Channel Islands Cruise

idpnd said:
Hello, up to what distance to shore does this inshore current run? Thanks :)
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It starts at local Cherbourg HW and if you leave by the West Entrance and stay close in along the coast towards Omonville (the French go closer than I dared) but then you will have to head out a bit NW to leave Basse Brefort buoy to port. By the time you get there the main eastgoing Channel tide is easing anyway. After Basse Brefort stay inshore for just under a mile before heading up NW to clear Cap De La Hague by lets say at least one mile north. The tide should be slack by now and turning south through the Race, but it pays to keep 'up' and cross over halfway towards Alderney before turning SW to aim for the Little Russell. If heading for Jersey you can turn south sooner. With a chartplotter it is easier to stay well inshore but we did it for years even pre-Decca, but anyway there is usually a trail of local boats going that way in summer to show the route. Some of them go just inside Basse Brefort but we never did on account of my yellow streak.

Remember if coming back up through the Race and wanting to go east this inshore eddy will be against you if you turn in as soon as your track could go direct to Cherbourg, so stay out and go due east true until past Omonville in the strong tide before turning SE over the ground (probably pointing almost south in the tide) for the West Entrance.
 
Observations

Carteret a lovely place choose, to arrive when open on a rising tide, the channel is shallow when the gate first opens.

http://www.barneville-carteret.fr/fr/port/ouverture_et_fermeture_de/default.asp

St Malo Ok once there, a palava getting into lock and out again , cheaper restaurants in St Servan.

A nice alternative is St Cast opened 2009 a very good marina, nice town and 24hr ish enrty depending on draft.
 
Sorry to highjack this thread again, even if on a somewhat related note:

How would you proceed westwards towards Brest from Guernsey - are the are any suitable stopovers before Chenal du Four? What's the tidal strategy on that route?

Thanks very much for your attention!
 
idpnd said:
Sorry to highjack this thread again, even if on a somewhat related note:

How would you proceed westwards towards Brest from Guernsey - are the are any suitable stopovers before Chenal du Four? What's the tidal strategy on that route?

Thanks very much for your attention!
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The problem is that North Brittany tides are strong and going westbound the time they reverse from west going to eastgoing again gets earlier as you move west. Most people use Trebeurden as a stopover, then either head straight for Chenal Du Four or stopover again at L'Aberwrac'h. The tide in Chenal Du Four turns south at HW Brest which is 2 hours before it stops going eastwards along the North Brittany coast, so coming out of L'Aberwrac'h to go to Brest usually means you will have to go about 10 miles against the tide to Le Four entrance or risk running out of fair tide at the bottom of the Four. Personally I would skip L'Aberwrac'h and carry on straight to the Four. Trebeurden is liked by many since they built the marina, but personally I think it was nicer before as an anchorage and now it is very pricey by French standards. We have gone direct to the Four from St Peter Port before but preferred going from Poole via Dartmouth. We used L'Aberwrac'h as a stopover when returning when the tide times getting later as you head east is a bonus, there is a favourable back eddy going east off there close inshore that you can take to get over 8 hours of eastgoing tide, enough to make Treguier or Perros Guirec in one easy go, even arriving at HW to go into the marina. L'Aberwrac'h to St Peter Port is also easier because you end up with a net favourable tide push going that way, we would do that if needing to catch up lost weather days needing to make work on time.
 
Well if you want shorter trips and are happy to anchor or pick up a buoy:-

You could go St Peter Port to Perros Guirec, there are (free) waiting buoys on the outer approaches, or you could go into Port Blanc between Perros & Treguier. Port Blanc is a narrow entrance but with leading lines and a sectored light at night (watch the cross tides), inside is a delightful anchorage and has a few (and free) visitor buoys. From there Trebeurden is another short hop west, then to Chenal de Batz between Isle de Batz and Roscoff and some buoys off the eastern entrance. From Batz channel go west through the inside channel to L'Aberwrac'h, (or go north of Batz and round the outside (give a wide berth north to avoid the overfalls north of the island) thence through the Four to Camaret or Brest. Going west of course you will tend to reach places at or near LW, both Trebeurden and even more so Perros Guirec are closed at LW but there are waiting buoys in the approaches, L'Aberwrac'h is open at any state of the tide.
 
Robin,

Picking your brains and experience as charts /distnces on the boat at present

In favourable conditions what time for Guernsey to L'aber Wrach say boat speed 6kts. Would we need to buck the tide for much if we wanted to time it to go straight through the Chanel de Four.

Only done it before from Trebouden but then overnight in L'aber Wrach.

Just want to do Solent to S Brittany asap this summer.
 
Sailfree said:
Robin,

Picking your brains and experience as charts /distnces on the boat at present

In favourable conditions what time for Guernsey to L'aber Wrach say boat speed 6kts. Would we need to buck the tide for much if we wanted to time it to go straight through the Chanel de Four.

Only done it before from Trebouden but then overnight in L'aber Wrach.

