Channel Isles, hints tips and warning's

[Angele]

Yes all very nice if you have a few weeks to spare but it's a time limited delivery trip.

The OP didn't actually say he was time limited. No mention of the duration of his planned delivery trip, only that he would be heading off in the next week or two. Likewise, two weeks from Essex in the summer is long enough to go south of the line between Alderney and Cap de la Hague if the OP is prepared to do a few longer passages to get there and back again. Maybe you have some insight into his planning that I and Seajet do not.

That said, I would agree that there is little point in going Alderney to Studland or Poole if the ultimate destination is Essex. Maybe Shoreham, Littlehampton or Brighton (or Portsmouth if a destination with 24 hour access is preferred).

 

[Angele]

As to where to go, it all depends on draft and how much bottle you have

The OP mentions "Britannia" (sic) but I think that Brittany is rather too far out of the way and not really doable in 2 weeks from Essex.

So, if we are talking about the CI and the west coast of Normandy, I'm not convinced that draft matters too much. But rather whether you can/are happy to take the ground.

I cannot think of anywhere (other than inside Guernsey's Victoria marina, but outside is fine) where I cannot go with my 2.1m fin keel, but I would go with a fin keel of (say) 1.5m. But, I can think of a few places I could go if I had a bilge keeler or lifting keel and I could take the ground (inside St Aubin and Gorey on Jersey, Portbail on the Normandy coast, etc).

 

[guernseyman]

We had a rather bumpy night in the inner marina once the 'wall' was uncovered in a brisk nwly, I assume the outer bit would have been the same

The outer section of particularly pontoon A does have a surge towards high tide. REEDS advises rigging springs.

 

[ANDY123]

Aye, winds and tides depending Andy they may well take me to the other side, who knows? I don't even know when I'm leaving Penzance yet!
But if not, it's still all useful info for later in the year.

Perhaps it's going to be the George instead Steve!

 

[steve yates]

It could be either folks, penzance to essex is a delivery trip, but I am hoping for a trip down to the ci and brittany in the summer from essex, if she doesn't go back north to cumbria this summer. So I will read all info with interest, and thank you for everything so far. Should prob mention its a long fin keel, 1.5m draft.

 

[laika]

two weeks from Essex in the summer is long enough to go south of the line between Alderney and Cap de la Hague if the OP is prepared to do a few longer passages to get there and back again.
[...]
That said, I would agree that there is little point in going Alderney to Studland or Poole if the ultimate destination is Essex. Maybe Shoreham, Littlehampton or Brighton (or Portsmouth if a destination with 24 hour access is preferred).

I think the OP is intending on going via Brittany but even if going from, say, Salcombe to Yarmouth I think there's an excuse for going via Alderney if you feel especially inclined to make one. It's not all that much further, still two long-ish day sails and with the prevailing south westerly you'd normally get a better cut on the wind. My top tip would be to plan your trip such that the train runs on a full day you spend there
http://www.alderneyrailway.com/timetable.htm

I'd personally prefer not to do Alderney->Brighton simply because of the angle across the traffic though a quick look at a chart shows that the straight line course does just miss the wind farm

 

[SimonFa]

The outer section of particularly pontoon A does have a surge towards high tide. REEDS advises rigging springs.

Doesn't everyone rig springs when on a pontoon or rafted?

 

[johnalison]

Doesn't everyone rig springs when on a pontoon or rafted?

Not in my experience. Some people need to be told.

 

[Sybarite]

In September I was stuck in the CI for nearly two weeks because of the weather. Constant F7/F8 and gusting higher. In an area of high tidal amplitude you need to take this into account if you are time constrained.

 

[johnalison]

In September I was stuck in the CI for nearly two weeks because of the weather. Constant F7/F8 and gusting higher. In an area of high tidal amplitude you need to take this into account if you are time constrained.

A repetition of this would be pretty unfortunate, especially during the main sailing season. I was once stuck in St Malo with persistent NE 7s for a week, but generally the area is fairly benign. One reason may be the local absence of apostrophes.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Doesn't everyone rig springs when on a pontoon or rafted?

I think the quote bit of the forum has gone a bit awry but we did have fore and aft springs

 

[guernseyman]

This thread is getting a bit silly.
Unless you have a physical barrier between the sea and yourself, things will happen.
Like in Greve de la Ville on the east coast of Sark - perfectly sheltered from the westerly swell. No it isn't.
Like on the river Trieux, beyond the tight S-bend above Lezardrieux, I once saw a 2 foot-high wave proceeding up river.

 

[ip485]

Salcombe to the I of W can be a slog with Easterlies, so the CIs is a good alternative. CIs to the solent is almost always going to be good in most winds and a pleasant days crossing. Last year I did Eastbourne to Alderney as a very pleasant overnighter, and a direct routing in either direction works well, with the advantage that you will get into Eastbourne in almost anything except a really nasty Easterly with a fair amount of Southerly set. These all form a reasoanbly natural triangle but without knowing your typical cruise speeds Eastbourne Alderney could be a fair hike.

As others have said everything in the CIs is lovely, Alderney's great, round the back of Sark amazing, Beaumaris a little gem, and strangely enough, I find Jersey the least interesting.

In terms of navigation to state the obvious never let your guard down the area is littered with unexpected rocks, and when you first see some of these around the back of Sark you understand why a few have come to grief.

 

[alant]

It can also be a long old slog against the prevailing winds if coming from the East Coast

Hes going t'other way.

 

[Lucky Duck]

And then ,possibly, comming back

 

[ip485]

Didnt he say he is going there and coming back?

 

[Sybarite]

Doesn't everyone rig springs when on a pontoon or rafted?

I find that two moorings are often sufficient. Instead of taking one forward from the bow take it back towards the forward quarter and vice versa for the stern.

This supposes that there are adequate mooring cleats on the pontoon.

 

[Angele]

Beaumaris a little gem

Do you mean Beaucette (Guernsey)?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Do you mean Beaucette (Guernsey)?

If he didn't it's going to involve a very long detour.

 

[Daydream believer]

I go to the CI's from Bradwell quite a lot & will be going again in May. I go along the French coast -Dover,-Boulogne-Dieppe-Le Havre-Cherbourg Then St Peter Port.
From here I have gone to Falmouth a couple of times & this takes about 24 hours
The reason i use these harbours is that they are 24 hour ports. Invariably one can get in in rough weather when sailing single handed & know that one can always get a berth.
They are relatively cheap compared to the Solent.
One can pick a departure form Bradwell that means that one can pick a set of departure dates to suit a west going trip & the same for the return. Stopping at Cherbourg means one can time the trip (& weather) through the race nicely.
All the ports are good for provisions & OK to visit for a day.ie sail a day then stop a day to rest have a beer & sight see etc
Trips are all fairly short the longest being Le Havre-Cherbourg ( 78 miles) & one can time the tide for this leg on the return to get it favourably for 75% of the trip.