Channel virgin - what weather to look out for?

[SpiderDiver]

Am planning our 1st time over channel later this month which will probably be Torquay to Cherbourg. I am happy with navigation/crew/boat etc but need some advice on what to look out for weather wise. Will also be looking to get to St Vaast if possible.

 

[garethuk]

www.xcweather.co.uk /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Enjoy and have a safe trip

 

[SpiderDiver]

Thanks for that Gareth - excellent site. Will certainly use in the run up to our trip.

 

[tcm]

Really, it's not the weather that is of concern cos you'll go if it's cloudy or bright sunshine. It's the sea state, and that changes a lot more slowly so (i think) is a bit easier to predict. Have a look at some of the sea state predictors. www.wetterzentrale.de is one option, click "top karten" and then from the next menu scroll down to "wind und wellen" which gives 120ish hour predictions for the waves heights near the channel.

 

[jimg]

http://www.windfinder.com/forecasts/wave_british_isles24.htm
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/sail.htm
http://www.xcweather.co.uk/
These are my favorites, plus of course Met office data such as the inshore forecast
http://www.met-office.gov.uk/datafiles/inshore.html
and the synoptic charts
http://meteonet.nl/aktueel/brackall.htm

The key is to wait for a settled spell if you can and leave on the <u>second</u> day when the sea state will have improved. Remember the wind direction and tide are important and may not be running together for the whole trip

 

[SpiderDiver]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the excellent advice chaps - will certainly put all this stuff to good use in the next few weeks and let you know how the trip goes.

We may end up going bank holiday time - I guess this is not a good time to try and get into Cherbourg perhaps? Or is it big enough to cope?

 

[zazu]

Re: Thanks!

Cherbourg is big enough to cope. It is very transient, there are people coming and going all the time due to its all weather access.

Cruise up & down both sides of P Pontoon and you should find a space. If it is full try the berths right at the shoreside end of P Pontoon. These are often vacant as people suspect they are too close to the embankment. I can assure though there is at least 4 metres water and closer for when you return from the hypermarket.

 

[blueglass]

Re: Thanks!

[ If it is full try the berths right at the shoreside end of P Pontoon. quote

I agree - exactly where we ended up last time and plenty of water. If you can get in on the fingerless side even better if your boat is on the big side as the pontoon fingers are notoriously short with no cleats other than at the root with only a horizontal fixed D ring at the end. Same deal in St Vaast incidentally. If like us you are used to "lassoing" cleats from on board a high sided boat these are a pain - somebody has to get off.
Don't get your wine from the marina outlets - take a short walk to Carrefours for best prices.
Have a great trip!

 

[blueglass]

St Vaast is lovely and well worth the short trip round Pointe Barfleur. Don't know how big your boat is but see my comments elsewhere in thread re pontoon fingers.