Channel Islands Crossing tomorrow!

[AyeSkipper]

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, but if it is looking dodgy, leave the boat there.

We returned from St Helier to S'ton a few years ago when we really should have known better and left it. Apart from the fact that it was a hellish trip back, we churned the fuel up in the tanks and crud got everywhere, it ended up costing us £1000's getting it fixed.

I didn't actually see too much of the weather, I was sat with my Mother trying to tell her that levitating dining tables were normal and nothing too worry about.

I would guess we were in an F8 scenario - coming around the South Western edge of Jersey was bad!

We are now a lot wiser, anything above 3-4, we stay put until it calms down.

I also recall our first trip across the channel, wind over tide and bouncing all over the place, as soon as we turned around it felt as flat as a mill pond!

Good luck, whatever you do.

 

[Thepipdoc]

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, but if it is looking dodgy, leave the boat there.

We returned from St Helier to S'ton a few years ago when we really should have known better and left it. Apart from the fact that it was a hellish trip back, we churned the fuel up in the tanks and crud got everywhere, it ended up costing us £1000's getting it fixed.

I didn't actually see too much of the weather, I was sat with my Mother trying to tell her that levitating dining tables were normal and nothing too worry about.

I would guess we were in an F8 scenario - coming around the South Western edge of Jersey was bad!

We are now a lot wiser, anything above 3-4, we stay put until it calms down.

I also recall our first trip across the channel, wind over tide and bouncing all over the place, as soon as we turned around it felt as flat as a mill pond!

Good luck, whatever you do.

Yes - totally agree.
After yesterday's little trip we ain't going anywhere unless we're very sure it'll be OK, 6.5 tons of boat flying through the air isn't a pretty sight!

What boat were you in when you had your horror trip?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Well we got here OK -and I have to say it was a pretty good trip.
Getting back to mainland UK ( Dartmouth)is proving a bit more of a challenge.
We thought we had a window of opportunity yesterday morning and so left St.Peter Port fully aware that it may not be a conformable trip but we thought we'd stick our nose out to get a better idea what the conditions were really like.
We travelled about 14 miles, having left St.PP from the south of the island and decided conditions were worsening and we did turned back.
The moment we turned back and we had the wind on our stern you would have thought we were travelling on a pond! the difference was really quite amazing.
No sooner had we turned aroungd then a high wind Securitee announcement was made by the Jersey coast guard.
We're hoping for better weather perhaps tomorrow or Friday ( more likely) - if it doesn't improve soon we'll be heading back on either a plane or one of the many ferries.
The trouble is we both have to get to work (work is a four letter word to the retired I know!) on Monday so we're beginning to think of alternative forms of transport.

You did the right thing in turning back, yesterday was very windy in Dartmouth gusting F8 WSW, one of the windiest days for ages. And today isn't much better but end of the week looks more promising.

 

[AyeSkipper]

Yes - totally agree.
After yesterday's little trip we ain't going anywhere unless we're very sure it'll be OK, 6.5 tons of boat flying through the air isn't a pretty sight!

What boat were you in when you had your horror trip?

We were in a Sealine T46.

I have to say when we are bit more naive we made a number of trips across the channel and both us and the boat arrived in CI's looking rough. We have since learnt to just wait and leave when it is calm.

We sort of had a bit of a 'guide' that if it was rough going through and out the other side of the Needles channel, the chance of improvement as we travelled were low. We have sat a couple of times outside Yarmouth waiting for it to calm down. Mr AyeS now listens to me as we were there once and he thought it was OK for going, I said I wasn't too sure, anyway off we went, we had hardly got to the Needles and the whole of the bow was disappearing into the water, seawater started coming through into the front bedroom (through a fault in the anchor locker we think - never did get right to the bottom of it!). We turned around and headed back to Ocean Village to dry out bedding and mattresses!

All our dodgy journeys were when we had made plans to meet people in Jersey or wherever. Now they are all aware that if we can make it we will, but if not we won't!

 

[jimg]

Dartmouth Weather

As well as looking at the forecasts and Channel Light Vessel info, remember to look at the Froward Point site for the actual weather in Dartmouth.

Also you can click on any of the "dials" and see the last 24 hours, obviously the wind speed and direction are of most interest. The webcam will tell you if it is sunny or not!!

http://www.nci-frowardpoint.org.uk/weather.htm