Channel crossing from Helford

[rkane]

We're planning on crossing to Brittany (Douarnenez) from helford for the first time on about 9th / 10th July. At the moment, we're thinking of heading straight for the chenal de Four, using l'Aberildut as a stopping off point if the tides / weather isn't favourable. Has anyone any thoughts on this? What is l'Aberildut like to approach - is it affected by very strong cross tides? We had thought of making l'Aberwrach our first landfall but have read in a couple of places that people wouldn't advise this. Any thoughts on this too? Infact, any thoughts on anything to do with arriving safely in Brittany for the first time - ie dodging ships / fog in a boat with no radar etc. etc. gratefully appreciated!

Thanks

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[Robin]

The reason for not favouring L'Aberwrac'h whilst heading south is mainly because it is downtide of the Chenal Du Four when you come to depart, better therefore to head straight for the Chenal Du Four IMO. If the weather is suitable to enter L'Aberildut then it will be fine for the passage down the Four too, so head on down! The Four is a lot easier than it looks, even at night and although the tides are strong they are not ultra strong all the way through, at neaps most boats could probably go through against the tide albeit frustratingly slowly. From Helford you have a nice angle on the (probable) wind as well as for crossing the offshore shipping lanes, better than for us since we make the crossing usually from Dartmouth. Our plan is to target the top centre approach to Chenal Du Four at our slowest allowable speed of 5.5kts at the latest by HW Brest +3hrs, that gets us through with the tide, if we are earlier (up to an average crossing speed of 6.5kts) we will still have favourable tide through and if we are very quick then a bit of foul tide at the top won't worry us! These figures are for a 41ft cruiser/racer, and we can achieve 6kts fairly easily even in light winds or headwinds, if we average below 5.5kts for more than an hour or so then we may turn on some engine assist for a while to catch up on schedule with the tide gate. The tide inside the Four goes south from about HW Brest, whilst it still goes east along the coast outside for another 2 hours.

Fog can be a problem especially in the approaches and in the lanes, if they say 'fog patches' there will probably be a big one just there, something to do with the cold water coming up from the depths in the strong tides maybe. It usually clears closer inshore during the day with the heat off the land. There is a French radar station at the bottom of Le Four at Pte St Mathieu which if asked will talk you through! We were offered this once when I asked Ushant Traffic Control on VHF for info on the vis since 12mls out we had just 25mts.

Chenal Du Four is very easy at night if you set your wpts in the white sectors of the lights. The lights are really excellent, basically you end up driving down a white beam until you meet the next one!

The shipping lanes were rearranged last year off Ushant and moved a bit more offshore, so make sure you get the latest chart since last August they still had not done the reprint. The new lanes are easier than before I believe and seemed to have one less lane to cross - basically I believe since the French only allow 'passenger vessels' in the inner lane and there aren't too many of those. Certainly we found it easier last year and our route from farther east crosses the lanes at a shallower angle.

Once through the Four you could head straight for Douarnenez or stop at Camaret with a slight detour, either way the tides once through can be ignored unless you want to go south through the Raz.

Have a great trip!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Redmond]

We did this last year. the approach is from the west with an anchorage just outside on the south side but in amongst the reefs. the entrance was very clear and there is a sectored light that brings you in at night. My only concern would be anchoring in a strong westerly. However there are some visator Dumbells inside the harbour which is very sheltered. We anchored outside and had a quick motor round inside before getting the tide to cameret. Follow the line of the river, the lines of boats towards the entrance are accross the river line and get very shallow. the main channel is fine (we draw 2.2m)
This year we hope to go ashore if we get that far.
Red

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