Just want to do Solent to S Brittany asap this summer.
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From St Martins SE GY to L'Aberwrac'h on tides 13/2/11 and 6kts around 16hrs to L'Aberwrac'h entance and 17.5hrs to Le Four, according to Neptune Planner. If you wanted to time arrival at the Four that might mean a worse than optimum passage time but I didn't do that calculation, that said the worst time to the Four at 6kts was 18.5hrs or thereabouts. If you give me the dates I could run it for you tomorrow.
 
Robin said:
From St Martins SE GY to L'Aberwrac'h on tides 13/2/11 and 6kts around 16hrs to L'Aberwrac'h entance and 17.5hrs to Le Four, according to Neptune Planner. If you wanted to time arrival at the Four that might mean a worse than optimum passage time but I didn't do that calculation, that said the worst time to the Four at 6kts was 18.5hrs or thereabouts. If you give me the dates I could run it for you tomorrow.
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Thanks for that. Its enough to know that Day 1 to Guernsey and Day 2 to L'Aber Wrac' is only an option if weather (wind direction) is great but even then as its a holiday a day rest in Guernsey of just a shorter hop to somewhere may be nice.

With so many variables and a democratic boat where I try to suit the majority wishes (or ensure anyones biggest concerns are addressed) I will leave it nearer the time -22nd July !
 
Sailfree said:
Thanks for that. Its enough to know that Day 1 to Guernsey and Day 2 to L'Aber Wrac' is only an option if weather (wind direction) is great but even then as its a holiday a day rest in Guernsey of just a shorter hop to somewhere may be nice.

With so many variables and a democratic boat where I try to suit the majority wishes (or ensure anyones biggest concerns are addressed) I will leave it nearer the time -22nd July !
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Sunday 24/7 from St Martins on SE corner of Guernsey to the top of the Four at 6kts average speed. If you wanted to go through the Four you need to arrive around HW Brest or no later than 2 hours after say, which gives a departure from St Martins around 1800. That gives a depature time from St Peter Port of say 17.00 and a total time to the Four top of 19hrs, through in 2hrs more and in Camaret by 1.5hrs later, all up about 23hrs, but call it 24hrs and give the crew a surprise by being early!

Route calculation for 24 Jul 2011
Waypoint to waypoint distance=106.3nm

Departing 00:00, Passage time=17Hrs 15Min

Departing 01:00, Passage time=17Hrs 16Min

Departing 02:00, Passage time=17Hrs 18Min

Departing 03:00, Passage time=17Hrs 11Min

Departing 04:00, Passage time=17Hrs 26Min

Departing 05:00, Passage time=17Hrs 52Min

Departing 06:00, Passage time=18Hrs 04Min

Departing 07:00, Passage time=18Hrs 02Min

Departing 08:00, Passage time=17Hrs 55Min

Departing 09:00, Passage time=17Hrs 44Min

Departing 10:00, Passage time=17Hrs 33Min

Departing 11:00, Passage time=17Hrs 21Min

Departing 12:00, Passage time=17Hrs 16Min

Departing 13:00, Passage time=17Hrs 14Min

Departing 14:00, Passage time=17Hrs 15Min

Departing 15:00, Passage time=17Hrs 20Min

Departing 16:00, Passage time=17Hrs 13Min

Departing 17:00, Passage time=17Hrs 35Min

Departing 18:00, Passage time=17Hrs 52Min

Departing 19:00, Passage time=18Hrs 04Min

Departing 20:00, Passage time=18Hrs 02Min

Departing 21:00, Passage time=17Hrs 55Min

Departing 22:00, Passage time=17Hrs 44Min

Departing 23:00, Passage time=17Hrs 33Min


BREST Tide Times
04:40 2.7
11:00 5.2
17:20 2.9
23:30 5.1
 
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Robin said:
On the eating out front I found St Peter Port too expensive by far in recent years despite there being no VAT. We would always eat out either side in France and do a DIY fish feast on board bought from the St Peter Port fishmonger on the way to Castle Cornet. Before that we had several favourite restaurants in St Peter Port (like Saltwater, The Absolute End and Da Nello's to name but three) but when they hiked prices by 33% over everything in one hit a few years back we walked away. I was told at the time it was price fixing by the local Portuguese 'Mafia'.
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SPP fishmonger on way to Castle Cornet is the 'Fishermans co-op', (but check first, I have reason to believe it may have closed). Surprisingly good (local) fish has been available at the large Checkers store along the front, but this store is about to be taken over by Waitrose although I am told the fish counter will remain. There are other small outlets around the island but not regrettably in the (done up) markets anymore.
Certainly the cost of eating out has gone up, but not aware this is "...Portugese mafia driven...."(!!). A bit of an insult to these hard working people really, no one else will do the jobs, most are employees rather than bosses (who set the prices), and many have been very seriously exploited in the past thru dubious working practises.
In terms of eating out, 'le petit Bistro' French run in town is excellent and the quality of take out food from Victor Hugos very good (amongst other outlets). For a day trip anchor off in Fermain and have lunch at the prize winning fermain beach bistro (difficullt to get in there to eat in the evening as solidly booked). Alternatively make the trip across to Herm, but food there (based on my last experience in the Mermaid) very ordinary and pricy, but the island as a whole more than makes up for it.
 
