Cherbourg & Boulogne Pilotage

Sea Devil

Sea Devil

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19 Aug 2004
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Boulogne sur mer & Marbella Spain, Guadeloupe
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I suspect that most people on this forum have sailed to Cherbourg but for those that have not I have just published a little pilotage video...
And the same applies to Boulogne sur mer which is the nearest French port after Calais
It's my intention to cover most of the North coast of France ports in this way - If I am not giving the right information or not in an interesting way please do not hesitate to tell me!df
fair winds
 
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Surprised that there have been no replies.Yes the information is available elsewhere in varying forms but brought together here in a clear hands-on way - so thank you ,will be watching the coming series.
 
It all really depends on what you're sailing. On a good day, my 26'er manages about six and a half knots flat out, depending on wind strength and direction. Yarmouth to Cherbourg is normally a 14-16 hour passage for me. Arrival at Cherbourg requires you to be uptide of the port entrance. If you have a modern yacht with all the bells and whistles, good for you, but if, like me you're sailing an old girl without Radar, AIS, and other electronic aids, don't be put off. The tides on the French side are stronger than those on the UK side and you really don't want to caught punching the tidal stream , into the wind, with nothiing but a 1GM10 to push you along. Over the years, I've been motor sailing off Barfleur yet still making no headway against contrary conditions, swept down the Race, and diverted to Alderney and St Vaast more times than I'd care to admit. Neaps are always recommended for a virgin crossing.

From Yarmouth in a SW wind (prevailing)it's a great sail. From Portsmouth, not so good but still doable. Its really fun with a NE wind though. Good passage planning means watching the forecasts for the week before so you can plot trends and anticipate conditions.

Through shipping tends to follow the lines between the two channel separation systems at Casquettes and Dover so you won't have to trouble yourself with traffic in both directions at once. In good viz, even at night, avoiding trouble is OK as long as you keep a good look out. There is commercial traffic from Le Havre west going that passes closer to the french coast and this is particularly noticeable around Barfleur. I have only once seen an East going into Le Havre close to Cherbourg.

If you get caught out in poor vis, calling all ships periodically on the VHF, reporting you position, course and speed will help any commercial vessels locate you on their radar and avoid you if needed. It's always reassuring to hear a response from the bridge officer acknowledging your transmission and telling you he's got you on radar.
 
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Sea Devil said:
It's my intention to cover most of the North coast of France ports in this way - If I am not giving the right information or not in an interesting way please do not hesitate to tell me!df
Click to expand...

If you're planning on doing most of the north coast of France (which would be lovely), might breaking your the videos into separate "planning a channel crossing" and "french port" sections be something to consider? You don't want to keep repeating yourself with the passage planning as you make more films but more importantly there may be people happy with their ability to plan a crossing who might be put off by a long lead in of things they know but would be interested in video of entering an unfamiliar port they're planning on visiting and tips about the place.

Having clicked through the youtube links to your website, when you get a few more of these might it be an idea to think about the layout of the links to the videos (ie east to west or vice versa, or even plotted on a little map: the google maps apis are actually quite straight forward even for those of us who don't normally lower ourselves to javascript). Might make them easier for someone planning a trip to find than scrolling through your youtube channel.

Not an actual suggestion (due to obvious copyright issues) but having seen your impressive cv I started imaging these set to Khachaturian's spartacus and it was weird how "da da dahhh, da da dahhh" morphed into the "da da dahh dadahh, da da dahh dadahh" of the Blake's 7 theme...

I can think of a few things I would have throw in that weren't mentioned but if we open that can of worms and everyone piles in you'll have an epic on your hands longer than it takes to sail there.
 
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laika said:
If you're planning on doing most of the north coast of France (which would be lovely), might breaking your the videos into separate "planning a channel crossing" and "french port" sections be something to consider? You don't want to keep repeating yourself with the passage planning as you make more films but more importantly there may be people happy with their ability to plan a crossing who might be put off by a long lead in of things they know but would be interested in video of entering an unfamiliar port they're planning on visiting and tips about the place.

