Positioning Clyde to Oban- is this a sensible plan?

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Boeingdr

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Im planning to move my boat up to the West Coast from its base on the Clyde this July.
This will be my first season away from the relative ease of the Clyde so I am spending some time planning ahead.
I have been reading the CCC Cruising directions and together with a pc based plotting programme with relevant charts have come up with a plan.
DAY1 Position to Crinan Basin
Day2 Transit Crinan Canal then round Dorus Mor heading along coast to Craobh Haven
Day3 through Cuan Sound up Firth of Lorn / Kerera Sound to Oban.
Planning to round Dorus Mor with the flood tide and transit Cuan Sound at Slack water.
As far as I can work out leaving Crinan at HW Dover-1 will achieve the Dorus Mor gate and aiming t be at Cuan Sound either HW Oban -0130 (Springs) or LW Oban -0130 (Neaps) will be best for Cuan.
I guess its best to have tide with me during Firth of Lorn passage so my thoughts are to use LW Oban-0130 for Cuan Sound both North and Southbound.
This will no doubt be basic stuff for many on here but all new to me so I thought I would tap into all the local knowledge out there and see if my plan seems sensible so far.
All the above being weather dependant of course.
 
Take it that day 1 is Ardrishaig, not Crinan Basin. You might find transit of Crinan canal takes longer than you expect, and is anyway constrained by "office hours". I would go from Crinan to Ardfern, which would be a good day in total for day 2 . Then Dorus Mor, with easy timing from Ardfern, and through Sound of Luing with a fair tide, no need for Cuan Sound.
 
Getting through the Crinan Canal in one day will require an early start, some luck and a lack of SunSail & similar boats trying to make the trip at the same time.
3 crew is much easier than 2!

If you stop in the basin at Crinan then your morning start will be governed by when the lock keepers arrive and open the sea lock.

Timing for Dorus Mor and Cuan are pretty sensitive - you will not be going anywhere with the tide against you! How do I know this?

Do you have a mooring or are you going to Dunstaffnage? Was a bit pricey when we were there a few years ago.
 
It would be a good idea to start your transit from the Ardrishaig end of the canal if going north :-) otherwise it sounds like a good plan. It takes about half to three quarters of an hour to get to the Durus Mor and you should follow the sailing directions for avoiding the rocks strewn around the place. Craobh to Cuan is about an hour. When heading to the turn towards the Cuan you can go either very close in to avoid rocks or take a BIG loop towards Balvicar to avoid the other set of rocks to the north. When through and heading fro the Firth of Lorn give the tail end of Easdale Island a good offing as the rocks come quite a way south. You can go through the Cuan at any stage of the north going tide It is more fun with it running hard. One final point on the Cuan is the Cleit Rock on the approach which you should head for and get within about 100 metres of before turning into the sound thus avoiding the two rocks off the north shore.
A piece of cake really. Enjoy.
 
Agree about Crinan Canal, I overnighted in the basin cos' the locks had closed. Watch out for the locks, as the water goes down the skies darken as the midge cloud blocks out the sun! And NEVER kill a midge . . .


















Thousands will come to the funeral!



As to onward anchorages, Puldobhrain (sp?) is by far the best, free and with in walking distance of the TighnaBruich for a little light refreshment. You tend to get a few interesting companions anchored alongside too.

Dunstaffnage is then an easy trip - and you can anchor off if you want to save a pound or three for the Wide Mouthed Frog.

Why rush, there are so many interesting places to visit.
 
If you stay the night in the Crinan basin then I would avoid the hotel as it tends to be a weeee bit pricey. My strategy is usually to get into the canal and move upto Cairnbaan for the night. Good hotel. With an early start, the rest of the transit can be done next day and that would usually allow you to get out of the canal and if you have a fair tide, through the Durus Mor. If not then Ardfern and the delights of the Galley of Lorn for the evening.
 
If you want to go north from the Crinan basin, then how far you go in the hours of daylight is contingent on the time of tide (to get through the Dorus) and the lock keepers working hours. You may find you do not depart Crinan until 2 in the afternoon.

