Chanel Island hopping

[Nina Lucia]

Chanel Island hopping over May holidays, starting from Gosport, what would you recommend, 8/9 days with a 36' sailing boat

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Is there something wrong with your smelling? We’re talking about those lumps of rock off the French coast, not a French fashion house?

 

[johnalison]

All lovely. It depends whether you want to live it up or prefer the quiet life. It will almost entirely be dictated by the tides, which can make some passages much easier than you would think, and others impossible. St Peter Port and St Helier for port facilities and shopping, and Alderney or Sark for a bit of peace, with Cherbourg as starting/stopping place if needed. Everyone has their own favourites since they are all fine, though I would rate St Helier higher than it is sometimes given credit for. Some homework needed if you are not familiar with the place, where you can be as adventurous or timid as you or your crew allow.

 

[Barton Seagoon]

From Gosport, I would recommend that you start by going to Cherbourg since you can enter or leave there at any state of the tide. Decide on which end of the Solent to exit from according to what wind angle you want to sail the long passage on. Once arrived and rested at Cherbourg, you can then carefully time your departure to take best advantage of the tide at Cap de la Hague. The best time to be there is at slack tide, which is the same as HW Dover. Hence you will see a procession of yachts leaving Cherbourg at 3 hours before HW Dover.
As John says above, the tides really will dictate how and when you make passages. If you get them right, you will see miles clocking up very quickly. Get them wrong and you can stand still for 2 hours or more.
Herm and Sark are beautiful and give you lots of fun threading your way around all the rocks. Alderney is lovely, but try to avoid any wind from the NE, which will make the harbour there rather uncomfortable.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’d beg to differ, sail to Yarmouth, time your tidal gates from there and go straight to Braye. But that’s just me. We used to do that leaving from Chichester.

 

[Goldie]

I’d beg to differ, sail to Yarmouth, time your tidal gates from there and go straight to Braye. But that’s just me. We used to do that leaving from Chichester.

And it neatly avoids the Brexit induced customs hassle entering Schengen (although you still need to complete the U.K. stuff).

 

[Boathook]

I would go to Braye. Goldie gives a good reason, though the French marinas don't care about customs paperwork as long as you have paid for your berth !

 

[lustyd]

Agree straight to Braye. Lots of good moorings and worst case you can anchor if there’s no space (there’s usually space). Dinghy dock or beach for easy access to shore.
Skip Cherbourg, it’s a big, French version of Gosport.
Don’t miss Sark, it’s a very different experience.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Agree straight to Braye. Lots of good moorings and worst case you can anchor if there’s no space (there’s usually space). Dinghy dock or beach for easy access to shore.
Skip Cherbourg, it’s a big, French version of Gosport.
Don’t miss Sark, it’s a very different experience.

Sark, yes indeed. We have a particular fondness for Beaucette, too. It’s like being moored in an aquarium. Though it is in the middle of nowhere. I guess you either like that or don’t. It’s handy for that trip to Sark.

 

[Poecheng]

Agree with the above about skipping Cherbourg.
Cherbourg passport office is a good 20 minute walk, - somewhere around here ///aura.chief.bangle (I cannot work it out more accurately from the satelite pics) not unenjoyable but probs not what you want at the end of a long trip. The marina have arrangements in the summer for the PAF to be present but dont know when that starts. Overall, it will likely take an hour each day and you are probs best spending that time getting to Braye.

Also liked Beaucette where, like SPP, you can find cheap diesel and a fine restaurant.

This site is excellent for all matters CI and Brittany etc. Marine – digimap.gg

 

[Dutch01527]

Alderney was our favourite. There is a very peaceful feel to the place.

Try and go to Sark mid week. Stunning place with no cars however it was bizarre on a bank holiday weekend. Alcohol is tax free or tax reduced on the island so people from Jersey who want to get smashed on cheap booze get the ferry over and camp. Imagine the worst Weatherspoons on steroids. We filled up with Diesel in St Peter’s Port and it was very cheap ( about half price from memory) for the same reason.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Alderney, I presume the weather was benign when you say ‘peaceful’. It always seems to blow when we go, giving the place a wild, frontier kind of feel. We have very much enjoyed that. Our young kids used to find it exciting too, getting into the tender in a 4ft swell was fairly novel. We have spent a number of very enjoyable breaks in the Channel Islands, and fully intend going back soon. Our kids are now the same age as we were when we first took them.

 

[ashtead]

We are a Gosport boat Haslar) so know this choice well and have previously had 10.8 m now 12.8m so much same size Personally 8/9 days might not be enough allowing for any bad weather delays but leaving that aside if tides suit you could either as suggested hop to Lymington or Yarmouth for first night and leave at sunrise out via Needles for either cherbourg or Alderney. If you arrive cherbourg after 6 pm you might not be able to stamp in at marina (assuming you don’t have EU passports) and you might find an early start next morning to catch that tide as per post#4 around the Cap means the office isn’t open before you leave. Technically if you do stamp in on arrival then if heading to the fragrant Chanel islands you should stamp out the next day but you might be able to stamp in and out simultaneously I guess if leaving next morning for CI . Assuming you miss out on stamping ideally you will skip Alderney and guernsey and can make it to jersey st Helier waiting pontoon and enter basin when tidal height gives access. Having had 2 days full day sails you might want a couple of days in st Helier (even longer if planning sightseeing to the zoo,tunnels or Gordy etc ) but if not from jersey a 6 hour trip gets you to st cast (lovely beach and good restaurants or the busier st Malo with its cultural attractions but poor marina facilities. Being this far down will stretch it for 8/9days though so maybe just reach jersey, spend a few days and head back to guernsey . Once at St Peter port a ferry day trip to Sark or herm is possible if visiting under own power doesn’t appeal. From guernsey a short hop to Alderney then head back to Lym or Yarmouth.
A lot of this depends on you crew strength, how long passages you want and how many shopping/restaurant days you want in each port and if you want a few days exploring etc. just remember if you do get stranded due to bad weather somewhere like st Helier is far better than bouncing around on a buoy in Alderney and getting soaked every time you dinghy ashore with little to do ashore save for viewing war bunkers etc.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Agree with ashtead there, just to point out that going to Lymington rather than Yarmouth means getting up half an hour earlier for departure. That river is so tedious.

 

[Muddy32]

Why not anchor off Hurst for free and an early start?
Don't miss out on Herm.

 

[benjenbav]

Agree with ashtead there, just to point out that going to Lymington rather than Yarmouth means getting up half an hour earlier for departure. That river is so tedious.

Have to say I spent years based at Berthon. Always quite liked the Lymington River, which makes for a peaceful start to any new adventure. Probably different for you speedy chaps in your high performance racing machines, though.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Have to say I spent years based at Berthon. Always quite liked the Lymington River, which makes for a peaceful start to any new adventure. Probably different for you speedy chaps in your high performance racing machines, though.

No, it’s not that. It’s just how long it takes before ypu can actually shape a course for the narrows, and really start your trip. The fastest way really is to use a buoy outside at Yarmouth. But a nice snug pontoon berth before a potentially long channel trip, possibly slogging to windward, may be the preferred option.

 

[st599]

If you get time, North entrance to Chausey is a nice navigation challenge.

 

[doug748]

I think a lot depends on the weather - it's all good. Don't get caught in St Peter Port in a bad southerly

In terms of planning I agree with missing Cherbourg out, maybe hold it as a plan B option. In a typical SW wind Alderney is good and gives you breathing space for the next step.
Speaking of which, as a Solent outsider, I would overnight in Studland Bay, perhaps getting there on a typical Friday night. This has the advantage of simple tide planning, a better squeak on a southwesterly and an easy, relaxed start in the morning - drop the mooring and away. It also shortens the crossing.

.

 

[johnalison]

I agree that for such a limited time it would be best not to be too ambitious, and maybe a couple of the major islands could be enough. Alderney is best explored by bike. We had folding bikes but once hired one when we needed three. Both Jersey and Guernsey have good bus services, though Guernsey can also be cycled. I dare say Jersey can too, but its roads are less appealing.