Having clicked through the youtube links to your website, when you get a few more of these might it be an idea to think about the layout of the links to the videos (ie east to west or vice versa, or even plotted on a little map: the google maps apis are actually quite straight forward even for those of us who don't normally lower ourselves to javascript). Might make them easier for someone planning a trip to find than scrolling through your youtube channel.

Not an actual suggestion (due to obvious copyright issues) but having seen your impressive cv I started imaging these set to Khachaturian's spartacus and it was weird how "da da dahhh, da da dahhh" morphed into the "da da dahh dadahh, da da dahh dadahh" of the Blake's 7 theme...

I can think of a few things I would have throw in that weren't mentioned but if we open that can of worms and everyone piles in you'll have an epic on your hands longer than it takes to sail there.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that and I am grateful for the feedback... I got back 10 days ago after getting as far a Cherbourg and visiting as many places as I could - it was my first time with these little sports cameras and I found looking after them and single handing quite challenging. I also did not end up with the material I expected - hope for...
Your YouTube layout suggestions are good - thank you - the trouble is it's a really steep learning curve and I simply do not know how to organise the first page and the same is true of the Facebook page that I use to link to YouTube... I really need a 13 year old to show me how!

It will be interesting to see if there is an audience for these sort of YouTube videos - Boulogne which I published a week ago has had 274 views so far and Cherbourg has 174 in two days.... BUT Gentle Sailing route to the Med has had 2,100 and the two French canals videos over 2100 & 2800 each - but it's early days and a really step into the unknown... Today I finished the first edit of Dieppe and will dub and review tomorrow.. Then for a change I am going to do one about a Treasure Island using material I shot yonks ago... It's fun to do but I wish I understood YouTube and Facebook a bit better... js
Michael
 
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Topcat47 said:
It all really depends on what you're sailing. On a good day, my 26'er manages about six and a half knots flat out, depending on wind strength and direction. Yarmouth to Cherbourg is normally a 14-16 hour passage for me. Arrival at Cherbourg requires you to be uptide of the port entrance. If you have a modern yacht with all the bells and whistles, good for you, but if, like me you're sailing an old girl without Radar, AIS, and other electronic aids, don't be put off. The tides on the French side are stronger than those on the UK side and you really don't want to caught punching the tidal stream , into the wind, with nothiing but a 1GM10 to push you along. Over the years, I've been motor sailing off Barfleur yet still making no headway against contrary conditions, swept down the Race, and diverted to Alderney and St Vaast more times than I'd care to admit. Neaps are always recommended for a virgin crossing.

From Yarmouth in a SW wind (prevailing)it's a great sail. From Portsmouth, not so good but still doable. Its really fun with a NE wind though. Good passage planning means watching the forecasts for the week before so you can plot trends and anticipate conditions.

Through shipping tends to follow the lines between the two channel separation systems at Casquettes and Dover so you won't have to trouble yourself with traffic in both directions at once. In good viz, even at night, avoiding trouble is OK as long as you keep a good look out. There is commercial traffic from Le Havre west going that passes closer to the french coast and this is particularly noticeable around Barfleur. I have only once seen an East going into Le Havre close to Cherbourg.

If you get caught out in poor vis, calling all ships periodically on the VHF, reporting you position, course and speed will help any commercial vessels locate you on their radar and avoid you if needed. It's always reassuring to hear a response from the bridge officer acknowledging your transmission and telling you he's got you on radar.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with all you write - my first visit to Cherbourg was in a Galion 22 and took 24 hours from Yarmouth - couldn't use the 4hp outboard as it only had a 2 gallon fuel tank and I needed that for parking... Like you I loved doing it by DR and a hand held RDF and felt a real sense of achievement but confess as the years go by I am more than happy to embrace technology...
My lovely Beneteau 323 only makes 5 knots under power at 2300RPM but sails like a witch on a beam reach at 7+
 
I'm not saying technology is bad, I went from a Decca to GPS and currently have iSailor on a tablet, but electronics required more Ah than my service battery can supply as it is and I hate having to motorsail to charge batteries. It's just a bonus. (I keep up a plot on a paper chart and still jog my position on an hourly basis. I know people who rely on their plotter tracking for that too.)
 
