Channel Island arrival question re~ tides.

[cliffdale]

I'm planning to go to the channel islands on Wednesday, probably from Salcombe. If wind conditions let me, route will be direct from Falmouth.

I have done this many times before but always started the donk when below 5 knots to ensure arrival on the correct current.

This year, I want to stick it out and avoid the engine. What do people do if you arrive against the current because the arrival time is 5 hours too late?

Options are to make hardly any progress and wait for the tide to change, or bang on the donk and keep up the 5 knot minimum.

Are there any purists who cross channel without care for speed over ground? Just interested if most of us will use the motor.

Cliff

 

[actionoptics]

15 hours is long enough

We have just got back and the return journey was over a smooth sea with hardly any wind so we had to motor all the way. The trip out, three weeks ago, was much more lively and the thought of missing the tidal gate at the top of the Alderney Race was not agreeable. We went through Hurst / Needles as soon as the tide allowed and reached the race 12 hours later to pick up the whoosh down to St Peter Port. That made it a 14 to 15 hour trip and no way would we have wanted to wait another 5 or 6 hours and get into harbour in the dark so we did use the motor at times to maintain at least 5 knots over the ground.

 

[chubby]

I use the motor, gives a predictable course and speed to cross shipping lanes, avoid traffic, time arrival, make best use of tides and get in at a reasonable time before crew fatigue sets in, depends on what crew you have and ability to work watches compared to a long day sail. On solent cross channel passages, tell the crew it is 60 miles at 5 knots so expect 12 hours excluding entering harbour etc but if you motorsail at 6 knots and get there two hours early then in the bar they think you area great skipper, still out drifting about 20 hours later.......

 

[boguing]

I've done trip many times, from the Solent, mainly racing one way. I would always have motored, although 4Kts was my threshold. Older, but little wiser, I'd probably wait until 3Kts, but only motor if an increase was not expected 'soon'.

All that being based on the weather today! 6Kts if it's cold or raining!

Edit to add that if it's dark, and I'm going off watch, 6Kts. Can't sleep properly under sail, constant speed engine and I'm out like a light.

 

[TrailerSailer]

I went across at the end of June and we had a cracking sail. Planned on 5kts but actually made considerably more. If we had made just 5 kts we would have needled Braye. As it was, arriving an hour early we were at risk of being drawn into The Race. A couple of tacks and we were lined up for Alderney perfectly without using the engine.

On the way back it was fog and engine all the way. You could have shaved in the reflection from the water it was that flat!!

I think as long as you plan and re-plan then you should be OK.

 

[cliffdale]

One of the reasons why I don't want to run the engine is it is a pre trial to a Biscay crossing. I'm testing the charging and systems in the boat. Although Biscay does not have the tidal concerns, I'm bothered about going backwards over the ground and ending up in trouble!

At the end of the day, if the situation demands, I will press the starter button.



Cliff

 

[LadyInBed]

Coming up channel from Falmouth you will have the choice, you will be West of the Casquetts so Alderney race doesn't come into the equation. Currents on the West side of Guernsey are not quite so strong, so when you get in calculating distance of Guernsey you can decide whether to head for the North or South end.

 

[LadyInBed]

One of the reasons why I don't want to run the engine is it is a pre trial to a Biscay crossing. I'm testing the charging and systems in the boat. Although Biscay does not have the tidal concerns, I'm bothered about going backwards over the ground

Cliff, have a look at my website, my Biscay crossing this year was effectively without engine, and on my return to the CI's last year I was faced with the same tidegate issue you ask about.