Channel Islands, 15yr old tribe and hound

[Tintin]

With all the bits of life hell recently I forgot to get my sons passport renewed, so when he's with me for 2 weeks in August our sail to Brittany can't happen. And am looking after daughters dog while she is away ill for a while.

Son wants to go with some of his friends too, so I'll have 3 or 4 boisterous 15 year olds to keep amused.

Early stages, but I woke up this morning thinking about the Channel Islands, and it seems passport-less son is OK for entry, so game on....

Lots of questions, and I don't have a lot of time right now to do loads of research and trawl through old threads (sorry), so I thought I'd pose a few questions and get info from those wot know.

(Boat is an Ovni 435, so drying out is an option if I take my brave pants)

Where would you go with 15yr olds and a hound? Must see sights that boys of the gamer / tiktok generation may be interested in? (The war tunnels on Guernsey are on the list)

Snorkeling places?

Is it possible to hire kayaks / sups, as I'd rather not have the deck clutter for the passage as I'll be basically soloing (from Falmouth)?

Anchorages I could consider that (in settled weather) I could have day trips to land from, leaving Tintin unattended?

Likelihood of finding moorings or marina berths for a 45ft boat without pre booking in the middle of August?

Les Ecrehous - worth it or too boring for 15yr olds? Are they French or part of CI's?

Microchips and vaccinated dog - any issues with entry to CI's and return?

Son has coastal sailed with me a few times in Tintin and is remarkably good at helming for anchoring and mooring, attentive to hand signals from the vow and not overly enthusiastic with the throttle, which helps

Thanks all

 

[burgundyben]

You've also got Scilly as an option?

Our boys passport ran out, we did it last week online, its now being processed, no outlook on timining.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Passports seem to be taking about three weeks so you may be okay. An online application seems to be the quickest. See the other thread on passports or YBW?

i’m slightly confused as to why you think you’ll be more or less single-handed? I’ve sailed with teenagers lots and if you give them responsibility they often respond very well. Assign them to take it in turns plotting the position on a paper chart. Give them the instruction book for the plotter and get them to work out what to do. Write the log. It’ll be new and intriguing and hopefully interesting for them. Give them each area to be responsible for and you can even leave them on watch with strict instructions to call you if they see anything. I teach them how to use a hand bearing compass and take bearings and allow them to take charge of collision avoidance. Of course they’re not really in charge but you can give them the illusion that they’re responsible in someway while you glance at the AIS and/or radar... I usually single out a particular teenager for each role/task. You can even ask for volunteers. “Okay, there are a number of jobs that we have to do.” “Who would like to be the navigator? Who would like to be responsible for assessing risk of collision? “ Dinghy driver? Occasional cook?

A rota for cleaning tgat includes everyone including you…?

if they’re on their phones playing games the whole time, you could try a rota where one at a time they have to be look out and not have a phone in hand for an hour or two. So long as it’s policed accurately and they buy into it that can work. If it’s working well they police themselves to make sure that they’re not being seen off for their phone/on watch time

One last point. I usually try and introduce the idea of there being boat duty time and leave time. In other words, “this is a time when we’re on passage and working together vs you’ve got shore leave now and you can do what you want now. It means they don’t think they’re being put to work the whole time and they do get some time when they can choose exactly what they do within normal teenage parameters.

Sorry if I’m teaching you to suck eggs, but the idea of single-handed sailing with a group of teenagers is slightly odd in my mind. Given responsibility they usually love it and rise to the occasion IMHO.

 

[Tintin]

You've also got Scilly as an option?

Our boys passport ran out, we did it last week online, its now being processed, no outlook on timining.

Thanks, we've done Scilies too often

 

[Tintin]

Passports seem to be taking about three weeks so you may be okay. An online application seems to be the quickest. See the other thread on passports or YBW?

i’m slightly confused as to why you think you’ll be more or less single-handed? I’ve sailed with teenagers lots and if you give them responsibility they often respond very well. Assign them to take it in turns plotting the position on a paper chart. Give them the instruction book for the plotter and get them to work out what to do. Write the log. It’ll be new and intriguing and hopefully interesting for them. Give them each area to be responsible for and you can even leave them on watch with strict instructions to call you if they see anything. I teach them how to use a hand bearing compass and take bearings and allow them to take charge of collision avoidance. Of course they’re not really in charge but you can give them the illusion that they’re responsible in someway while you glance at the AIS and/or radar... I usually single out a particular teenager for each role/task. You can even ask for volunteers. “Okay, there are a number of jobs that we have to do.” “Who would like to be the navigator? Who would like to be responsible for assessing risk of collision? “ Dinghy driver? Occasional cook?