Certainly the cost of eating out has gone up, but not aware this is "...Portugese mafia driven...."(!!). A bit of an insult to these hard working people really, no one else will do the jobs, most are employees rather than bosses (who set the prices), and many have been very seriously exploited in the past thru dubious working practises.
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The comment came from a St Peter Port taxi driver. We had visited in May that year and eaten at a favourite, the Saltwater Restaurant (now called Pier 17?) on the visitor marina. When we called in 3 months later every price had been increased by 33%, including all the wines. We knew this because we had the same meal and because I keep all restaurant bills as momentoes in the Ship's (narrative) Log, anal I know but... I also later checked on-line and they still had the old prices there to compare! Because of the taxi driver comment, we later did a survey of our own of the other main up market restaurants and it looked to us pretty obvious that there was a minimum set for 'basic's like say a fillet steak. The prices were the same except where added value (tournedos or peppered or...) was involved. On the list prices, first glance showed a similarity to mainland UK prices, but then a) the mainland ones included then 17.5% VAT and b) the St Peter Port prices EXCLUDED vegetables that we priced as an extra £2-£2.50, not a single cost but PER VEG and PER PERSON! So ordering say saute potatoes, spinach and courgettes to go with the steak would add up to £7.50 per person to the bill. Saltwater BTW gave me 3 saute potatoes with my seabass, that is over 80p per slice of spud!

I doubt this was or is an island wide feature but for sure in St Peter Port for me it became a future deal breaker.

I'm sad if the fishmonger co-op has closed because it was always really good, I wonder where the local boats catch gets sold now, unless the whole lot goes to the hotels and restaurants?
 
I don't deny that prices have gone up, sometimes outrageously so (and I have found that saltwater was always expensive, although I now believe this establishment to be under new management). Like you, I now dine out rarely in town. But to blame it on the Portugese, particularly when so advised by a taxi driver (!), those well know oracles of all that is right and fair, is a bit much.
As regards the fishermans co-op, I am not sure what is happening here. It may be that it will continue functioning under new ownership. But most of the local catch does go straight to France where prices are better and the product is appreciated!
 
georgeo said:
I don't deny that prices have gone up, sometimes outrageously so (and I have found that saltwater was always expensive, although I now believe this establishment to be under new management). Like you, I now dine out rarely in town. But to blame it on the Portugese, particularly when so advised by a taxi driver (!), those well know oracles of all that is right and fair, is a bit much.
As regards the fishermans co-op, I am not sure what is happening here. It may be that it will continue functioning under new ownership. But most of the local catch does go straight to France where prices are better and the product is appreciated!
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I just looked at Pier 17 out of curiosity and the menu is remarkably similar to when it was Saltwater and I see they are still listing EACH veg at £2.50 extra.

The taxi driver was a local and his comment was that over the years the Portuguese who worked there in many of the restaurants moved on to become owners rather than just chefs and waiters. A local clique evolved and agreements made on pricing or at least on minimums. It seemed to apply to the more up market places rather than the more cafe style ones or pub eateries of which there are plenty and quite good. Just that for us eating out was a special treat to be had in a good restaurant once rather than in an average one twice, but the prices in St Peter Port went from mouth watering to eye watering! Nothing against the Portuguese BTW but merely repeating what I had heard and which seemed to fit when we did our own little market survey.
 
My two five star tips for cheapskate eating out in St Peter Port; If you enjoy poncing around with overpriced food and wine please look away:

Riva - Near the "new" CI Yacht Club. £10 for three courses before 7or 8 (and at other times if they are slack - give them a ring). Only available downstairs - less of a view. A limited but fair choice, last time I had Greek salad, Excellent Moule Frites and Tiramisu.

Fisherman's Arms (I think) A 15 min walk along the prom past the flagstaff. The nearest I have found to a basic local boozer. Cooked meals from under a fiver, puds starting a two quid. Steak and Kidney pudding and chips - superb stodge. No eve food on Sun (or was it Mon?) No food after 8.
 
Hmmmm.....I am not aware of too many Portugese owned and operated establishments (as opposed to Indian and Italian ones), in fact I cannot think of any, but maybe I don't get out enough. I will ask my more 'sociable' friends. I am afraid I am thinking a display of Xenophobia may be a more likely explanation, something taxi drivers the world over are not immune to.
As regarding a 'cabal' of restaurants, yes indeed that did exist, with at least 4 in the hands of one (local) businessman. He has now had to make a rapid exit from the island to take up residence on the costa del cr....I mean, costa del sol, leaving behind lots of bad debt.
But....you can still get good food and good value on the island, it just takes a bit more looking for
 
My Thanks too!

masterofnone said:
Many thanks guys, in particular; Peter. Angele and Doug 748, I shall forward this up the food chain and with luck enjoy the delights in june.
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Our Club will be over between 02-18 June again, w&tp, somewhere between Le Havre and Guernsey.
We will be over in Guernsey for a Regatta last week in May also.
Will try to eat out more and update.
Thanks to all for the information.
 
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