Topcat47 said:
I'm not saying technology is bad, I went from a Decca to GPS and currently have iSailor on a tablet, but electronics required more Ah than my service battery can supply as it is and I hate having to motorsail to charge batteries. It's just a bonus. (I keep up a plot on a paper chart and still jog my position on an hourly basis. I know people who rely on their plotter tracking for that too.)
Click to expand...
Its good to hear you write about navigation method.. I confess in sight of land that I know I don't bother to keep a log. Offshore I log physically in the book my lat long every 4 hours as I think I can work out my. position from that...
 
I don't keep a log when Sailing in the Solent and adjacent waters, but West of the Needles or East of Nab, then that's my "Departure Point". I even do it going RTI. It's good discipline (and good practise).
 
Great, thanks.
If you ever do St Valery sur Somme let me know! I have tried twice from Boulogne but the wind was too much onshore for the shallow entrance, and it's still on my must visit list.

Pete
 
Habebty said:
Great, thanks.
If you ever do St Valery sur Somme let me know! I have tried twice from Boulogne but the wind was too much onshore for the shallow entrance, and it's still on my must visit list.

Pete
Click to expand...
I didn’t do it this trip as the gales got in the way but I think the timing is difficult from Boulogne. I have only ever done it from Dieppe. Just 3 or 4 hours away and you can depart Dieppe at any time.
Ii think you were very right not to do it with a strong onshore wind. Scares me in settled conditions!!
 
I have been going in and out of Boulogne for years. i called the port years ago & they never answered so i have never bothered since. i have heard boats calling the marina & never heard them reply so you are wasting your time calling either. In fact if you call port control i suspect they would regard you as a nuisance.
You failed to warn first timers not to stray too close to the bridge at the end, as it gets shallow. I have seen a yacht touch because they went too far & grounded when turning round. You should also tell them that even if it is very busy NEVER try to moor on the fisherman's side of the harbour.
When tying to the end pontoons if rafting out a couple of boats lines should be rigged to allow for water being let from the locks suddenly as it can strain the lines. Another point worth noting.
Beware of pots between Cap Griz nez & Boulogne.
Cap Griz Nez CG sometimes calls yachts & asks for passage details, so make sure to maintain listening watch on VHF. I have been called a number of times.

Regarding Cherbourg-- You forgot to tell listeners to take their RYA membership card which gets them 20% discount on marina fees whilst staying in Cherbourg. makes it very cheap.
 
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Daydream believer said:
I have been going in and out of Boulogne for years. i called the port years ago & they never answered so i have never bothered since. i have heard boats calling the marina & never heard them reply so you are wasting your time calling either. In fact if you call port control i suspect they would regard you as a nuisance.
Click to expand...
Yes the French are very forgiving!:-)
I am permanently berthed in Boulogne since last March and I assure you they expect and indeed the local regulations require that you call Boulogne Port Control to enter or exit.
If you choose to ignore the rules that's fine until there is an accident or serious incident at which point I think they will throw the book at you...
 
Sea Devil said:
Yes the French are very forgiving!:)
I am permanently berthed in Boulogne since last March and I assure you they expect and indeed the local regulations require that you call Boulogne Port Control to enter or exit.
If you choose to ignore the rules that's fine until there is an accident or serious incident at which point I think they will throw the book at you...
Click to expand...
Look at the IPTS
They are there for a reason.
 
Thanks for drawing attention to your video. I've just watched the Cherbourg one. No distracting music - great. Clear information - great. No faff, just sailing info. I liked it. Yes, the info is available elsewhere, but there's nothing wrong in listening to a broad base of opinion and experience. Anyone who professes to know it all already.....well we know how that ends :-)
 
Sea-Fever said:
Thanks for drawing attention to your video. I've just watched the Cherbourg one. No distracting music - great. Clear information - great. No faff, just sailing info. I liked it. Yes, the info is available elsewhere, but there's nothing wrong in listening to a broad base of opinion and experience. Anyone who professes to know it all already.....well we know how that ends :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for watching... one of the nice things about sailing is that there is always something new to learn and several ways of doing things.
 
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