Cuan sound against the wind?

[Mavanier]

Weighing up whether to try going E-W through Cuan tomorrow, from Croabh. Going to have up to a F5 on the nose, in a wee boat with a 10hp inboard that maxes out at about 5kt.
Gut instinct is 'no' but I haven't done Cuan before and just going on pilot book info.

[claymore]

You will probably be more comfortable doing that than going around Ardluing - the final straight will be a tad lumpy as you exit the sound if the wind is on the nose there but so would Pladda. Where are you headed?

[wully]

As Claymore said the nasty bit might be from the exit from the sound over to Easdale if there is any sea running. Don't remember meeting anything like a wave in the sound it's self.

Then again you can't turn back against the full flood ( or ebb) so maybe best to plan towards the end of the flow so you can get back if you don't fancy it.

Or wait for the breeze to moderate.( which is what I'd do if I had doubts)

[wully]

As Claymore said the nasty bit might be from the exit from the sound over to Easdale if there is any sea running. Don't remember meeting anything like a wave in the sound it's self.

Then again you can't turn back against the full flood ( or ebb) so maybe best to plan towards the end of the flow so you can get back if you don't fancy it.

Or wait for the breeze to moderate.( which is what I'd do if I had doubts)

Wait a day and catch the easterlies..

[Mavanier]

Thanks. Wait and see sounds good, catch the end of the tide gate by which time the wind should be easing. Just means we won't get very far on the other side, but we weren't going to anyway with that forecast.
Heading back to Skye, eventually.

[ash]

We went through last summer, a lot less than F5 on the nose, but found the exit lumpy. Vega with 13.5 hp.

Link - http://www.bluemoment.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9623

Ash

[wully]

Thanks. Wait and see sounds good, catch the end of the tide gate by which time the wind should be easing. Just means we won't get very far on the other side, but we weren't going to anyway with that forecast.
Heading back to Skye, eventually.

Where are you heading? I might leave Ardfern tomorrow or Friday for a wee sail. Thinking of heading round Mull via Tobe since I've not been for while.

[Mavanier]

Well here we are in Kerrera, after a lovely sail! Took Wully's advice and waited till the end of the tide, when the wind had also moderated. Anchored off Dog Castle for lunch which gave us time to asses conditions, and watched a stream of boats coming the other way, which suggested it must be alright on the other side. Sure enough there were some big rollers just after the ferry, but we punched through and ended up with a cracking sail.

Our friend who left in the morning was a little less fortunate, grounding north of the Cleit and resulting in a lifeboat shout, although he did get off by himself and seems to have emerged unscathed.

Thanks to Wully for the very sound advice. Off to Tobers tomorrow, then Mallaig. Any forumites in the area?