Sea kayaking in the tides and swells round the Cuan Sound.
A 15.1 km paddle in the Cuan Sound: 07/01/06.
The Cuan Sound is a narrow channel between the islands of Seil and Luing
through which the tides from the Sound of Jura (to the SE) and the Firth of Lorn
(to the NW) ebb and flow at up to 15km/hr.
We left Glasgow at 07:17am on Saturday 07/01/06. We arrived at Cuan
ferry jetty at 09:58 and launched at 11:02. We paddled until it got dark at
16:40. There is a WC at Cuan. The car parking spaces nearest the jetty are for
visitors who leave the car and travel to Luing on foot. We left the cars at the
other car park just up the hill. On a busy summer day, you would need to arrive
early to get a space.
Conditions on the day:
Mull
of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point.
24 hour forecast:
Wind: south or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 north of
Islay
.
Weather: mainly fair.
Visibility: good.
Sea
State
: moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
tide times (GMT) at Oban were LW 05:08 HW 11:28, LW 17:51 (2 days before neaps).
Cuan Sound ebb SE starts 10:15, flow NW starts 16:31
Actual weather was SE force 3.
GPS
track of route.
We ferry glided back and forth across the sound and worked our
way up to Sgeirr nam Faoileann NM748153 where we surfed some waves before
heading back to Cuan Point and worked our way down the SW side of the sound
practicing breaking in and out across eddylines. We then headed for the narrow
channel between Torsa Beg and Luing. The SE ebb was running at 10km/hr. and we
practiced more ferry glides and surfed a small play wave. We the found a
sheltered spot for lunch in Ardinamir Bay before circumnavigating Torsa. We
crossed to the Seil shore before ferry gliding back out to the reef of An
Cleiteadh. We then went NW, back through the Sound, to Sgeirr nam Faoileann
where we rockhopped until it got dark.
Looking
from Cuan, Isle of Seil, across to the Isle of Luing.
MV
Belnahua ferry glides across the Sound. The captain lives in Cuan and is a keen
kayaker. We told him we would be mucking about and not to worry if he saw us in
the water. He very considerately said not to worry about getting in his way, he
would steer round us!
The
public launching jetty, it is best not to use the ferry jetty.
We
called this snake rock! I would be grateful if any geologists (Clark?) could
help identify this formation.
Ferrying
across a small overfall at the mouth of the Cuan Sound. At springs with wind
against tide, this can be a very interesting area.
Jordan
had a fun day.
Jordan
plays in a small pour over.
Eddies
in the Cuan Sound, the ebb was running at 11.5 km/hr here..
Jim
in the foreground, behind, the view NW to Mull.
Jordan
on a play wave in the Torsa Beg channel.
Jennifer
on the play wave.
Richard,
just about to elbow into the playwave.
Lunch
stop at Ardinamir bay.
Ardinamir
bay, McKelvie, a fierce cat used to live in the cottage behind the beach. His
owner, Irene, kept a register of visiting yachts to the anchorage.
Ardinamir
bay.
Harvey,
Richard and Jennifer leaving
Ardinamir bay.
Jennifer
and Kenny heading
north up Seil Sound along the east side of Torsa.
Harvey
crossing the SE entrance of the Cuan Sound with the crags of Scarba in the
distance.
Jim
and Richard resting
in an eddy behind An Cleiteadh. CCC on the yellow pole stands for Clyde Cruising
Club.
Jennifer,
Jim and Jordan. In
the channel north of the reef the ebb was running at 11.5km/hr. The eddyline was
razor sharp which meant for good practice breaking out.
Kenny
scraping his boat on the way back to Sgeirr nam Faoileann.
Richard
finds a new playspot off Sgeirr nam Faoileann. .
Jim
got a taste for surfing waves.
Jim
keeps his cool and Richard is on hand for a quick Eskimo rescue.
Kenny
with Scarba in the background.
Another
swell pours over the reef.
As
the tide turned and the flood started to hold up the swell, the bigger sets came
through and made life interesting for the photographer who was trying to get a
picture of the Garvellachs befor it got too dark..
Rockhopping
on the way back to Cuan against the flood tide.
What
happens when you rockhop at night?
You
land unintentionally!
Arriving
back at Cuan in the dark.
Thanks to Richard Cree of Explore4 for
coaching! (And to me for suggesting the venue!)
Times of
Maritime Safety Information broadcasts by HM Coastguard on VHF. Initial
announcement on Channel 16 advises which channel will be used for broadcast.
MRSC Clyde: every 4 hours starting at 00:20 GMT
MRSC Stornoway: every 4 hours starting at 01:10 GMT
Tidal constants with respect to Oban:
Clachan Sound: constant as Oban
Cuan Sound: NW (flood)
starts +0430 HW Oban at Springs +0515 HW Oban at neaps. SE flow ( ebb) starts
-0145 HW Oban at springs, -0100 HW Oban at neaps.
Seil Sound -0025 Oban
Hazards:
The tides in the Cuan sound run at up to 7 knots very soon after turning.
References:
The Yachtsman's Pilot to the Isle of Mull and adjacent coasts, Martin
Lawrence.
Scottish West Coast Pilot, Mark Brackenby.
Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions West Coast of Scotland.
Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas, NP218.
Imray Chart C65.
OS Landranger Sheet 55.
Common sense:
The information here is given in good faith and is believed to be correct
but it is every sea user's responsibility to check original data sources and
conditions on the day before deciding if their experience is sufficient for
a safe voyage.
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