Channel Islands... 1st time

[Guest]

I sat down last night pondering over a chart of the channel islands and a tidal stream atlas planning our first visit to the channel Islands on Saturday (weather permitting).

We've done two channel crossings( Cherbourg and Honfleur ), one last year and one earlier this season, but there seemed to be something a bit more special about planning a trip to the CI's

But I must confess to having butterflys in the stomach looking at the Alderney race and all those rocks (and the picture of that cruiser stuck 30ft up a rock) we dont have radar so the conditions will have to be pretty good for me to go.

We leave from Poole and heading for Guernsey is the Little Russell the prefered route?

Any advice for a safe crossing ?

Thanks in advance

Ian

 

[DepSol]

All depends on time of arrival and tide i.e neap or spring high or low water.

PM me with your number and I will call you and run through it if you like.



Dom

I am boating again ;-)

 

[jointventureII]

Have you got the small craft folio of the channel islands?
Well worth getting

 

[Mike_02]

Don't worry it's a piece of cake.

To get to guernsey all you need to do is to make sure you leave cherbourg at the right time.

At 5-6 knots ( i know you will be going faster but you cna work it out) you leave Cherbourg 3 hourse before HW dover...and the rest is easy....you will get it rough around cap de la hague but using this time you will get the race right.

Then head for Platte Fourge lighthouse ( the one near the boat on the rock).

It's about 20 miles from the Cap.

When it's insight you will be able to pick up the little russel markers.

But the golden rule is...If you can't see too well in front then take the big russel not the little.

Once through the race it never gets too rough as long as it's not windy.


but watch out for fog.. It can be a problem around Alderney.

 

[Guest]

Easy enough. First time, we went in company, but we just did it solo a week or so back. In via the Big Russell cos we were chicken, but back via the Little Russell. Easy peasy. Check the tide times for Cherbourg or St Peter Port or somewhere close, and aim to be in the Race on high or low water. Th eLittle Russell is a dead straight run in on 225 Deg True (from memory), so just stay on the track shown on the Admiralty Small Craft Folio like someone said. I can send you some waypoints from Christchurch to St Peter Port, if it helps...

 

[Guest]

Stating the obvious but if you can do it in one leg (speed/range), it probably makes more sense to go west of the Casquets. If you look at the tidal streams, they are faster closer in to the Casquets, so better to keep a good few miles off, particularly if wind over tide.

You will need to think about the channel traffic separation system if you use this route.

Little Russel is fine in good viz, very un-nerving in poor for the first time.

Good luck.

 

[KevL]

Interestingly enough I work with the son of Mr Waller of Moonraker 35(?) fame. She (the boat) is still in a boatyard in Guernsey being fixed, the fuel tanks ruptured while she was being dragged off the rocks and the diesel made quite a mess of the fittings.

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[Col]

Power game was in Boat works in March, and looked finished. It wasn't there in July, so I assume it's all been fixed.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[KevL]

I'll get a full update when I see young Mr Waller tomorrow. Last I heard new stainless tanks were being fitted after much haggling about fitting a kevlar liner in the original.

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL