Chanel Island hopping

[oldmanofthehills]

What has happened to us in the past is we have headed off to Braye but it has been too hard on the wind for our taste and we cracked off and enjoyed a fast reach to Cherbourg.

Fine if you still have mobile data but if not I thought the French authorities required notification in advance rather than simply rocking up?

The French like the preavis form as it simplifies their admin as they can type in the data at liesure but its not obligatory and one can just turn up

Even a printout of the preavis for the wrong date was welcomed at Brest as the bits they really need are passport numbers and names of crew. They know the date and name of their own port. The preavis is also wonderfully simple unlike the UK multipage multi question document

 

[ashtead]

In terms of a marina choice between Lym and Yarmouth I guess we tend to choose Lym due to space availability as booking at Yarmouth can prove hard (I’m not saying you cannot book a berth we just find yacht haven or others at Lym means more likelihood of space .) If you are lucky you can have a berth at yacht haven facing directly on to Solent plus more hosteries with space even if eating at yacht haven involves some planning in advance but many fallback pubs etc. going down river channel gives time to prepare if leaving at sunrise etc . I don’t disagree Yarmouth quicker exit if not rafted etc but it can get noisy and too packed if not booked. A lot of course turns on crew expectations on arrival at a port but rolling around on a buoy off Yarmouth can be uncomfortable . If we don’t make for Cherbourg much prefer to reach st pp guernsey tides permitting than faff around with night stop at dismal Braye. Clearly if you want walking and looking at bunkers and airfields close up braye has much to offer but otherwise it has limited attractions. The hotel is fine but otherwise not certain much culinary attractions for crew fare etc.

 

[Poecheng]

The French like the preavis form as it simplifies their admin as they can type in the data at liesure but its not obligatory and one can just turn up

Even a printout of the preavis for the wrong date was welcomed at Brest as the bits they really need are passport numbers and names of crew. They know the date and name of their own port. The preavis is also wonderfully simple unlike the UK multipage multi question document

In Cherbourg last year, I looked out from the marina wall to the inner harbour and at the boats at anchor there. I did make me wonder if you could just drop the hook and, as long as you didnt land, could pick it up the next morning and disappear without going through any formalities. But then I woke up and became sensible

 

[wonkywinch]

In Cherbourg last year, I looked out from the marina wall to the inner harbour and at the boats at anchor there. I did make me wonder if you could just drop the hook and, as long as you didnt land, could pick it up the next morning and disappear without going through any formalities. But then I woke up and became sensible

I read somewhere that you can't check in at Cherbourg then anchor enroute to another French port in the CI (eg Sark) without even stepping foot on land.

Something to do with territorial waters

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Guernsey is fairly sterile with no real interest in their own history and only two pubs both of which sell beer brewed in Bristol. They farm housing for the rich and for second homers and seem to have no industry except collecting local taxes and storing tax haven money. The only thing of interest was the wierd harbour in a quarry

However St Peter Port is a nice hopping off point for Herm which is pure delight.

Alderney is nicer and try to please, and Braye port rather pleasant.

Approaching from the north one goes in via The Swinge which is much more manageable than The Alderney Race and a complete pussy cat at slackish tides

 

[johnalison]

Guernsey is fairly sterile with no real interest in their own history and only two pubs both of which sell beer brewed in Bristol. They farm housing for the rich and for second homers and seem to have no industry except collecting local taxes and storing tax haven money. The only thing of interest was the wierd harbour in a quarry

However St Peter Port is a nice hopping off point for Herm which is pure delight.

Alderney is nicer and try to please, and Braye port rather pleasant.

Approaching from the north one goes in via The Swinge which is much more manageable than The Alderney Race and a complete pussy cat at slackish tides

I tend to agree. There are some points of interest in Guernsey, however, and it is generally attractive. Jersey is often dismissed as being commercial. St Helier is certainly more of a city than anywhere else in the isles, but there are many attractions such as the WW2 underground hospital, the zoo, a vineyard and some gardens. The central bus station is more comfortable than most and the scenery, especially around the north is impressive and also good for wildlife.

 

[Daedelus]

If you do wander round Guernsey you can go to see Victor Hugo's house, which is quaint and walking distance of the harbour.

We got to Guernsey once in time for Liberation day celebrations. It was amazing. The day started with foot races for schoolkids along the front and finished at midnight when the last rock band ceased. *They were all given 5 minutes and that more than enough wanted. There were lots of sideshows and things to do. When we said we had enjoyed it one of the marina staff commented sourly that the cells had been full with drunks and the police had had to use car parks to corral them all and we weren't having to fish drunks out of the marina at 4 in the morning.

 

[MontyMariner]

An overnight to the Alderney Race to catch the early S flow at HW Dover.
Fingers crossed for a good forecast.

 

[Caladh]

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 !

….but not in an easterly ….

 

[oldmanofthehills]

….but not in an easterly ….

Only a North Easterly goes directly in and most summer winds are SW. Even in a NE there are moorings tucked into the sheltered far corner. Just need to row ashore on that beach beneath Mt Hayle Battery.

They dont empty the harbour in very strong NE though I guess it would be rolly, probably too rough for us to have got there in such strong winds, and even St Peter Port is not ideal in an easterly though Herme gives shelter

 

[Boathook]

Only a North Easterly goes directly in and most summer winds are SW. Even in a NE there are moorings tucked into the sheltered far corner. Just need to row ashore on that beach beneath Mt Hayle Battery.

They dont empty the harbour in very strong NE though I guess it would be rolly, probably too rough for us to have got there in such strong winds, and even St Peter Port is not ideal in an easterly though Herme gives shelter

I was in St Peter Port during an easterly summer storm quite a few years back. The swell coming was bad and the pontoons in the outer harbour all moved.

 

[Cerebus]

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

No advice, just envious; such glorious areas. Sark ‘harbour’ a little tricky to ‘park’ up in, but there are anchorages if weather permits. Wonderful place. Alderney; full of history but mostly sad regarding WW2.