Channel Islands, just how busy will it be?

StugeronSteve

New member
Joined
29 Apr 2003
Messages
4,837
Location
Not always where I would like to be!
Visit site
Off for the hols next week. Swmbo likes the luxury of a few nights in a marina, whilst on holiday, are we likely to find space in SPP and SH?

Also, never made the passage from Braye to Guernsey before. Is it best to nip round the top of Alderney, on the last of the ebb, and catch the young flood through the Alderney Race, or plug down through the swinge at slack water? Obviously dependent on conditions, but next week is looking fairly benign and will be neapy.
 
Joined
27 May 2002
Messages
11,172
Visit site
I think you got your ebb and flood the wrong way around? Last time I had intended to go around the top but as I departed Braye some other yachts turned left so I joined them for an ebb current ride down the Swinge, it was not that exciting.

Have your bins ready to observe the seabird colony on the Ortacs.
 

HoratioHB

New member
Joined
2 Oct 2006
Messages
895
Location
Near Plymouth
sowethereyet.blogspot.co.uk
Never had a problem with the Swinge myself and turning left out of Braye has got to be the shortest route. Getting into the inner harbour in PP can be fun. If you arrive too early to get over the sill you will need to raft up outside and wait and then all sorts of fun and games can be had once the Harbour Master opens up. Especially bally rude foreign types trying to push ahead of us orderly queuing brits. - I've got a wonderful video of the Harbour Master ramming the bows of a 45' frenchman to force him out of the entrance and turn him away - to the cheers of the rest of the harbour. Of course if you arrive after the sill opens, it may be full. However you can always go up to Beaucette or use the outer harbour.
 
S

Skyva_2

Guest
The Swinge is fine if you time it right, and shorter than the Race, esp if you cross the submerged sea wall. Good opportunity to brush up on pilotage. Watch out for Pierre Vraic! and the odd puffin might turn up.

August is peak time for SPP but it seems to be less busy than usual.
 

StugeronSteve

New member
Joined
29 Apr 2003
Messages
4,837
Location
Not always where I would like to be!
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
I think you got your ebb and flood the wrong way around?

[/ QUOTE ] Whoops, at least you got the drift, even if it was in the wrong direction, ha ha.

When one yacht takes a different route to the one that I have planned I tend to stick to my guns. When there is a whole stream of them going the other way I tend to think again.
 

StugeronSteve

New member
Joined
29 Apr 2003
Messages
4,837
Location
Not always where I would like to be!
Visit site
[ QUOTE ]
The race is easier, navigationally, and gives you a big kick up the stern gland for the passage south if you catch the ebb. The Swinge is more 'interesting'.

[/ QUOTE ] The last time I got kicked up the stern gland I was at school and, IIRC, it wasn't all that pleasant an experience. Interesting sounds much better.
 

DeeGee

Active member
Joined
11 Feb 2003
Messages
1,663
Location
North Brittany.
Visit site
First, this year I understand that things are a bit quieter in SPP. Second, you might consider the nicer possibility of anchoring outside in Havelet Bay, with winds as they have been, are, and ever will be - with a W in them - it is faaaaar superior to going in to SPP. (IMHOOC)
 

doug748

Well-known member
Joined
1 Oct 2002
Messages
13,407
Location
UK. South West.
Visit site
Havelet bay is great but subject to swell at HW (most anchorages are out there). On entering the marina proper you have two choices; turn left for long pontoons and multiple rafting, turn right for finger pontoons (suitable for 34ft ish, shoaling from a few metres to 1m at the town end). If you are staying for a few days you probably want the luxury of your own berth. Go in later on the tide and you may find one is vacated, or at the very least you can lurk on the outside of a raft and be in like Flynn.
 

Sailfree

Well-known member
Joined
18 Jan 2003
Messages
21,579
Location
Nazare Portugal
Visit site
AT SPP I prefer to stay in Harbour and use dinghy ashore - its only 20 yds from some pontoons. Water is available but no electricity.


It avoids all the interesting manoeuverings inside - I have seen some boats sailed as bumper cars and they had the scars to prove it. It also avoids the contant 24/7 of the pedestrian crossing and often noisy people at pub throw out time.

At SH you can walk ashore from visitors pontoon while waiting for the sill. Fill up at SH YC for cheapest diesel but the ladders a long climb at low tide.
 

davies

New member
Joined
10 Jan 2007
Messages
228
Location
Work in London, live in Portsmouth
Visit site
Bit late for puffins in the Swinge - the breeding colony on Burhou will probably have dispersed by now. Just one thing about the Swinge - don't go near it if there is any mention of fog patches in the CI forecast. I ran into fog going down it on the ebb once. 50m visibility and the boat often making a course at right angles to the heading - frightening. I got things under control by putting the radar on and aiming for the land-free bit, but felt lucky to have got away with it.
 
Top