Cherbourg to Guernsey

[misterjenkins]

Planning a route sailing from Cherbourg down to Guernsey and interested in thoughts about clearance around Cap de la Haugue.

I'll be taking the tidal eddy inshore from Cherbourg to arrive at the Cap as the tide direction changes.

I'm interested in people's experiences of this route. Did you stay in close around the cap or get North to give a wider berth? If so, how far?

 

[chubby]

I did that trip this season, if you follow the inshore eddy and time arrival carefully, motoring if needed, you will be quite close to the Cap but once past head out towards Guernsey and you will end up mid way between France and Alderney, can be quite calm in gentle weather if you get the tides right!

 

[Robin]

As above but don't turn for GY i immediately past C de H but head across towards Alderney until about 2/3rds of the way across the race then you will a avoid the worst of any overfalls and fare much better with the tidal streams, especially when approaching the north end of the Little Russel where the tendency is to get set hard to the east, very unhelpful if close hauled and forced to keep pointing up and up until the donk may even needed. L eave Cherbourg by west entrance at HW Cherbourg, the back eddy is really a slack rather than favourable flow until past the Basse Brefort buoy if I remember it's name right. I oncewent inshore too soon on a return and discovered it sure does run hard around there going the other way or trying to. Omonville became known as the 'Omonyville horror by milady after that tactical error.

 

[michael_w]

Coming the other way I've found it's best to try and hit Cap de la Hauge. You won't, the tide will sweep you past. This, besides being shorter it avoids the worst of the broken water that jets out into the Channel. I discovered this method following a mini transat, who got to Cherbourg hours before me.

 

[peter gibbs]

Planning a route sailing from Cherbourg down to Guernsey and interested in thoughts about clearance around Cap de la Haugue.

I'll be taking the tidal eddy inshore from Cherbourg to arrive at the Cap as the tide direction changes.

I'm interested in people's experiences of this route. Did you stay in close around the cap or get North to give a wider berth? If so, how far?

The water round C dl H rapidly deepens to 100m. Perils are obvious and marks clear. But plot a clearing bearing on the lh then make your turn.
If you arrive just on the tide turn all to the good, but if a little late the water moves fast SW for a half mile and will be disturbed - you know what to do, make all speed and soon you will be in fast moving but manageable water. Good sailing!

 

[johnalison]

I have done is a few times but am not an expert on the area. Unless you are facing a brisk SW-er you shouldn't have any trouble around slack water, but even so the water will probably be disturbed somewhat. This can make the going a bit trying, even when there is a sailing wind, and with a following wind you may even lose drive in the current. For the intrepid there is even a route marked inside the rocks off C de la Hague!

 

[ashtead]

I suspect the greater concern will be if arriving at the Cap 50minutes plus you might find if the wind has any strength and is heading north and you are heading with the tide towards Guernsey it might be a tad bouncy . I don’t know therefore whether your plans would be influenced by the wind direction in summary? So far as I have seen boats tend just to come round the Cap and keep going straight and head for one of the waypoints as per the waypoint book perhaps ? And adjusts course over ground as you track across. Don’t know if that makes sense though?

 

[Star-Lord]

Great information everyone

 

[Robin]

Planning a route sailing from Cherbourg down to Guernsey and interested in thoughts about clearance around Cap de la Haugue.

I'll be taking the tidal eddy inshore from Cherbourg to arrive at the Cap as the tide direction changes.

I'm interested in people's experiences of this route. Did you stay in close around the cap or get North to give a wider berth? If so, how far?

I suspect the greater concern will be if arriving at the Cap 50minutes plus you might find if the wind has any strength and is heading north and you are heading with the tide towards Guernsey it might be a tad bouncy . I don’t know therefore whether your plans would be influenced by the wind direction in summary? So far as I have seen boats tend just to come round the Cap and keep going straight and head for one of the waypoints as per the waypoint book perhaps ? And adjusts course over ground as you track across. Don’t know if that makes sense though?

Great information everyone

Great information everyone

used to do this frequently, either via Cherbourg or direct from Poole a the key is to aim for a point about two thirds of the way from cap de la hague and Alderneyto arrive there around 45 mins before high water dover using the inshore eddy if from cherbourg. turnin straight after passing cap de la hgue will get you pushed progressivel south and hving to keep heading west possibly into the wind or having to tack as you approach Guernsey whereas from nearer to Alderney the tide will be pretty much on your required track. beat many boats with that tactic over the years,

 

[Daydream believer]

One year we were told not to go through from Cherbourg against a SW F5 or more. I had a deadline & 2 crew who also had to get back to the UK . They could go from Guernsey or CHbg. We left CHbg against a solid F6+ & the inshore route was pretty rough. but it kept us close to Cap de la Haugh at the end. This meant that we were confronted with increadible high breaking seas. So much so that we decided to turn back. But shortly after, I saw a 60ft yacht and a 40ft yacht going throuh much further out & not struggling as much as us. So I stood on the cabin & saw that there was little less white water further out. One of my crew was terrified whenI said I was going back & his hand gripped the mainsheet traveller with absolute fear.The other one just made sure his LJ was tight & the hatches were all fastened.
When we got on a bit the waves were not only huge but breaking like the waves on the beach. I could see the other 2 boats shrouded in spray. Any one could easily have rolled us. I just motored at a couple of knots into them playing the throttle. The water broke over the bows & down the decks. No way was there room between waves to turn round & go back. The current just took us sideways through the race & suddenly we were free & could begin turning towards our proper course.
So my advice is do not go if the wind is SW F5 or more.. If you do give the cap a very wide berth

 

[Stemar]

Incidentally, Omonville la Rogue is a pleasant little harbour with a few visitors' buoys, and is one of very few in the area with all tide access. Just don't go if there's any east in the wind, it can get seriously bumpy.