Rounding the Mull of Kintyre E to W

[Ian_Edwards]

I've asked this kind of question before, it concerns the difference in calculating the times of tidal gates from different apparently authoritative sources.
I'm sitting at home planning my first trip, when we can break free of the Scottish Lockdown, I've been looking at the different methods of calculation the best time to round the Mull from Campbell Town up to Gigha.
So far I've used the tidal charts in Reeds, which shows when the ebb starts around the Mull and calculated the time using HW Dover (-1hour) and HW Greenock (-4:20), I get a the tidal change 2 hours before the time if I use Dover.
Looking on the web, I see Campbell Town Sailing Club, suggests leaving Campbell Town 2 hours before HW Campbell Town, which give the start of the ebb at the Mull close to the time predicted by the Dover calculation, assuming it takes about 2 hours to get to the Mull from Campbell town, about 10 nm. The 2 hour discrepancy is quite big error in a 6 hour tidal window.
I'm inclined to believe the Campbell Town Sailing Club info' they are the people of the ground.
Anyone out there willing to share how they calculate the change of tide from flood to ebb at the Mull of Kintyre?
All my pilot books are onboard 165 miles away.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'd go with the Campbeltown SC figures. Since HW Dover and HW Greenock are only an hour apart "HW Dover (-1hour) and HW Greenock (-4:20)" can't possibly both be right.

 

[Minchsailor]

I've done it a few times, checking my log books, leaving Campbelltown at 2hrs before HW Dover (4hrs before HW Greenock) seems to work quite well.

 

[SaltIre]

Anyone out there willing to share how they calculate the change of tide from flood to ebb at the Mull of Kintyre?
All my pilot books are onboard 165 miles away.

I use my "Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas", NP218. I also look at other sources, but I've used NP218 all over the West of Scotland and it hasn't let me down. I cut it up and put each page into clear plastic A4 sleeves tied together to make it back into a book - and write the actual times on each page in chinagraph pencil at the top the night before. It uses HW Dover, also telling you the difference between that and Ullapool!
Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas: N. Of Ireland, W. Of Scotland Gael Force Marine
I generally try to be at the eastern end of Sound of Sanda an hour before slack water, to give me maximum help. I'd rather be early than late... Leaving Campbeltown 2 hours before HW there sounds a good plan, but I usually (the handful of occasions I've done it!) leave from Largs, and aim to be off Arran (Pladda Lighthouse) 4 hours before I want to be approaching Sanda.

 

[scruff]

As an aside, navionics has a tidal stream arrow / info just south of MoK. The last few years I've noted it to pretty accurate as to the state of tidal flow.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Thanks for the info' , I feel a little more confident in the timing, just need to wait until I can go sailing.

 

[scottie]

Try Boatie on any apple device it has tide streams you require

I still believe it an essential app

 

[Rick_A]

Google “rounding Mull of kintyre”. The first result is Campbeltown sc and gives good local advice. Which is to leave Campbeltown 2 hours before hw Campbeltown. I’ve been round several times and always use this method.
Rounding the Mull of Kintyre or Heading for N.Ireland | Campbeltown Sailing Club

 

[wully1]

I’d go with the advice from the guid fowk fae ‘The Wee Toon’

I’d also wish you could be doing it now- the weather is stunning here. Again.

 

[nova_castria]

Be at sanda HW G -230

 

[Skylark]

I use my "Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas", NP218.

?

 

[KAM]

Anchor at Sanda and go round when it looks right.

 

[SaltIre]

Anchor at Sanda and go round when it looks right.

I did that one year. Had a cracking night sail from Largs and was approaching Sanda after dawn - broad reach with a F4-5 that was increasing. I didn't know what the seas off MoK (wind vs tide) would be like, so chickened out and spent 24 hours anchored at Sanda. We had a lovely sail the next day across to Rathlin Island then Ballycastle.

 

[KAM]

Last October. F6 all the way from Port Ellen. No wind at the Mull a peacefull night at Sanda then F7 south all the way up to Holy Loch. You can't plan it.

 

[jackho]

When going North I normally check high water at Ardminish bay Gigha and count back to Mull based on boat speed. Not of course ignoring the other threads.