Alderney Slack

[WilfA]

Pilot guides refer to crossing Alderney Race at slack water being HW St Helier +0400 (RCC Pilot) or half an hour before HW Dover (Channel Pilot). This is before the tide floods south down the Race. Neither pilot refers to the slack tide point at the other end, six or so hours later, before the tide ebbs north out of the Race.
There must be a reason for this? Is it because there is only one genuine slack point every 12 hours?

 

[RobbieW]

Its not clear what you're trying to do. I use Reeves-Fowkes for tidal planning, that shows a slack area in the bay off Dielette (and just to confuse things even more) at Cherbourg +3. There is no equivalent when the tide switches from S to N going. Given the complexity and strengths of tides in the area, I try to plan passages around the tide diagrams.

 

[WilfA]

Thanks RobbieW, my query relates to passage planning for a passage sailing between Cherbourg and Braye.

 

[johnalison]

Thanks RobbieW, my query relates to passage planning for a passage sailing between Cherbourg and Braye.

It’s a while since I did this but as far as I remember the usual course was to head five miles north to avoid the counter-current inshore and also to be clear of the race, and the tide more or less takes you south again to Braye.

 

[Tranona]

It’s a while since I did this but as far as I remember the usual course was to head five miles north to avoid the counter-current inshore and also to be clear of the race, and the tide more or less takes you south again to Braye.

That is what I did use the south going tide to take you down to the entrance to the harbour.

 

[wonkywinch]

I came through the race northbound from Sark at night last year. SOG was 12 knots and the left turn into Braye had me laying off about 45 degrees of drift. Quite impressive.

 

[rotrax]

It’s a while since I did this but as far as I remember the usual course was to head five miles north to avoid the counter-current inshore and also to be clear of the race, and the tide more or less takes you south again to Braye.

Pretty much what we do.

My old Speedway mate's son is on the Braye RNLI Crew.

" Dont 'ee get sucked down that bloody Raz! I dont wanna 'ave ter come 'an get 'ee!"

Cheers Wayne - top advice.

 

[WilfA]

Thanks Johnalison.

If planning to arrive at Race at HW St Helier + 0400, are you not fighting tide throughout the whole passage from Cherbourg? Thanks

 

[philwebb]

I ride the W going tide from Cherbourg, but head further North than the direct route by the time I get to Cap de la Hague. I set a clearing line a mile N of the direct route and don’t drop below it. When you are past the Alderney lighthouse you can relax and turn more to port and the tide brings you in towards the entrance. Don t go close inshore as there is a rocky area. If you look carefully there are two poles up on the hill above the harbour entrance. Keeping them in line gives you a good line for the entrance.

 

[lustyd]

Practice the phrase “it was a nice day so we carried on to St Peter Port”. Just in case.

 

[johnalison]

Thanks Johnalison.

If planning to arrive at Race at HW St Helier + 0400, are you not fighting tide throughout the whole passage from Cherbourg? Thanks

As I said, it’s a long time since I did this. I think it was about a four-hour trip, but if you set out from Cherbourg as the tide turns west in your favour there is a significant east-going stream inshore. Therefore, it pays to head north at about a 45 degree angle to be five miles north of cap de la Hague. This will keep you well clear of the race and the tide will more or less take you into Braye. With strong tides in the area there is no point in trying to fight them. I’m not sure about the St Helier tide times, but basically you just leave Cherbourg when it turns in your favour.

 

[johnalison]

I ride the W going tide from Cherbourg, but head further North than the direct route by the time I get to Cap de la Hague. I set a clearing line a mile N of the direct route and don’t drop below it. When you are past the Alderney lighthouse you can relax and turn more to port and the tide brings you in towards the entrance. Don t go close inshore as there is a rocky area. If you look carefully there are two poles up on the hill above the harbour entrance. Keeping them in line gives you a good line for the entrance.

I used to use the transit of keeping the end of the ‘German’ jetty in the harbour in line with St Anne’s church.

 

[Poecheng]

THe noticeboard at the top of the harbour gives the waypoints for entry etc and states: "Always navigate the Swinge at slack water which is +2 1/2 hrs HW or LW Alderney."
Cannot upload photos of the board, sorry

 

[john_morris_uk]

I came through the race northbound from Sark at night last year. SOG was 12 knots and the left turn into Braye had me laying off about 45 degrees of drift. Quite impressive.

We’ve just missed each other. I sailed from Omonville yesterday early down to St Peterport then left at 2030 to arrive Treguier to kedge near the entrance for the next tide which we caught and got as far as Roscoff. That’s where we are now heading down the Chenal du Fort soon past the Raz and then across Biscay to A Coruna and eventually to deliver the boat to Gibraltar.

 

[MontyMariner]

Alderney Tide Direction​

Slack water HW Alderney +2½ hr & LW +2½ hr
The tides run to the NE between Local LW +2½ hr and HW +2½ hr
and to the SW between Local HW +2½ hr and LW +2½ hr

See Weather + CI's & BRITTANY Tide Directions
Also NP264 Alderney : Monty Mariner
and NP264 Channel Isles : Monty Mariner

 

[WilfA]

Alderney Tide Direction​

Slack water HW Alderney +2½ hr & LW +2½ hr
The tides run to the NE between Local LW +2½ hr and HW +2½ hr
and to the SW between Local HW +2½ hr and LW +2½ hr

See Weather + CI's & BRITTANY Tide Directions
Also NP264 Alderney : Monty Mariner
and NP264 Channel Isles : Monty Mariner

Thank you Monty, I remain curious why the pilot guides only recommend crossing Alderney Race at this point between Alderney and Cap de La Hague at the equivalent of the slack which you reference at HW Alderney + 2 1/2 hr.
They don’t seem to recommend crossing at the slack at LW Alderney + 2 1/2 hr. Yet that is the slack which seems to me to suit those sailing to Alderney from Cherbourg or further east of Cherbourg given it is preceded by tide ebbing down English Channel. Curious if this is because the LW Alderney + 2 1/2 hr slack is much shorter period or something else at play here.