West Coast of Scotland

andythefiddler

andythefiddler

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I recently posted a query about crossing the Thames Estuary and got some great advice.

Today I am looking at south from Oban into the Irish Sea?

There are a number of options, all look a bit 'interesting' to say the least.

Is there any collective knowledge I can tap into.

It will Be July time of year and we will have just come anti clockwise from Southampton.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Andy
 
Worth asking on the Blue Moment forum as well. Some very knowledgeable members on that forum about the West Coast
 
You don't mention size of yacht or destination plans, but here are some options.
You can head for Crinan and through the canal, but I wouldn't. You then have the whole firth of Clyde to go down, and tho many sing it 's praises I find it rather dreary. I've done both and it's round kintyre or across to Ireland for me from now on.
(Unless of course the firth of Clyde is the destination )
Better is to head for gigha and round the mull bound toward stranraer or portpatrick,
( I can't remember the timings, but they seem to be a bit hit and miss, others will post more accurate info on that. Avoid if a lot of west in the wind though. The other option is go to islay instead and then cross to rathlin or just out into the north channel and aim for glenarm/Bangor/donaghadee, which has the advantage of avoiding any troublesome overfalls issues round the mull of kintyre. Rathlin meeds careful attention to tides and wind too. All of these options are assuming you come down past easedale and head for the sound of Jura. Ensure you have a tidal atlas and work out the tides carefully, avoid getting carried into the corryvreckan and be wary of any of these channels in wind over tide.
The least troublesome, if wind and conditions permit is Islay and across the north channel to bamgor, then back across to peel on Isle of Man or down to ardglass. That avoids the overfalls of rathlin, kintyre and the mull of Galloway.
The timings I know off by heart are if you end up in portpatrick and are going south round the mull of Galloway. Leave 2or 3 hours before slack depending on your speed) and stay spitting distance from the shore where you'll get an eddy carrying you to the mull, which you can round very close to at slack water, then ride the flood up the solway if your heading that way.
 
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Steve's advice is sound, but I would not go via Rathlin or even Glenarm unless you are just cruising, the tide coming down the N. channel is just too useful to waste by going across it. Gigha to Bangor, aim to be off the MoK at low water then you have 6 hours, a lot of it with 2 knots of assistance. I would only consider Portpatrick if coming from the Clyde but doing it that way gives a lot of shorter legs with marinas to stop in. Again if you are heading for the South coast rather than Lancs. or N. Wales stick to the Irish side, more straight forward navigation, accessible harbours, and usually a weather shore to keep the waves down. Of course this is just my preference, I like an easy ride with intersting harbours. I don't know your destination or what you like in terms of weather, there are a load of options. I have rounded the Mull of Kintyre perhaps 100 times going to and from Ireland, it can be horrible going S in bad SW weather even if you do go several miles offshore but most of the time you can sail straight past the lighthouse, depends on conditions. Just as Steve favours Portpatrick, IoM, familiarity causes me to recommend Bangor, Howth or Dun Laoghaire Don't stop at Ardminish Bay, Gigha in anything easterly above F4, there is shelter on the other side, Craighouse is not a lot better, looking at the chart illustrates why. As Steve advises going N or S the tides are everything, if you are going round you South Britain you will have a reliable anchor and experience using it which you will need if you go want to avoid marinas and stop in places like Carsaig, Larne Lough or the Copelands.
 
Just to add, Crinan is just around 4 hours South of Oban with the tide assist which can be 6-8 knots at springs in the Sound Of Luing. The Sound runs like a river and can be swirly but is rarely rough except a short bumpy bit as you go through the Dorus Mohr if stopping in Crinan. At Crinan the boatyard has moorings but out of hours you can stop overnight in the sea lock which is within 30 feet of the bar of the Crinan Hotel which now does great bar meals and Fyne ales. If you are not going through the canal you need to be out of there before 08-00. You can not do Oban Gigha in one tide but Carsaig and the McCormaig Isles (Isle Mor) have sheltered anchorages and are further down than Crinan. If you are not going to Crinan there is no need to use the Dorus Mor, stay to the west. If you want to experience the Corryvreckan that is a whole new subject, Sound of Islay is good but few folk go west around Islay for good reason.
 
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I've done this trip a few times.

Pullidhoran (7m S of Oban) may be a good departure.

It is possible to do Oban-Sound of Luing-Craighouse in one tide. leaving Oban at about HW Oban (Dover -5.00), carried the tide the whole way. It's about 45 miles. Alternative stop on the E side of Gigha (moorings available). Moorings at Craighouse as well (just as well, as incredible weed). Note that Lowmandlands Bay is also a pleasant spot. Need to watch the tides off the SE end of the Sd. of Islay.

Port Ellen is worth a visit, and a good departure port. Pontoons.

Get the tides across the North Channel right, to Glenarm.

The Irish Sea tides are interesting, as in the north, the flood is S going, but as you proceed south, it is the ebb which it is S going. With careful timing you can get about 9 hours of favourable tides.

I've found the Irish coast a bit more yacht friendly than the Welsh. Bangor is a good marina.

Strangford Lough has ferocious tidal streams in the entrance, best entered at local slack, and not when the wind is SE'ly..

Carlingford Lough has a grotty (2013) marina a few miles up on the Republic side (check your courtesy flag as they are a bit touchy in this area).

Then Howth (for Dublin), Wicklow is OK.

It is worth mentioning that the public transport system up and down the east coast of Ireland is excellent for crew changes. I just make sure crew arrives at Dublin by mid-afternoon, then text them as to where I am with instructions as to what train/bus get them to me.
 
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Last time I did this - three years ago - we did Linnhe Marine (north of Oban) to Ardluing (near Crinan), Ardluing to Gigha, Gigha to Bangor. All nice easy day sails, though Gigha to Bangor is a fair step and took 13 hours for about 60 miles.
 
Minchsailor said:
It is possible to do Oban-Sound of Lismore-Craighouse in one tide. leaving Oban at about HW Oban (Dover -5.00), carried the tide the whole way.
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I've done Garbh Eileach to Gigha in one. It was in a 21' boat, so not particularly fast. Really the only tidal bits that matter are the Sound of Luing (which can sometimes be avoided by nipping through Cuan and down Loch Melfort) and off the MacCormaig Islands (also avoidable). Of course it's a bit frustrating to be going into the tide, but at worst it's a knot and for anything other than short hops it can't be avoided all the time. I've done Peel to Tarbert (Loch Fyne) and Peel to Loch Caolisport: you have to get the Mulls of Galloway and Kintyre respectively right but other than that some plugging into the tide is just part of the game.

By the way, we were heading for Crinan, not Loch Caolisport, but the crew I had with me - an experienced skipper, too - took a wrong turn at the Point of Knap.
 
My preferred timing for delivery trips back to the Clyde from Oban is to reach the Fladda gap about 2 hours before HW Oban (can involve time wasting in the Troosers) then carry the tide down to Gigha. A few hours kip, or, if it's daylight, 9 holes of golf, then carry the next tide round Cape McCartney into the Clyde. Bucking the flood tide from Oban past Easdale isn't particularly painful particularly when compared to an adverse tide at the McCormaigs.
Considerably quicker than the canal even when they don't have water restrictions but it's a trip I've done often and it misses out on the fun aspects of cruising.
 
Quandary said:
You can not do Oban Gigha in one tide ...
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Glad you didn't tell me that before I went from Oban Marina to Gigha on one tide last autumn singlehanded - clearly depends on the wind direction, but with a fair wind and a bit of tide assistance it was a dawdle and there for lunch and an afternoon cycle :-)

But seriously for the OP, south from Oban shouldn't be too "interesting" navigation wise providing you check the tides and go with them through Sounds of Luing & Jura (it is just possible under sail against the tides, but not for fast passage making). If leaving early to catch a tide, just make sure you note the odd buoyage in the Kererra Sound as you head out - yes the rock is in the middle and the buoyed passages either side.

Two other personal thoughts
- as heading for the Irish Sea, I might just suggest "don't start here" - unless you like major harbour hopping, thereby missing all the nicest places, I might suggest stopping at Lismore, Lochaline, Loch Spelve etc unless you need supplies and transport at Oban. (Personally I tend to avoid Puilldobrain, or however it is spelt, as tends to be busy and moderate holding)
- After Gigha, or Islay, I would tend to hop down the Irish side. Rathlin may be a slight detour, but worth it if got time, otherwise Glemarm, Bangor etc as tides and wind take you
 
Sorry, I should have said 'I can not do it in one tide'.
Averaging 8 kts. for 6 hours is well beyond our wee boat even with the mid tidal push on parts of it, we normally allow 4 hours just to get to Crinan, though it sometimes takes less; a big fancy X yacht with the wind behind it, no problem.
( removed dodgy emoji)

Still not sure why everyone wants to cross the tide to detour to Glenarm, a miserable wee village unless it has improved since I worked there.
 
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Quandary said:
Still not sure why everyone wants to cross the tide to detour to Glenarm, a miserable wee village unless it has improved since I worked there.
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We went in there a couple of years ago heading back from Bangor to Campbeltown, as the tides would otherwise have meant a VERY early start. There is not a terribly large amount to do there, but there is a craft shop, an ice cream place and a nice wee cafe. The harbourmaster was friendly and I had a nice chat with a couple of forumites. I don't think I would head in again for fun, though.

What's Carnlough like these days? I was there about 30 years ago and it seemed fine. I've heard since that the locals are/were not over-enamored of Union flags, even as part of ensigns, so perhaps my Scottish Merchant Flag protected me.
 
Really depends on what boat you have. Lots to consider up here and in that area in particular.
Crinan canal is nice to say you’ve done it, but having done it...I wouldn’t bother unless the weather going round the Mull is that bad you can make it.
If your boat is a large fast cruiser it’s not ideal through there. I remember our 40ft Princess having bother going as slow as the speed limit or other boats...when just at idle. Made manoivering in tight locks a delicate job too. The large engines and pitch on props meant she lurched for ward at pace.
If your boat is of a slower nature...tides are a real consideration. Most of the sailing boats or slower boats round here need to really consider sailing with the tide. There are a few places which can overcome the pace of the slower boats, with some of the fastest moving water in the world here.
Haven’t read the full list of posts above but most will tell you it’s amonsgt the prettiest areas to sail in. Well worth taking the time to explore if possible. Isla, the islands and loch fyne are amongst the loveliest.
 
Most will also tell you that the area around kintyre can seriously catch you out. Despite the forecast. Serious piece of water here that can change in an instant. Enough to trouble the sturdiest of boats.
 
Hi all,

Brilliant, I've been poring over charts - hence the query.

All this will get printed and considered. More replied more than welcome.

Btw, answer to one question is Hanse 350, circa 11m. Currently in hand for winter maintenance and prep
 
I was up there last summer. My advice is to read the Irish Sea Pilot which explains the tides and races. It's sensibly cautionary; not as bad as the 'watch out for the rock the size of a house' pilots I've come across (I'd put Martin Lawrence in that category although tbf some of his is 20 years old).

We/I did, Crinan, Gigha, Glenarm, Belfast, Bangor, Arklow, Serries, Howth, Arklow, Skomer in 10 days with one day off for bad weather. On the way up we took four weeks plus five weeks in the Mull and Skye areas. Reckon I saw about 3% in that time.

Join the Cruising and Sailing Scotland FB group; very friendly and lots of advice
 
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