Alderney Race

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nicho

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In the next couple of weeks or so we intend to take our S37 from the Needles to Guernsey, so I've started to look at the best time to approach the Alderney Race. Obviously we will go in but there seems to be two schools of thought about the timing:

1) says we should arrive at the Race at slack water, 30 mins or so before HW Dover, though the downside of that is the two/three hour wait for entering over the Victoria Marina sill.

2) says to arrive 5 hours AFTER HW Dover, at which time the tide is slackish, but also means we'll be able to motor straight into the Marina at a couple of hours before HW St Peter Port.

Any of you experienced Channel crossers got any thoughts to help please?

Many thanks.
 
all about the wind and tide - it's a race

treat it the same as the bridge

I am heading over this evening but will run through the swinge (from Poole) rather than the race but it's neap tides and no effective wind so I don't give a monkeys what the tides doing ...........if it was springs then I would regardless of the wind!

btw both your schools of thought are the same - ie go through at slack water! Ones giving you LW slack the other HW slack including an allowance for traversing the race in a SW direction. Choose which suits you bearing in mind the winds on the day.
 
Definitely a good idea to pass through the Race at slack water but which slack water is going to be dependent on wind direction for the Channel crossing. You dont want to plan to go through the Race for a particular slack water time if that means you've got 60 miles of wind against tide crossing the Channel so plan the Channel crossing for wind over tide (with with tide) and whichever slack water time at the Race that gives. Its no problem waiting in St P Port for a couple of hours just be aware that its very shallow in the harbour at LW particularly near the Boatworks fuel pontoon so keep to the marked channel
 
Don't worry about the Marina.

There is always plenty of space just outside and a good water taxi service to get ashore. You can stay outside the Marina and tehn move it in another day if you want to. I find the outside can be better and safer.

SPP marina can get a bit helish when you have 30 or 40 boats wanting to leave and the same wanting to get in. As soon as there is enough water all hell breaks loose. The harbour master will help but it is common to get inside and to have just come alongside another boat when you get 2 or 3 more alongside you before you have yours lines attached correctly. Everybody is always in a rush.

So my advice is to stay outside until the rush has died down then if you must go in a take your time.

or if you are brave you could anchor in Havelet bay just south or the breakwater..nice and it's free.
 
Suspect in a Mobo the critical issue is to get wind with tide as it can get lumpy!! I'd aim to get there at slackish water when the wind has been with tide and is about to go wind against tide. Its 20ish miles from Alderney to StPP so you should be able to do all that at slackish water in yer great diesel guzzling environmental disaster machine!
 
Us raggies will always aim for the slack water before the ebb as there is a terrific tidal current boost to the SW towards Guernsey on the ebb. Even if a mobo is only going to take an hour between the top end of the Race and StPP, it will still get a "push" of several miles which may be considered worthwhile.

Also be aware the Race is not the only nasty, the north half of the Little Russel generates a band of nasty overfalls on the transition to the ebb tide. This band generally commences around Platte Fougere abeam, moves south and dies down prior to Roustel abeam. If a wind over tide situation is likely to generate this band of overfalls, a diversion down the Big Russel between Herm and Sark and round the Lower Heads into StPP can be a more comfortable option. This route can also be considered safer for raggies if they are going to arrive off Grande Amfroque near the end of the ebb. At this time the current turns SE and in difficult conditions with a SW wind can make holding westing off the rocks north of Herm difficult.
 
Two other alternatives

1 Go through the swinge at half tide its a doddle

2 Go 2 miles west of the Casquets

I would go through the swinge keeping to the Alderney side as much as possible then go through the big russell and in through the Musee passage to SPP as suggested before. Or if you come in via the north (Little russel) keep closer to Herm and aim for roustel then veer off towards SPP as it is much flatter closer in.

Rick P and djefabs amongst others can verify these routes are good. If taking the swinge cut as close as possible to Corbet then run down towards Clonque before diverting past Etacs towards Guernsey again aim for Herm side on this route but it can be bumpier due to the sand banks about.

My preferred route for you would be 2 miles west of Casquets as it is the flattest easiest route. Safe Journey.

If you need any local advice give me a call when you get here.

Dom

P Duncan how long are you staying,am about Sat morning call me.
 
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Rick P and djefabs amongst others can verify these routes are good. If taking the swinge cut as close as possible to Corbet then run down towards Clonque before diverting past Etacs towards Guernsey again aim for Herm side on this route but it can be bumpier due to the sand banks about.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup - you've always been spot on with your routes for us Dom /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We're over briefly towards the end of June but only stopping overnight on our way down to Britany (weather permitting). Will call you closer to the time.

Cheers,
Rick
 
Thanks everyone, great help. I guess it will all depend on tides/weather - not on board at present so havn't looked at the almanac yet. Looking forward to spending a week (or more) there. We've got 5 weeks break to play with, and will probably get to Jersey, and perhaps N Brittany (though I did hear recently that Jersey was not so nice these days).
 
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(though I did hear recently that Jersey was not so nice these days).

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These days ha! any day lol
 
Looked fine to me when I was working there a couple of years ago for Jersey Telecom.

BUT: NOT on a Friday night, when the entire Island tries to get as drunk as possible, and mostly succeeds. Why is this? Rock Fever?

dv.
 
[ QUOTE ]
NOT on a Friday night, when the entire Island tries to get as drunk as possible, and mostly succeeds. Why is this? Rock Fever?

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Actually not quite like "the good old days" from a few years back and not as much trouble as you may.
 
As a rule of thumb I tend to leave Guernsey on the half tide (slack water) and arrive off Alderney about 40 mins later (again slackish). I keep to the Alderney side of the Race get through with ease. My return to Guernsey is always timed to reach top of Alderney at half tide up (Guernsey) so that it is easy in the Race and arrival in St.P.P. means the sill is open.
This practice has served me well and only once in a SW 5-6 did I have to slow down.

All the best for your trip
 
Dom - was (past) over Sat and Sun night.

Didn't leave the boat though and hung around Alderney and the Casquets. Stayed ON on the hook in the little area off the West of the Swinge given the conditions - not another craft around!

Surprised you didn't highlight the 3rd option running the passage to the East of the Casquets/ just West of Speedy Rock - it's pretty wide (compared to some of the others!) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Should be over with others first week August..............
 
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