Cherbourg Scuttlebutt 2026

I think the RNLI will probably locate me quicker during daylight hours so that would be my preference but joking aside, I’m up for this whatever the date.
 
Mark-1 said:
Too far for a Corribee but I'll crew if anyone will take me. Did one before the kids were born and really enjoyed it.
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Err I beg to differ. Given the right conditions I’d be happy to take my corribee over. I’m planning to do so at least once next year so this might be a second opportunity. But each to their own … I do realise a 19 footer isn’t everyone’s first x channel choice.
 
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PhillM said:
Err I bed to differ. Given the right conditions I’d be happy to take my corribee over. I’m planning to do so at least once next year so this might be a second opportunity. But each to their own … I do realise a 19 footer isn’t everyone’s first x channel choice.
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Happy if it's the right conditions, miserable and knackered if it's the wrong.

There's a case for going in something that makes me smile even if we have to motor every inch one way and tack into a stiff breeze the other. At the cost of kudos, of course.

But yeah, it will be great to see you there and nobody will be more impressed than me if you either have tinnitus from 17 hours of outboard or salt rash from bashing into waves all the way.

(Obvs if it's a fin keeler with inboard and wind vane steering then that changes things a lot.)
 
chubby said:
I did the Scuttlebutt trips in Dabchick ( 32 ft Barbary Ketch motorsailor) several times and would be up for a revival. The September was perhaps chosen as it was less likely to clash with family holidays and just outside school holidays.
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Yes I have clear memories of sitting in your cosy wheelhouse 🙂.
I think you're right about the reason for choosing September. My thoughts are, even though we were more often than not blessed with glorious weather, there were years where those of us in smaller slower boats were put off by the conditions.
Should we gather opinions on wether we should bring it forward to June/July or stick to September?
 
Count me in. I'm a channel virgin but would love to join in. Happy with either September or earlier in the year.
 
dolabriform said:
Count me in, September would have my vote as well, as it's outside the school holidays.
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We usually do a channel crossing in late June either as part of a family fortnight or with thr CA channel section, come July 14th France gets busy and you need to watch for other events such as the Tour de Ports, early September is a welcome chance for a quick " boys trip" Cherbourg dash long weekend! With a fallback of Poole or the Solent if the weather is bad.
 
colhel said:
Yes I have clear memories of sitting in your cosy wheelhouse 🙂.
I think you're right about the reason for choosing September. My thoughts are, even though we were more often than not blessed with glorious weather, there were years where those of us in smaller slower boats were put off by the conditions.
Should we gather opinions on wether we should bring it forward to June/July or stick to September?
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My preference is for earlier in the year - more light for those of us in smaller boats and unlikely to clash with commitments like taking people back to Uni and so on - also more likely to have a crew!
 
FairweatherDave said:
Many things are faster than our Konsort :). Just gooogled UK daylight hours 2025 for curiousity. 9th September 13hours, 25 September 12 hours. Will stock up on carrots.
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Daylight hours of course follow the same rule of 12ths we learn for tides. Now just 2 weeks after the equinox the days are noticeably shorter
 
chubby said:
We usually do a channel crossing in late June either as part of a family fortnight or with thr CA channel section, come July 14th France gets busy and you need to watch for other events such as the Tour de Ports, early September is a welcome chance for a quick " boys trip" Cherbourg dash long weekend! With a fallback of Poole or the Solent if the weather is bad.
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Either before or after school holidays, as I’ll likely be one of the ones cruising the French ports during the school holidays with the tribe on board !
 
For me late July is graduation and 1st September is the start of the prep for the next semester. In between work.

Also, so does May and June if it’s a long weekend.
 
We're happy to go with the flow. If its September then we have to practice some nightsailing, and I like that idea....This summer was our first time crossing full stop and was magic. If the weather looks iffy we'll be in the first bunch to pull out, not rufty tufty, but weather patterns are pretty random. I'd prefer to avoid spring tides though.
 
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