Have you considered going west about Luing; a fair tide at he Dorus will carry you up the Sound of Luing. Very satisfactory places to overnight up that way and bypasses Cuan

These people should be able to give you some good advice
 
Sorry I did mean Ardrishaig end of Day1.
Then Crinan Canal day 2 followed by Dorus Mor to Craobh Haven
Then day 3 Cuan Sound and on Northwards to Oban.
Not sure about moorings near Oban yet..was thinking either Dunstaffnage or Kerera.
I agree why rush..however my crew will only have limited time available, but we are all willing to have long sailing days.Once its up there I aim for the shorer relaxing sails with my wife.
 
I will consider west about Luing..that was my plan B just havent got that far as yet.
Already loked at tides and look favourable for a 5pm departure from Crinan which means that I need to get through the canal in 1 day if this is to work ...although I will aim t get into the system day1 for an early start in the Lochs.
Thats the plan, just wondering if the timings are a little ambitious.
I was allowing about 3hrs Crinan to Craobh.but Ardfern seems like a good alternate from what has been posted.
 
For the canal transit, try to involve some extra friends. There is a lot of hard work involved. As far as the other passages are concerned, if you have fair winds, and calculate your tides correctly (a must) you'll find that you whizz along. With Springs you can get a good 5 or 6 knots just from the tide. Great fun.
 
Thanks for all the advice,
One posting mentioned going with the tide through Cuan, I was trying to avoid this as the CCC guide mentions eddies which make it difficult to avoid Cleit rock.
From the post it would seem that its ok go with the tide as long as long as Im careful to avoid the hard bits - or is it better to miss them in slack water first time through i wonder?
 
Ive been through on the north going tide, its a hoot.

I think we went through just after the turn, if I recall, as long as your sure about your marks, and make the right turn as mentioned above, its no biggy, but you do get tossed about a bit! Give the North end of Torsa either a wide miss or keep in tight, then head for the day mark on Cleit rock, and turn right just before you hit it! If I recall swmbo was busy oohing and ahhing at the seals whilst I was clenching my butt cheeks. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The whole area is great, with notes and keeping a eye out for the marks its not as bad as it sounds or looks from the pictures!

There is a good anchorage in Ardinamir Bay on the south side of Torsa with a fun butt cheek clenching entrance....

twos.jpg


above shows the entrance to Ardinamir bay in normal weather.....

This is a great spot to sit waiting for the tide in Cuan sound.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Cuan sound not a problem, have sailed it many times with no engine...just get the tide right, the Cleit rock not the problem,its the other litle fu..er that will catch you out!!!

Paul,
 
[ QUOTE ]
- or is it better to miss them in slack water first time through i wonder?

[/ QUOTE ]
Definitely worth trying to hit Cuan as slack as possible for your first time. In any event there's really no such thing as properly slack water and if a strong flood meets a westerly breeze at the exit it can be more than a bit lumpy!

PS - passing 100m clear of Cleit would make me very worried about it's unnamed brethren to the north - 50m clearance is more than enough.

Edit - Realise I have misread rhumlady's post, apologies.
 
You could, of course, avoid the canal and the risk of being stranded by bust lock cills, stuck behind charter boats, missing lock keys, etc.. I reckon that popping round the M of K takes about the same amount of time, saves £90 and is considerably less work and probably worth a few more bragging points in the bar. Gigha, Port Ellen or Craighouse make convivial stopping points before carrying the tide up the Sound of Luing.
 
I've thought about this trip as well, and have wondered whether the Crinan Canal is really worth while for a yacht. The following would also work:

Day 1: Clyde to Sanda
Day 2: Sanda to Craobh (or somewhere in the vicinity)
Day 3: Craobh to Oban

Only snag is that you need reasonable weather at Sanda; it is less of an all-weather passage than through the Canal. But despite the folk-lore, the tides round the Mull of Kintyre aren't that bad, and good passage planning will ensure no problems.

Everyone says that it is very hard work to do the Crinan Canal in a day. And of course, it is also expensive. Sanda is worth seeing!
 
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