Channel islands and french coast ideas.

I

Ian MacAulay

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Merry Christmas everyone.

As the new year draws close and my start of the season in a boat I can now spread my wings with I am planning a crossing over to Jersey, Guernsey And a few French coast locations on recommendations.

As I'm new to crossing I would like to know what I need to take in terms of passport ect. Also I would like some names of places to visit in France and on the islands.


regards


ian
 
Isle Chausey (spel?) is amazing, South East of Jersey, a French island with a tidal range of something bonkers like 14m. Pick up a buoy open a bottle of wine and enjoy the display as the island disappears/reappears.
 
All the information you need on taking your boat abroad is on the RYA site. Suggest buying a Pilot book as a start. Plenty to choose from as well as lots of choice of places to visit.
 
Well ive been in France for past 2 months and no one has said a thing. Had the french coast guard plane fly low overhead coming past guernsey but that was it. No one asked for passports etc.
Its sunny here today in T shirts on the beach.
Plenty of islands to visit between Brest and La Rochelle.
Plenty of marinas also.
Just the French have weird opening hours on shops etc...
 
Not knowing where you are coming from first land fall is either Alderney or Cherbourg or straight on to Guernsey (about another 23 miles on from Alderney) Alderney to St Helier is about 46 miles.

Alderney is an open harbour and you pick up a mooring bouy, unless the weather is good it can be an uncomfortable night. Guernsey outer Marina in St Peter Port rafted on pontoons or Victoria Marina alternatively Beaucette Marina but the entrance is not for the faint hearted. Diesel in St Sampsons Harbour by arrangement direct from the tanker is the cheapest at under 40 p a litre.

For Marina info see the Digimap Guernsey website see:http://www.digimap.gg/marine/marinas/

Good marinas: Dielette, Carteret, Granville, St Cast, Dahouet, Binic, St Quay-Portrieux, Paimpol, Treguier,

You will need a valid passport for all on board and for the boat either Part One registration or SSR as well as a copy of the original invoice to demonstrate VAT paid assuming it is.
 
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Thank you all for the great replies

I have started to have a little read on the RYA site and appears there is a lot to take in.

Thanks for the list of marinas I will Google and take a look. I will have a week to island hop and look about on the first crossing.

Thanks

ian
 
I was going to suggest that you take in St Malo and up the River Rance to Dinan (quite delightful) but, as you only have one week, I would strongly suggest that you don't try too much. In fact a week hardly gives you enough time to explore Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey. Even then you will only scratch the surface. So, it's a case of don't try too much. If I had to pick one of the three it would be Guernsey, especially for a first crossing.

Richard.
 
Ian MacAulay said:
Thank you all for the great replies

I have started to have a little read on the RYA site and appears there is a lot to take in.

Thanks for the list of marinas I will Google and take a look. I will have a week to island hop and look about on the first crossing.

Thanks

ian
Click to expand...

See the Digimap gg website it has all the links on it.
 
IDAMAY said:
I was going to suggest that you take in St Malo and up the River Rance to Dinan (quite delightful) but, as you only have one week, I would strongly suggest that you don't try too much. In fact a week hardly gives you enough time to explore Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey. Even then you will only scratch the surface. So, it's a case of don't try too much. If I had to pick one of the three it would be Guernsey, especially for a first crossing.

Richard.
Click to expand...


Thanks

This first trip is a little taster and look about to see what its all about.

Don't want to go two or three weeks and go clueless if U know what I mean

thanks

Ian
 
Ian MacAulay said:
Merry Christmas everyone.

As the new year draws close and my start of the season in a boat I can now spread my wings with I am planning a crossing over to Jersey, Guernsey And a few French coast locations on recommendations.

As I'm new to crossing I would like to know what I need to take in terms of passport ect. Also I would like some names of places to visit in France and on the islands.


regards


ian
Click to expand...

Get the Shell Channel Pilot by Cunliffe.
With only a week, you can be sure to lose some days to weather, so I would not be ambitious. Tides and so sea state all get a bit more impressive around CI. I would aim for a week in Guernsey.Plenty to do, take a ferry to other islands is need be etc. Still, you might feel that is a tad adventurous as a first trip alone. Most people do Cherbourg as the first trip as it is much closer, less of a challenge as it is all tide access etc. I assume you are Solent, not Dover, of course !
Make sure it is somewhere that you can get back from by other transport.
 
If you are only planning for one week and you are crossing via the Alderney Race then one of your passages will be on a spring tide. You might not want to do that on your first trip over here. Also, with only one week, by about day two you will be worrying about weather windows for the return crossing. Try for two weeks if you can, coming and leaving on neaps.
 
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