A rota for cleaning tgat includes everyone including you…?

if they’re on their phones playing games the whole time, you could try a rota where one at a time they have to be look out and not have a phone in hand for an hour or two. So long as it’s policed accurately and they buy into it that can work. If it’s working well they police themselves to make sure that they’re not being seen off for their phone/on watch time

One last point. I usually try and introduce the idea of there being boat duty time and leave time. In other words, “this is a time when we’re on passage and working together vs you’ve got shore leave now and you can do what you want now. It means they don’t think they’re being put to work the whole time and they do get some time when they can choose exactly what they do within normal teenage parameters.

Sorry if I’m teaching you to suck eggs, but the idea of single-handed sailing with a group of teenagers is slightly odd in my mind. Given responsibility they usually love it and rise to the occasion IMHO.

I meant in terms of responsibility and if the brown stuff hits the fan John

They will be doing jobs, and taking responsibility, and being away from Internet makes that easier. When we've done coastal trips the allure of tiktok, games etc... tends to take over

One of the benefits of an aluminium boat is that 4g data is really bad down below with phones, so I have a 4g WiFi box on deck, and turn it off when jobs need doing - they hate me for it

 

[Sandy]

Sounds like you have the ideal crew!

Mix it up with some quiet anchorages where they can go ashore and the dizzy lights of St Peter Port,

I like Sark, but I would have loved it at 15.

 

[Daydream believer]

Is Guernsey dog friendly for visitors? I seem to recall lots of signs to the contrary, but not taking an animal on a boat, I did not bother to read them properly.

 

[Daydream believer]

Mix it up with some quiet anchorages where they can go ashore and the dizzy lights of St Peter Port,
I like Sark, but I would have loved it at 15.

At 15, I probably would have as well. Back then it would have been every teenagers fun place. But show it to my teenage grandson now & I am sure, that to start with, he would not have a clue HOW to enjoy the place & get bored in minutes, if left on his own. Probably not even interested with an adult either.

 

[Daydream believer]

Passports seem to be taking about three weeks so you may be okay. An online application seems to be the quickest. See the other thread on passports or YBW?

i’m slightly confused as to why you think you’ll be more or less single-handed? I’ve sailed with teenagers lots and if you give them responsibility they often respond very well. Assign them to take it in turns plotting the position on a paper chart. Give them the instruction book for the plotter and get them to work out what to do. Write the log. It’ll be new and intriguing and hopefully interesting for them. Give them each area to be responsible for and you can even leave them on watch with strict instructions to call you if they see anything. I teach them how to use a hand bearing compass and take bearings and allow them to take charge of collision avoidance. Of course they’re not really in charge but you can give them the illusion that they’re responsible in someway while you glance at the AIS and/or radar... I usually single out a particular teenager for each role/task. You can even ask for volunteers. “Okay, there are a number of jobs that we have to do.” “Who would like to be the navigator? Who would like to be responsible for assessing risk of collision? “ Dinghy driver? Occasional cook?

A rota for cleaning tgat includes everyone including you…?

if they’re on their phones playing games the whole time, you could try a rota where one at a time they have to be look out and not have a phone in hand for an hour or two. So long as it’s policed accurately and they buy into it that can work. If it’s working well they police themselves to make sure that they’re not being seen off for their phone/on watch time

One last point. I usually try and introduce the idea of there being boat duty time and leave time. In other words, “this is a time when we’re on passage and working together vs you’ve got shore leave now and you can do what you want now. It means they don’t think they’re being put to work the whole time and they do get some time when they can choose exactly what they do within normal teenage parameters.

Passport-6 weeks for my wife - by post- she received it 2 weeks ago.
You are spot on with giving the teenagers jobs. If they are the sort to want to be practical then definitely let them sail the boat all the time. Turn the plotter off. Get them to navigate properly. Have them each bet a small amout of money on where they are going to end up , first see land, what time etc. I know that we had great fun with that competition at a shilling a bet. Cooking en route- if they do not get seasick-can be a challenge that each can try for who can do the best meal under way or in port. Takes a fair bit of prior planning with shopping ashore.
The OP needs to keep right out of it. He is only there for his wallet

 

[john_morris_uk]

Passport-6 weeks for my wife - by post- she received it 2 weeks ago.
Cooking en route- if they do not get seasick-can be a challenge that each can try for who can do the best meal under way or in port. Takes a fair bit of prior

I think that applying electronically online is much quicker.
Competitive cooking is usually very successful. I once got a team of young Marines competing as to who could make the best cake for afternoon tea. I’ve still got a polo shirt that they had embroidered for every crew member with ‘Caribbean Cake Club’ on it.

How about crew polo shirts for the teenagers?

