Channel shipping lanes...

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kilkerr1

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Flying over Guernsey t'other day (Friday 28th April) HWMO and I looked out over the channel and were surprised by the 5-lane highway we saw sparkling below us. I can't imagine how a little boat like ours would stand a chance getting across the convoys of container ships we saw stretching into the distance, 3-abreast. I could almost hear them on their VHFs: "Mouldy Porpoise, this is Rubber Ducky, we have a convoy, ah say, we have a convoy...".

Is it always like that? Or would it be time of day tidal type fing? Or was there some kind of container ship convention going on? See, I've heard sailors say things like "Shipping lanes? What shipping lanes? You'd be lucky to see one ship on passage from UK to France!". Maybe I was just experiencing some sort of mirage...

Cheers, all.


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Yes - this was no rush-hour, it's usually like this. However, it isn't as bad as it looks to get across in decent viz. It's scary in fog, even with radar.

A hand-bearing compass is a must to keep an eye on relative bearings (or an EBL if using radar), and it's easy enough to dodge behind one if in doubt. SWMBO has a good instinctive feel for threading a safe path and quite enjoys it.

At night it's very easy to under-estimate distances, radar is useful for confirming.

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See, I've heard sailors say things like "Shipping lanes? What shipping lanes? You'd be lucky to see one ship on passage from UK to France!".

They only say that when they've crossed in thick fog! You l definitely should see lots of ships if you cross the channel!

Chris

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I do think that (esp from the air) they appear to "bunch together" leading one to thihk that there must a large transport caff somewhere like Goodwin area, and perhaps another near Ouessant?

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We crossed on Friday night and saw a total of three - none of any concern.

Came back yesterday and saw four in each direction and another one closer to the IOW, two of which made an obvious course alteration to give way to us.

Not a major problem at all, although I fully understand that it can be a lot busier and scarier at other times , its just not like that ALL the time - in my limited experience.

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Forget EBL's, ARPA, MARPA ....... then I suppose the fact that one needs a gyro to stabilize the damn thing on a yawing yacht...................yawn zzzzzzzzz. How about a small boat aquaduct - funded by the EU of course - to facilitate yachties breaking down cultural barriers and so on?

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I have crossed the Ushant lanes now 6 times. On the days when there is no fog, I generally reckon on seeing 10 to 20 ships at any time.

When you hear them but don't see them (I don't have radar) that's when it's fun...

John

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We wound up in there, with 3 knots of breeze, fog/mist, spring tides, and we were racing. I use the word euphemistically of course. Had need dictated Iwould have had no compunction about turning on the engine, and attempted to sort it out with the race office later. We only fetched up there as the water is a bit deep for anchoring - we later edged inshore and dropped the hook in 75 metres - that needed a LOT of string to accomplish! Then 3 hours shuteye until the tide served.

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I've crossed the channel 100's of times and there have been days when I didn't see a ship that needed my attention but on other days its been like crossing the M25 in rush hour. I don't know about other peoples experiences but when you first see 3 ships it's always the last one in the line you need to worry about?

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I expect you can see more ships at 5000 feet than you can from the cockpit of a sailing boat.
The worst is definitely at night and in fog, the only time I've ever felt moved to let off a (white) flare in anger.

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Re: It\'s only the shipping...

..that stops your average channel crossing being one of the dullest things known to man.

They provide hours of entertainment and a usful measure of your progress.

UK to France goes No ships, Ships from left, No ships, Ships from right, Land.

If you think they pass you close you havn't lived till you do the crossing with scantily clad females aboard. Then they get even closer

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3 minutes was: Re: Channel shipping lanes

From the official calculations follows that on average, a ship passes through the traffic lanes every three minutes. Best moment to cross is at night in good visibility. You see them better with their lights on, especially to check which direction they're heading. (not a problem inside the lane, but difficult when considering other crossing vessels, such as ferries)

Only problem is staying awake. So if you're not perfectly concentrated, wait until dawn. Also, keeping enough speed is recommended. From the regulations one can figure that if there isn't enough wind, motoring the traffic lane should be considered. And from a safety point of view, this is definitely the case.
Victor

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Hi Boatman,

Entirely agree! Like you, been shunting back and forth for the last 30 odd years and, also like you, have seen none and dozens! 'Tis a strange thing about the 'third' ship and it often does seem like that doesn't it? I don't have radar so haven't been able to check whether there's any truth in it. Perhaps it's allied to the average speed of a yacht/versus the average speed of channel shipping/ allied to the average high of eye, and whether there's a 'R' in the month or.........

Someone cleverer at maths than me will no doubt expound a theory!

Good sailing!

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3 minutes was: Re: Channel shipping lanes

Although It may be easier to appreciate the direction of travel and see ships in the TSS and outside it at night, as it has already been mentioned in a previous post it becomes much harder to appreciate their speed and consequently their CPA. A good radar is an invaluable tool in these situations as well as the use of a hand bearing compass to check the bearing of a suspect vessel. In all cases should there be an element of doubt a decision should be made early and avoiding action taken promptly and obviously

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3 minutes was: Re: Channel shipping lanes

Victor
Given a choice I would always cross the TTS at night in good vis. I always believe that it makes for better identification - direction and if I suddenly get a case of the jitters (also known as third boat syndrome) I can quickly change heading and consquently my light shown to the other vessel. As for speed I couldn't agreee more, for me the cut off point is 5 knts and as soon as the boat drops below 5 knts the iron sail is started. Only once in all my crossings have I encountered a minor problem which was, I was standing on to a vessel that was crossing my port bow. I had already made the decision to let him pass ahead of me so I had reduced engine revs and slowed the boat to 3 knts. The commercial vessel was passing me some 600 yrds ahead when he sounded off 5 quick blasts. I looked around to see if there were any other boats about that he might be interested in and there weren't. I must admit, I thought cheeky sod, even if I had a jet ski I couldn't ram him now if I tried but as he passed I noticed a Panamainian flag flying and passed it off as someone using an AA road map to find his way down the channel<s>.

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3 minutes was: Re: Channel shipping lanes

Andy
I stand corrected on this but from memory the ships speed should be 17 knts whilst in the TSS. Again from memory, my YM instructor said that if you have 3 ships in line astern with the standard gaps and the first reduces speed by 1 knt then the last ship will run into the one in front. Sobbering thought? Thats why the ships in the TSS run slightly off-set or staggered. It is also why ship number 3 is always the problem boat.

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3 minutes was: Re: Channel shipping lanes

Not only ships perhaps, as before The Race 2000, Grant Dalton and Club Med were reported as being fined after sailing down a shipping lane (I think also going the wrong way) in the English Channel while hitting high 20's knots.

John

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Dalton was done...

...not for speeding but for travelling in wrong direction.

I don't believe there is a legislated max or min speed in TSS lanes - the diversity of shipping using them would make that totally impractible.

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