Calais Rally

Supine Being said:
I've never been to this before. How big a bun-fight is it going to be to get through the bridge opening and get rafted up... And then to do the reverse when leaving? The place must be heaving.

I know the timings, but how long does the bridge stay open for?
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The bridge will stay open as long as needed to get all the boats in or out. First the boats are let out of the marina then the outside boats come in. Be warned that on the first and last opening there is a strong flow through the gate, best way is with plenty of speed.
 
At Calais now - waiting for the 1st bridge lift.
Most likly staying all weekend.

We had set of for Boulogne but 25 knots on the bow was to much after crossing the TSS.
We ran down wind to here.
Only one broch on the way :-)
 
bendyone said:
The bridge will stay open as long as needed to get all the boats in or out. First the boats are let out of the marina then the outside boats come in. Be warned that on the first and last opening there is a strong flow through the gate, best way is with plenty of speed.
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Thanks Bendyone
 
We are all sitting here in Calais rocking and rolling at the top of the tide.
I don't think anyone has left on this tide.
Even HMS Puncher has not gone.
I understand that they are going tonight.
The weather is looking better tomorrow.
We are planning to leave on the 1st bridge lift tomorrow (10:45 BST).
I suspect that there will be a mass exit then.
God help any ferry in the way!
Planning to head for Ramsgate.
Hole up for Wednesday, looking rough again.
Back to Harwich on Thursday.
 
CliveG said:
We are all sitting here in Calais rocking and rolling at the top of the tide.
I don't think anyone has left on this tide.
Even HMS Puncher has not gone.
I understand that they are going tonight.
The weather is looking better tomorrow.
We are planning to leave on the 1st bridge lift tomorrow (10:45 BST).
I suspect that there will be a mass exit then.
God help any ferry in the way!
Planning to head for Ramsgate.
Hole up for Wednesday, looking rough again.
Back to Harwich on Thursday.
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Good luck, we kicked it into touch yesterday. F****ing June :rolleyes:
 
Oostende - this afternoon from RNSYC - we're waiting for a window tomorrow morning - as you say... f***ing June!!!

 
CliveG said:
We are all sitting here in Calais rocking and rolling at the top of the tide.
I don't think anyone has left on this tide.
Even HMS Puncher has not gone.
I understand that they are going tonight.
The weather is looking better tomorrow.
We are planning to leave on the 1st bridge lift tomorrow (10:45 BST).
I suspect that there will be a mass exit then.
God help any ferry in the way!
Planning to head for Ramsgate.
Hole up for Wednesday, looking rough again.
Back to Harwich on Thursday.
Click to expand...

We left on the first opening on Sunday bound for Ramsgit, it got very rough around the East Goodwin Light Float, not nice at all.
 
Just back to Brightlingsea - last bit in F5 to 6 but all downhill. Motored for first 6 hours with heavily reefed main (broke boom going into Calais on Thursday - pics to follow when home) then sailed most of way after.

Didnt find as much water as I was expecting across the SW Sunk - down to 60cm under keel at worst but sea flat - was expecting no less than 1.5m, need to rework that bit of route. Had to slow down as looking like would make Wallet Spitway at dead LW. In end crossed 1 hour after with no less than 1m under keel.

Dont think Son enjoyed the sailing much - bit too bumpy going and it rained on way back but he enjoyed Calais.

Great to see Clive and Tim - enjoy Ramsgit!!
 
Peter
glad you made it back o.k. with your broken boom.

We enjoyed our long stay in Calais.
Good company & good meals.
We hired a car for a couple of days and did some sightseeing.
Some of the WWII V2 sites are amazing.
What a lot of concrete.

The trip back was a bit boring.
We motor sailed all the way to Ramsgate with about 7 knots of wind.
It only picked up as we droped the main just off the harbour.
Now moored along side Wild Otter.
Had a good Indian last night with Ian.
 
Suffering from wind at the moment and it wasn't the curry.
Just seen 26 knots here in Ramsgit.
Rolling a bit as well.
Time for another cider, cheers. :-)
 
After 12 hours of hard sailing in strong winds and lumpy seas from the Blackwater we got to Calais on Saturday night only to find that the bridge to the marina didn't open. The light went amber at the right times but nothing else happened. When we finally opened at 1am, we were too tired to care, spent the night on a buoy and left the next morning. I still haven't been to Calais Rally.
 
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