Channel crossing this week. Which day?

[TonyS]

We would like to start our cruise to S. Brittany this week but don't like hairy sailing. There are just my wife and I. If we don't get away this week the tides along the French coast are wrong for at least a week. We don't like sailing at night but one plan is to leave Hythe for Studland with the tide tomorrow and anchor then leave really early, say 4 AM on Wednesday and take the NW wind to Alderney or Cherbourg hopefully getting there about 2pm before the strong westerlies kick in. We could also try for St Peter Port if conditions OK then wait for the weekend to proceed. Is the forecast for winds on Wednesday reliable enough? What do you think?

 

[Sixpence]

If you contact Simon , his forecast for last weekend was spot on so he may be able to help

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1446143/an/0/page/1#1446143

 

[michael_w]

Sorry this isn't going to be much help.

Going east to west along the north Brittany coast is always a PIA. You need the ebb tide to get to your destination, then you can't get in as it's low water, and have to hang around for the rise of tide.

Either work your way down channel on the English side; the tide is not as strong and most harbours are all-tide. Or gird up your loins for a longish passage to the west; you never know, you might end up going round the corner to Brest!

 

[AIDY]

do you have to go across to the CI's.

My route each year from the solent to brittany area is to head west along the english coast then cross to brest area. it avoids all the tidal gates around the CI's and along the frensh coast. depending on weather sometimes we cross from dartmouth, last year we went from falmouth. it' s about 16hours to the frensh coast from here.

what ever you choice have a great summer

 

[Sailfree]

I endorse this comment.

I always have to time our return journey to ensure our boat is back for its next charter. I pay for a private forecast, Its not much and you can lay the parameters down that you are comfortable with and Simon will try to forecast the most suitable weather windows.

 

[Sixpence]

I don't actually pay as I'm landlocked at the moment , but I do subscribe to the forecast posted on here in case I miss it

 

[Robin]

Hi Tony

I'm voting with those that say go west along the English coast and avoid the strong tides off North Brittany. We (also just us two) come home that way but always head down via Dartmouth thence straight through Le Four to Camaret. Going from Dartmouth buys a bit of westing so that Chenal Du Four can be laid on on tack with a wind from about WSW or more, the distance is about 144mls or say 120 to L'Aberwrac'h if you must stop. The tides when crossing from Dartmouth or points west are very mild by comparison to those even at neaps between the Channel Islands and Le Four, aim to hit Le Four channel as it turns southwards and you have a couple of hours in hand in case you arrive late, tide in Le Four runs south 2hrs before the Channel tide turns west BTW.

Going home via the North Brittany coast the tides are more helpful and you 'gain' an hour on each as you move east, going the other way you lose an hour of favourable tide AND are generally really bashing straight into the wind.

If you were to think about the UK coast routing, then from Studland there is an inshore eddy that you can use (leave about 1.75hrs before HW Dover) to get to St Albans at about 30 minutes before HW Dover, from there you will get a full 6hrs of favourable tide and another of slackish to get you well past Portland (we aim 4mls off) and into Lyme Bay. In our old Westerly 33 we could do that trip to Dartmouth in 10 - 10.5hrs, mostly engine assisted admittedly because there seems to be either no wind or it is right on the nose, you should be able to match that.

Wednesday looks a possible for a lighter wind day headed west?

Have a great time

Robin

 

[TonyS]

Robin,
Thanks for the advice. How to convince SWMBO!

 

[AIDY]

It roughly works out to be the same distance to ushant what ever way you go.

 

[Robin]

Tony, tell her it is no worse than playing 36 holes in a day!

Seriously though you get from Poole to Camaret in 2 legs, one of 10hrs and one of 23/24hrs. The other route is maybe 1 leg Poole to St Peter Port (say 13hrs), one to maybe Trebeurden (8hrs plus), one from Trebeurden to L'Aberwrac'h (8hrs) and a final one from L'Aberwrac'h to Camaret (4-5hrs) So 2 legs instead of 4 and the same number of hours at sea, except that I'm not including the time to get into and back out of each harbour, all of which takes time so more stops equals more in/out time.

A 24 hour trip is really no problem especially if you pick the weather, it is still just one night at sea and at this time of year the nights are short. We have done it 19 times so far, going for 20 this August! We take it in turns to sleep, even if only in the cockpit, with priority to me being awake at more critical points like crossing the lanes or going through the Four, we have usually felt fresh enough to consider even continuing on through the Raz - except that precludes a first stock up at the Camaret supermarket.

Whatever you do have a great time.

Robin

 

[LadyInBed]

Wednesday looks to be your best bet, but I would want to be in St PP before Thursday as it looks like it is going to pick up from the west and stay that way for the following week!

 

[tome]

I'm with Robin on this - work your way down the S coast. First time swmbo and I did this we sailed Lymington to Falmouth in one go, then my wife decided we should go straight across rather than stopping. But we left the option open

Only point praps I'd disagree with is calling L'Aberwrach as it's not much different going straight to the Four, and provided you get your tides right (essential) you'll pop out the other end like a cork from a bottle and be in Camaret before you know it

 

[jamesjermain]

Definitely go west along the English coast as suggested and definitely don't go to Alderney with the strong NW winds forecast.

 

[AIDY]

agree... alderney is a No No with any hint of North in the wind

 

[TonyS]

Thanks everyone for your advice. In view of the weather this morning and the shipping and inshore forecasts, we have decided to put it off to next week in the hope that the weather improves. There is another fact that the Swinge or Alderney Race have a very large spring tide running and we would have had to reach St Peter Port on Wednesday (didn't fancy being on a buoy in Alderney in strong winds for a few days).
We sat down this morning with the Almanac and looked at crossing from Salcombe. That looks the shortest. Will see what the winds are and what direction next week.

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
Only point praps I'd disagree with is calling L'Aberwrach as it's not much different going straight to the Four, and provided you get your tides right (essential) you'll pop out the other end like a cork from a bottle and be in Camaret before you know it

[/ QUOTE ]

That is exactly my view and we have never stopped at L'Aberwrac'h going south, only on our return. I would guess that from the top of the Four to Camaret takes maybe 3 hours and the top is the same distance from say Dartmouth as is L'Aberwrac'h. It also takes time to enter L'Aberwrac'h river and go up to the moorings, it takes more time to come out of the river again and you will probably then be plugging tide to make westwards for the Four where the tide turns south some 2 hrs earlier than it goes west outside in the Channel. Add to that thought that L'Aberwrac'h is an expensive stop for the very little it offers (unless like us you can find a spot to anchor!), whereas Camaret has nice shops, plenty of room to anchor but buoys and even the marina are at more reasonable rates.

Going home however L'Aberwrac'h allows a useful truck stop with a restart out eastbound via the Malouine Channel to use an inshore east going eddy. It can then give as much as 8 hours of slack/favourable tide to head east. If we aren't in a hurry we will try and stop at Perros Guirec because we like it there, rather than Trebeurden which we don't, especially the fees. Usually we will arrive off Perros at HW and with time to go straight in over the sill, but as it is usually late we most often pick up on one of the waiting buoys back out on the corner, go in first thing and save a night's fee, parsimonious as ever. Perros to St Peter Port is much easier too than from Trebeurden and having to circumnavigate Sept Isles where it seems whichever way you point is against a strong tide!

 

[tome]

Think we're reading off the same hymn sheet Robin. We generally stop L'Aberwrach on the return as the tides are favourable - just as you suggest. I note that last time we went from L'Aberwrach to Treguier and from there to St Peter Port

Must try Perros Guirec next time - I've never been

 

[Robin]

Hi Tony

The weather looks stuck in headwind mode for sure for a while.

We have crossed from Salcombe once but only because we were bored with waiting in Dartmouth for the strong SW winds to drop or shift. In practice I think Salcombe is only an hour shorter on the Channel crossing, but would be rather more than an hour extra on the trip across Lyme Bay as you would by then be plugging the worst of the tide and especially so round Start Point - unless of course you stopped over first in Dartmouth. Salcombe is not IMO a place to get stuck waiting either, unless you have bottomless pockets and a really big well stocked fridge!

Robin

 

[AIDY]

and Ploumanac'h if you are brave /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Robin]

We have dropped in at Treguier when originally headed direct for St Peter Port and the wind shifted so we were pointed at Treguier! I quite like it too except it is a long trip up and down river and it is just about reachable on a tide (with the extra eddy) from L'Aberwrac'h if you are quick.

Perros I think is quite charming. The lock gate looks very narrow as you go in and you need to watch for the flow at times especially just as it opens, but a friends Snowgoose made it so it is wider than it looks. Berth fees are very reasonable too and there are some good shops and restaurants. The only slight drawback is that when leaving for St PP you need to catch the lock as it first opens and even then have lost 2hrs of tide, though it hasn't really been a problem. One option if time allows is to drop off in Port Blanc which is charming and accessible in all tides and lit too, it is like a mini Poole once inside, especially at neaps. We've never been charged there on a buoy and they keep a few for visitors but except on big springs there is room to anchor. Port Blanc is only 4-5mls east of Perros, before you get to Treguier entrance, the way in through the rocks on the leading line is tight with the cross tides but OK if you are aware of it and it isn't sheltered in strong NW winds especially at HW. From there of course you are free to leave at any time to take the tide.