Braye in a moderate easterly?

[prv]

In the pub on Saturday night, we hatched the idea of a "Channel dash" over this bank holiday weekend. Having spent too much time hanging around Cherbourg in the past, and not wanting to continue any further south due to the limited time available, we decided on Alderney as a destination. I know some might consider it boring, but my crew have never been and I've only spent a single night there (at anchor in a square-rigger) so I think it's still worth our time. We'd be going out through the Needles on the last of the ebb on Saturday morning, arriving hopefully early evening. Departing early Monday morning, possibly so early that it's still Sunday night .

That all seemed like a reasonable plan, till I started looking at the forecasts. Obviously it's still a way off with room to change, but this is what the GFS is currently predicting for the time we're there:

(To be clear, the numbers are Beaufort forces, not knots!)

I know that Braye is reputed to be unpleasant in easterlies (especially north-easterlies). But does this refer only to strong easterlies, or any at all? Would you go there if the above forecast was reliably predicted the previous day?

I have vague memories of moorings over near the eastern side of the harbour, rather than the "normal" ones under the breakwater. Visitors', or only residents? Presumably better in E winds? Or anchor over towards that way? Or does the breakwater just scoop swell in and set the whole harbour bouncing?

I think about St Vaast as an alternative, but the tides are all wrong.

Pete

 

[Fergus]

You should be fine although won't make much difference where you moor! Unlikely to be a big swell with that forecast!

 

[LadyInBed]

That forecast looks good for Braye, if the buoys look a bit uncomfortable you can always anchor under the cliff on the East side of the bay.

 

[dom]

In the pub on Saturday night, we hatched the idea of a "Channel dash" over this bank holiday weekend. Having spent too much time hanging around Cherbourg in the past, and not wanting to continue any further south due to the limited time available, we decided on Alderney as a destination. I know some might consider it boring, but my crew have never been and I've only spent a single night there (at anchor in a square-rigger) so I think it's still worth our time. We'd be going out through the Needles on the last of the ebb on Saturday morning, arriving hopefully early evening. Departing early Monday morning, possibly so early that it's still Sunday night .

That all seemed like a reasonable plan, till I started looking at the forecasts. Obviously it's still a way off with room to change, but this is what the GFS is currently predicting for the time we're there:

(To be clear, the numbers are Beaufort forces, not knots!)

I know that Braye is reputed to be unpleasant in easterlies (especially north-easterlies). But does this refer only to strong easterlies, or any at all? Would you go there if the above forecast was reliably predicted the previous day?

I have vague memories of moorings over near the eastern side of the harbour, rather than the "normal" ones under the breakwater. Visitors', or only residents? Presumably better in E winds? Or anchor over towards that way? Or does the breakwater just scoop swell in and set the whole harbour bouncing?

I think about St Vaast as an alternative, but the tides are all wrong.

Pete

I was looking at the possibility of Alderney also ...have been there many times in such conditions and you'll be fine but:

1. Think twice if anybody on your boat is prone to seasickness on a roly mooring.

2. Be a bit careful depending on what tender you have even with a F4 easterly.

3. Have a good look around when you arrive and find a bouy that looks calmest, with a preference for in-close to the inner harbour and not right up against the wall which seas have a tendency to roll down.

4. As I'm sure you know well, it's worth booking the Fist and Last if you fancy eating out as it gets booked out quickly if the British and French leisure armadas invade!

Have a good trip!

 

[Sans Bateau]

That forecast looks good for Braye, if the buoys look a bit uncomfortable you can always anchor under the cliff on the East side of the bay.

And tbats what I would do. If after the first night it is uncomfortable, nip across to Diellete.

 

[Poignard]

That forecast looks good for Braye, if the buoys look a bit uncomfortable you can always anchor under the cliff on the East side of the bay.

I have done that. It was safe enough but the lee-cloths were essential due to the rolling.

 

[jimi]

i've also anchored there in benign conditions, ended up deploying a flopper stopper from the end of the boom, and a warp from the anchor chain to the stern quarter in an attempt to get the head to the swell to stop the rolling

 

[RadiumRob]

We may see you there! We're planning a dash from Portland to St Peter Port in the wee hours of Friday morning, and are preparing to stop at Braye on the way down/up if we miss the tidal gate off Alderney.

The plan is still in its early stage of formation, and with the forecast looking like a light wind run down and the same on the way back may well not come to pass.

Good luck!

 

[prv]

I have done that. It was safe enough but the lee-cloths were essential due to the rolling.

You've got me worried again now. My crew is planning to cook a full Sunday roast with all the trimmings (his idea, not mine) and that sounds like a challenge if the spuds keep rolling away from you!

Pete

 

[Sans Bateau]

i've also anchored there in benign conditions, ended up deploying a flopper stopper from the end of the boom, and a warp from the anchor chain to the stern quarter in an attempt to get the head to the swell to stop the rolling

I remember reading about that in an old PBO mag, did it work?

 

[mainsail1]

Braye in an Easterly? No thanks. Braye in a Northerly? No thanks.

 

[Pete7]

Winds are perfect though, blow him across and then back again on Monday.

Pete

 

[mainsail1]

Winds are perfect though, blow him across and then back again on Monday.

Pete

Hmmm. He will certainly want to come home, just for a rest, after a night in Braye in an Easterly or a Northerly.

 

[LadyInBed]

Braye in an Easterly? No thanks. Braye in a Northerly? No thanks.

We are talking 3 to 4, is that too much for an AWB?

 

[mainsail1]

We are talking 3 to 4, is that too much for an AWB?

The trouble is it gets roly poly in almost any wind from the North or East in my experience, possibly aggravated by the tide outside. Also, every time I have anchored I have dragged as the holding is rock with a covering of sand over the top.
IMHO, Far better to go the extra 20 or so miles to Guernsey in those winds. Or go to Cherbourg.

 

[strudders]

Never again is my experience with anything between north & east. It just rolls and simply feels like you are still at sea. Especially in an awb. Also as has been pointed out, using the tender can also be tricky. We now have a much heavier boat but will stick with our rule.

We are planning a couple of days there next week, crossing monday as we love Alderney, but will go to Cherbourg or St. peter Port if the wind is not right.

 

[Talulah]

Have to say I wouldn't recommend it. Suggest you just keep going on to Guernsey. It adds 3 hours to the journey but you will enjoy the BH so much more.
Nothing worse than sitting on a mooring with some swell and you're the only one not feeling green. What would you do if everyone else was feeling in?

 

[dom]

Have to say I wouldn't recommend it. Suggest you just keep going on to Guernsey. It adds 3 hours to the journey but you will enjoy the BH so much more.
Nothing worse than sitting on a mooring with some swell and you're the only one not feeling green. What would you do if everyone else was feeling in?

Good point; anybody feeling green would have a truly miserable time. But do you think it will really be that roly? Meteo France predict quite moderate seas http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-marine/cotes/nord-cotentin/0036200

One advantage of Braye is that you can hit it from Solent in a daylight sail and get there before dinner. The three hours to Guernsey can be a long one and then there's the issue of being stuck in a tidal gate.

 

[Angele]

Good point; anybody feeling green would have a truly miserable time. But do you think it will really be that roly? Meteo France predict quite moderate seas http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-marine/cotes/nord-cotentin/0036200

The only time I have been there when the wind shifted into the North East, the wind wasn't strong and the sea state wasn't rough, but it quickly became unpleasant. If that Meteo France forecast proves accurate (NE force 4-5, sea state moderate) I wouldn't want to be spending the night in Braye.

 

[Pinnacle]

The only time I have been there when the wind shifted into the North East, the wind wasn't strong and the sea state wasn't rough, but it quickly became unpleasant. If that Meteo France forecast proves accurate (NE force 4-5, sea state moderate) I wouldn't want to be spending the night in Braye.

Me neither!