Channel crossing from Eastbourne

[LWR]

Heading over next time I get a break from work/weather.

I was looking at the chart plotter the other day - from Eastbourne to Boulogne, it looks like if you go to Dungeoness to cross, you minimize your time away from the coastline and only add about 3nm to you overall journey - the actual channel crossing is about 25nm from Dungeoness to Boulogne.

Has anybody tried this passage? Or recommend any other routes?

Crossing at Dungeoness also seems to get you going through the TSS at the correct heading...

 

[Petrolia]

Plotted it but not done it yet. Not to Boulogne anyway. But the way you describe is the way I would go for the reasons you say.

As you say is surprising how little distance it adds when you put bends in a course.

We are hoping to head towards Paris +/- 21st August.

 

[Petrolia]

Just had a thought. Are you the boat that followed us over to Brighton a few weeks ago. Did you tie us behind us in the lock ?

 

[LWR]

Yep - that is me - I was busy with the children otherwise I would have popped down to say hello.

(Hope I didn't do anything embarrassing)

Would love to go to Paris in my boat, but my air draft is way too high /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Petrolia]

This is embassasing. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I'm going to Paris but I don't know what the max air draft is. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I'm currently working out of the country and have ordered French canal books that are waiting for me to read when I get home. I had assumed that really big boats could get as far as Paris ??

You did nothing embarasing that I noticed. You didn't hit me anyway.

 

[DoubleVision]

We are off to Boulogne this Friday pm or Sat am. There should be 3 boats going but the more the merrier if you want to cruise with us. I`m on E pontoon in the main harbour from Friday noon if you want to look us up
Cheers Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[AdeOlly]

I'd love to come along, but my boat is tucked up in Northney rather than the south harbour at Sov right now, so will have to pass /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Should be back in sunny Eastbourne by October....

 

[ebbtide]

Re: So it\'s Paris then . . .

Air draft on the Seine is 6m, Canal de Calais 3.3m, Dunkirk 3.5m according to the CA Guide.
Experiences on the Seine wanted if you're going that way.

 

[LWR]

Great - thanks for the answers so far!

Double Vision - thank you for the invitation - not sure I can swing this w/e - if you left on Fri what time would you go?

What are the berthing options in Boulogne?

 

[DoubleVision]

We would probably leave mid afternoon but more likely to go very early Sat am to be able to get a berth. I heard boats were anchored off there last friday night which I dont fancy. Best to get there as boats are leaving and then have a hearty breakfast.
There are 2 marinas there--the old one by the bridge which is close to the town and the new one which used to be a commercial dock. You have to lock in there and its a fair hike into town from there.