A summer cruise

[cagey]

Hi,
Would like some opinions please,
Plan on doing long trip (4 months ) to CI and Brittany maybe to Bilbao. Starting June this year.
Boat Sigma 362, well equipped up to mca coding.
Start from Falmouth (home port) and either up to Dartmouth/Plymouth to CI or straight across from Falmouth to Lab, or even from Scillies, done these trips lots of times so pil / nav not a worry but this time I will be single handed, have always had others with me , if only to give me a wake up kick. What would the best tactics re sleep/rest be.
Also where best to store boat for a few days to come back to Cornwall, Ferry or Air inc rail links ,these travel links would be useful for friends to join.
Thanks
Keith

Anyone who wants to come along, pm me, at the moment just me.

 

[doug748]

The most convenient place to leave your boat on this jolly might well be the new marina at Roscoff. I have used Morlaix in the past and this would be a cheaper option, tho not so handy. Book your ferry ticket in advance/internet or you will be charged through the nose. Guernsey and Jersey are also good for this sort of thing, or crew, but all of these options might be too near the start/end of your trip. Consider flying from Brest; I have not used the new marina but Moulon Blanc is ok though a bit out of town. There are a number of places on the west coast fairly near a train, to get you to Morlaix and the Brittany Ferry. I would think this might be your best bet.
I have done these trips, singlehanded, a number of times. Salcombe/Dartmouth to St Peter Port is easy in daylight, if you set off first thing. I should take the tide at Guernsey as it comes and choose your route when 20 miles out. The crossing from Plymouth/France would usually involve a night crossing, the night is so short, as the light fails it is brightening up again within a few hours. 20/24 hours awake is easy for most fit people, I never sleep but do have a lie down with a timer set for 8mins. It always gets cold, I have a hand warmer for this year (thanks Father Chrstmas) and may take two.
For the route, I think I would look at the weather. A good wind for L'abewrach and I would take off. If it was on the nose, I would proceed towards the C Isles. You can always take the other route on the way back. I have never found much of a problem making progress along the N French coast, as the tide gives you such a good shove. Once you are in The Channel Islands or France everything can be a comfy day sail.

 

[Xcinquemila]

Here you have some routing tips:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...a=0&ll=48.458352,5.009766&spn=33.319562,56.25

Or browse this one
http://blog.mailasail.com/

Lots of travel reports on there too.

 

[LadyInBed]

I did a single handed trip last year down to Brittany in preparation for this year, when I head for Galicia.
I have decided to cross from St Evette (Audierne) to the N coast of Spain, making the best West the wind will allow.
I have started putting a website together - http://www.montymariner.co.uk/ - and have put a write-up of the trip on it. The site is still work in progress but it may be of some help (or not!).