Gunfleet
Well-Known Member
I can't suggest a website but the monthly wind/direction data is in the Admiralty pilot.
Channel crossing in a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24.2
- Thread starter Nig1
- Start date
I can't suggest a website but the monthly wind/direction data is in the Admiralty pilot.
Nig1
New Member
Thanks for the replies!
Thanks you to everyone that has replied to my post, I wasn't expecting so many replies so quickly!
It was a bit of a theoretical question really as I don't have the boat yet!
I wanted to know if it was possible as I have been considering buying a Sun Odyssey 24.2 and traveling across the channel was one of the passages I would like to eventually make (after getting a good feel of the boat, and proper preparation of course!)
The plan would be to travel out from the River Crouch in Essex and over to a quiet and pretty port in France (Any suggestions?).
Cheers,
Nigel
Thanks you to everyone that has replied to my post, I wasn't expecting so many replies so quickly!
It was a bit of a theoretical question really as I don't have the boat yet!
I wanted to know if it was possible as I have been considering buying a Sun Odyssey 24.2 and traveling across the channel was one of the passages I would like to eventually make (after getting a good feel of the boat, and proper preparation of course!)
The plan would be to travel out from the River Crouch in Essex and over to a quiet and pretty port in France (Any suggestions?).
Cheers,
Nigel
Stemar
Well-Known Member
When I was looking for insurance for my Snapdragon 24, one would-be insurer told me 24' was much too small to be crossing the channel. I took that as a challenge! We've only done it once, but I can see no reason for not doing it again.
My thoughts.for what they're worth:
If you aren't a bit apprehensive about a serious passage, you're headed for trouble and probably won't be equipped to deal with it when you get there!
Pick your weather. A bit of breeze isn't a problem, but the sea it can raise may be. A northerly will give you calm sea until you get far enough offshore to make it hard to get back! A southerly will give you the worst sea as you set out, calming as you approach France
A long trip should be boring! The excitement of wondering if you're going to make in front of that container ship is bad for the health.
Don't be afraid to motorsail to keep your speed up if there's to little wind. Carry plenty of fuel.
If going to Cherbourg, trying to get back up a spring tide across the entrances is hard work. Try and arrive around slack water. Also, put in a waypoint for each of the entrances and one a couple of hours off. When you get to the couple of hours off point, work out which way the tide will be pushing you in a couple of hours and aim a bit uptide of the the uptide entrance. That way, you get a second chance if you miss.
If you have an autopilot, take a kitchen timer and set it to ding every 10 minutes in open water. When it does, have a good look round, including behind you. If visibility's less than perfect, reduce the time so the fast ship you just missed seeing last time is still far enough away to deal with this time.
Others have talked about the importance of high energy food and hot drinks. You may not feel like preparing food en route, so prepare in advance.
Lastly, ENJOY! There's a huge feeling of accomplishment when you arrive at Chanteryne and all the other boats there are 10ft longer than you are
My thoughts.for what they're worth:
If you aren't a bit apprehensive about a serious passage, you're headed for trouble and probably won't be equipped to deal with it when you get there!
Pick your weather. A bit of breeze isn't a problem, but the sea it can raise may be. A northerly will give you calm sea until you get far enough offshore to make it hard to get back! A southerly will give you the worst sea as you set out, calming as you approach France
A long trip should be boring! The excitement of wondering if you're going to make in front of that container ship is bad for the health.
Don't be afraid to motorsail to keep your speed up if there's to little wind. Carry plenty of fuel.
If going to Cherbourg, trying to get back up a spring tide across the entrances is hard work. Try and arrive around slack water. Also, put in a waypoint for each of the entrances and one a couple of hours off. When you get to the couple of hours off point, work out which way the tide will be pushing you in a couple of hours and aim a bit uptide of the the uptide entrance. That way, you get a second chance if you miss.
If you have an autopilot, take a kitchen timer and set it to ding every 10 minutes in open water. When it does, have a good look round, including behind you. If visibility's less than perfect, reduce the time so the fast ship you just missed seeing last time is still far enough away to deal with this time.
Others have talked about the importance of high energy food and hot drinks. You may not feel like preparing food en route, so prepare in advance.
Lastly, ENJOY! There's a huge feeling of accomplishment when you arrive at Chanteryne and all the other boats there are 10ft longer than you are
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
Gravelines, but don't tell everybody else it will no longer be quiet.
Grehan
Well-Known Member
A few years back we crossed the Channel with friends in their Dutch Barge accompanied by a narrow boat, accompanied by a medium sized dinghy with an outboard. We ventured out of Ramsgate towards the Goodwins and would have immediately abandoned the idea if conditions (including barometer) were other than favourable. All three skippers (and crew, in fact) were very experienced. As it happened the trip to Calais went entirely without incident and was part of the Dunkerque evacuation commemorations.
This is not to give carte blanche to any small boat in any conditions - we've also be caught out by a gale mid-Channel in the early hours, which was not pleasant (but we survived) - but just goes to show what can be done, in the right circumstances.
I also agree about making sensible preparations, especially as skipper. My last crossing (under sail) came immediately after two years of not having sailed, I should have taken some seasickness tablets (I know full well I am susceptible), didn't and felt so rough (conditions were uncomfortably choppy but no worse than that) for the first 2-3 hours my crew had to take over. Luckily (no, this was actually sensible planning on my part) she was more experienced and more qualified than me. But taught me a lesson, never take important things for granted.
This is not to give carte blanche to any small boat in any conditions - we've also be caught out by a gale mid-Channel in the early hours, which was not pleasant (but we survived) - but just goes to show what can be done, in the right circumstances.
I also agree about making sensible preparations, especially as skipper. My last crossing (under sail) came immediately after two years of not having sailed, I should have taken some seasickness tablets (I know full well I am susceptible), didn't and felt so rough (conditions were uncomfortably choppy but no worse than that) for the first 2-3 hours my crew had to take over. Luckily (no, this was actually sensible planning on my part) she was more experienced and more qualified than me. But taught me a lesson, never take important things for granted.