Coast hoping to and around Brittany in a Corribiee Mk2

[PhillM]

so my club is thinking about next year's summer cruise. Options include the West Country, Cherbourg and East (both of which I have done before) or a cruise around Brittany. Most boats are 30-something foot and at least 2 up. I will be in Swift and single-handed. Oh and only an outboard for auxiliary power. All battery charging will need to be solar or from shore power. I will have my Tiller Pilot but may not have the wind vane fitted by then . I have invested in a plotter and AIS tranciever (ONWA).

Other than whats on the chart and in the pilot books/almanac, what advice would you give for the potential Brittany trip?

 

[mjcoon]

Maybe that's hoping and hopping!

 

[ridgy]

You're gonna need a bigger boat.

 

[Poignard]

What advice would I give?

Do it!

 

[doug748]

You will be knackered and either fed up with trying to keep up or your chums will be peed off having to wait for you, just when they hope to set off to the next stop. They will be able to tackle much meaner conditions than you and will be better able to motor.

Assuming you are Solent based. The trip to Alderney is only half way to Brittany and the tides onward are far more complex and bear disproportionately on a small boat. I would be tempted to join them for the crossing (if the weather is suitable) and then confine yourself to the Channel Isles, picking them up maybe for the return trip.

Either that, or do your own thing totally, moving at your own speed.

.

 

[TSB240]

Do what we did which is put it on a trailer take it over on the ferry and launch it on the River Villaine.

We cruised our dinghy with a lid all around Brittany and kept up many other larger boats that we were cruising with. Day sailing in and around the Morbihan, out to Belle Isle , Houat and Hoedic should not be missed.

Do it and report back to remind me how much fun we had.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Do what we did which is put it on a trailer take it over on the ferry and launch it on the River Villaine.

We cruised our dinghy with a lid all around Brittany and kept up many other larger boats that we were cruising with. Day sailing in and around the Morbihan, out to Belle Isle , Houat and Hoedic should not be missed.

Do it and report back to remind me how much fun we had.

I'm guessing you did that in a Trapper TS240 .
Quite a heavy yacht. What was it like to tow ?

 

[Sandy]

Sounds ideal. You will be able to explore lots of places as you can dry out.

If I see you over there pop over for a dram.

 

[TSB240]

I'm guessing you did that in a Trapper TS240 .
Quite a heavy yacht. What was it like to tow ?

No problem with weight. Towed with a self built 4 wheel trailer and a Mitsubishi Pajero 2.7TD that I bought for £1k.

Biggest problem was 2.8M beam as this overhung the trailer. No problem on excellent French roads. Villaine is about 2.5 hours from St Mali and the butter definitely starts melting there!
No charge for using their slipways or storage of car and trailer for 6 weeks on total.

 

[Wansworth]

Considering the size difference and singlehanded as opposed to two just tag along with the proviso that you done expect them to wait for you to leave harbour or arrive,best be independent and make your own decision on weather to go or not,weather wise,or how you feel.

 

[SaltyC]

Go for it! You have more certainty of Navigation than we had in the 70's, your only drawback in company is your passage times will be longer.

If singlehanded I would definately want the wind vane fitted, it is a long way if you have to helm all the way.

 

[PhillM]

Considering the size difference and singlehanded as opposed to two just tag along with the proviso that you done expect them to wait for you to leave harbour or arrive,best be independent and make your own decision on weather to go or not,weather wise,or how you feel.

That is exactly what we have done in the past. One year we were all holed up in Falmouth while a storm passed. e 40+ foot Swan left on Tuesday. Most boats left Wednesday but called into Plymouth because it was still rough. I waited until Thursday and then did a 22 hour run to Dartmouth, where I caught most of the others up. They were leaving the next morning for Portland. I slept in and left late evening and did a 24-hour back to Lymington, where I caught them all up again. So it's all pretty relaxed.

 

[PhillM]

Go for it! You have more certainty of Navigation than we had in the 70's, your only drawback in company is your passage times will be longer.

If singlehanded I would definately want the wind vane fitted, it is a long way if you have to helm all the way.

The main issue will be power if I have to use the Tillerpilot and get delayed. I think you are right, I should try to work out a way to have the wind vane and outboard on the stern.

 

[harvey38]

Set off early and let them catch you up.

Go for it, one life, live it!

 

[PhillM]

Set off early and let them catch you up.

Go for it, one life, live it!

Ah yes, have done that too. They do wave when passing around lunchtime and usually greet me with a glass of wine and some hot food when I finally arrive.

 

[LadyInBed]

No problem, you might think about upping your battery capacity a bit having added the extra nav aids.
St PP - Paimpol is just under 50 mls, plenty of places to anchor on the run into Paimpol if you have to wait for the tide to get to the lockgate.

 

[LadyInBed]

Some Tables for you - Cross Channel and Brittany Distance Tables : Monty Mariner
N Brittany
S Brittany
Some other useful info - CI's & BRITTANY Tide Directions

 

[Beelzebub]

You'll find a lot of useful information here, concerning optimum times for leaving St Peter Port. Stan Cleal is an ex-Commodore of the GYC and most of his cruising was in a 30 footer.

The port details outlined in the motor cruising section may be useful too.

Cruising | Guernsey Yacht Club LBG

 

[Pete7]

Where in Brittany are they likely to be based? If it's South Brittany you might arrive first by using the Brittany canals. Only been as far as Dinan but friends went all the way to Arzal, then popped out in the sea.

Brittany Waterways eGuide

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Being a tail end charlie and single handed does have benefits with cruising like this. I used to get plenty of invites for drinks and even better full meals with no washing up. Important not to get in before the herd to take full advantage.