 

[Mudisox]

Clear in at St P Port. Dogs not a problem.
top up with diesel and provisions. Bus around the island , maybe get out on the west coast and walk along the sand. Dogs should be on a lead but normally OK if below the 1/2 tide level.
Go across to Herm and dry out on Shell beach. Use their facilities and let the offspring and dog run riot especially after 1800ish when the day visitors have gone.
Cross to Sark and wander, after climbed UP.[ or use dixcart Bay being easier.] Go through the narrow passage at the South {Pierre du Beure Passage.]
Down to St Helier and book in, then cross to ST Aubin for better eating.
Visit Iles Chausey from the North and again dry out - magical away from the crowded southern end.
Back to go around anti clockwise,Jersey/or anywhere else you want. With GPS/plotters the Minquiers and Ecrehous are much easier than of old.
Enjoy.

 

[ashtead]

One delight of Jersey apart from war tunnels and large shops in high street is paddle board at the bay near the st Helier port and cycle hire on the front and for feeding up a pasty shop in what i believe is liberation square. Buses around jersey are quite cheap as well for letting them explore. No one seems have mentioned Alderney as a stop off for any who like gun bunkers and close observation of aircraft as you walk cross country.

 

[mjcoon]

I'd like to think that even teenagers could be interested in Jersey Zoo and the founder's books on "My Family and other Animals", animal collecting expeditions to rival David Attenborough, and serious conservation activity...

PS Had forgotten about the hound; maybe special arrangements are available.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I'd like to think that even teenagers could be interested in Jersey Zoo and the founder's books on "My Family and other Animals", animal collecting expeditions to rival David Attenborough, and serious conservation activity...

I was (and am) an avid reader of Gerald Durrel's books; in fact one of the major annoyances of my school days was sitting down for the English Literature GCE and finding that I could have done "My Family and Other Animals" as set book instead of the rather boring "Kipps" by HG Wells! I very nearly rebelled and answered the questions on "My Family and Other Animals" (I knew the book well enough!), and to this day wonder what would have happened if I had!

Sadly, I last visited Les Augres when I was about 16 , 54 (ish) years ago!

 

[Arcady]

Les Ecrehous belong to Jersey, so no passport problems there. Chausey is French, so technically you need your passports, although my past experience suggests you are unlikely to be asked for them.

 

[Keith-i]

Chausey would be a potential problem as you would need to clear in via a French port of entry first. I would definitely suggest a couple of days in Alderney especially when Alderney week is on. Total freedom for the youngsters as it is very safe and quite a few events going on which everyone can join in with. There’s also lots to explore such as Victorian forts and WW2 bunkers, many of which are still open. Add in a quarry party or two and everyone is catered for.

 

[sailingmartin]

Is Guernsey dog friendly for visitors? I seem to recall lots of signs to the contrary, but not taking an animal on a boat, I did not bother to read them properly.

Have just been to Alderney and Guernsey and no trouble taking dogs as in either Braye or St Peter Port. Just make sure you do no go to France on the way. Now in St Helier, Jersey, and dogs not allowed in the marina but fine on Albert Pier, a walk ashore waiting pontoon.

 

[Pete7]

Is Guernsey dog friendly for visitors? I seem to recall lots of signs to the contrary, but not taking an animal on a boat, I did not bother to read them properly.

No problem with Alderney, or Guernsey and we always declare on arrival obviously. Beaches tend to be out of bounds though. Herm had spiky plants on the edge of the Shell beach which cause real problems, Think of a mine field which I had to carry the dog out.

Jersey, well now. We arrived and moored to the waiting pontoon whilst the tide came in enough. Along the pontoon came a fearsome Jersey Immigration Officer. Huge at least 6'4" and of African decent wearing highly pressed black trousers and starched white shirt. Our puppy labradoodle suddenly jumped off the boat and ran along the pontoon before jumping up at the Officer and putting two paw prints on his white shirt. Officer screamed at me to get the dog under control as we hadn't checked in yet. This was followed with a barked order to stay there and he would be back in an hour. As he walked away brushing the marks off his shirt we thought better of it and slipped quietly away before legging it back to Guernsey. This was perhaps 2009 and we haven't been back since, just in case.

 

[Tintin]

Clear in at St P Port. Dogs not a problem.
top up with diesel and provisions. Bus around the island , maybe get out on the west coast and walk along the sand. Dogs should be on a lead but normally OK if below the 1/2 tide level.
Go across to Herm and dry out on Shell beach. Use their facilities and let the offspring and dog run riot especially after 1800ish when the day visitors have gone.
Cross to Sark and wander, after climbed UP.[ or use dixcart Bay being easier.] Go through the narrow passage at the South {Pierre du Beure Passage.]
Down to St Helier and book in, then cross to ST Aubin for better eating.
Visit Iles Chausey from the North and again dry out - magical away from the crowded southern end.
Back to go around anti clockwise,Jersey/or anywhere else you want. With GPS/plotters the Minquiers and Ecrehous are much easier than of old.
Enjoy.

Perfect