Oban -1h45. No problem at all, and maybe just 1/2 knot against us NE of Cleit, which always seems to be the first to turn.

However, Luing is the way to go.
 
RobbieH said:
Planning to head to Oban from Crinan tomorrow evening. Passing through Dorus Mhor at hw Dover puts me exiting Cuan sound at around HW Dover +2. Forecast is 4-5 S or SE. Can't tell from the pilot whether exiting Cuan at this time is a good idea or not.

Any local advice would be welcome ...
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PS Do come and say hello if you're at Crinan. We're lying above Lock 14, planning to transit on Tuesday. Boat with two pointy ends.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Cuan Sound is great to do sometime though. Leave it for a day when you can arrive at slack water, for example when heading south leaving from Oban. It's a pussycat then.
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The NW entrance, between Easdale and the sound, can be character forming in wind over tide. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
 
Having a pint in the Oban Inn right now. Fabulous sail today, everything lined up like it should. Even met up with Jumbleduck briefly in the Crinan. I'm getting to like this Scottish sailing lark. ��
 
RobbieH said:
Having a pint in the Oban Inn right now. Fabulous sail today, everything lined up like it should. Even met up with Jumbleduck briefly in the Crinan. I'm getting to like this Scottish sailing lark. ��
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Excellent! It can't be all sunshine and fair winds though. Now for the bad news...

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing south 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
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Could make Ardnamurchan a bit 'ard 'n' murky if you are heading north.
 
The only thing that may cause concern is a big Atlantic swell and that will be present if you go inside or outside Luing
once you are open to the west.

'Easdale' isn't called ' quease -dale' for nothing :-)
 
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