Cross Channel Trip

[mark_sabin]

Hi peeps, We are planning a cross channel trip (our first) in early august and was wondering if there is anyone out there who would like to join us for the crossing on the basis of two boats are better than one sort of thing. The more the merrier. We are planning to go to Cherbourg for our first trip. Dates are to be confirmed but it will probably be somewhere the 3rd and 6th.

I've seen all the posts about not stopping at Cherbourg but consider that as its our first crossing, it would be nice to know we could get into port on any state of the tide. We will venture further a field in later trips.

mark

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Nothing wrong with Cherbourg and a sensible target for a first channel crossing. Post nearer the time and I'm sure you'll find a few people crossing at the same time.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[vyv_cox]

Fully agree that Cherbourg is the ideal destination for you. Be aware that tides run very strongly across its entrance, so plan accordingly.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tony_brighton]

you might want to let people know what sort of boat you have and what sort of speed you do.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mark_sabin]

Thanks for the reply Tony and I'm a bit of a dumb arse for not putting it in!!!! - thanks for the hint.

We have a 30 foot Jeanneau Sunlight and can probably expect a cruising speed of between 5 and 6 knots to do the 65 miles to Cherbourg. Probably leaving this side of the channel (exiting via Nab tower) very early to ensure arrival in daylight

Mark

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ivy]

Hi Mark,

If you are planning a trip to Cherbourg, you might be interested in the July issue of "Yachting Monthly". it includes a wright up on Cherbourg including a chartlet and lots of information on what to do when you arrive. I'm hoping to make my first channel crossing in July in my Sadler 25 so I will be reading the article nearer the time.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tome]

Mark

We're going across this evening via Nab. It's about 70 miles from Chichester harbour to Cherbourg so expect a crossing time of around 14 hours. We steer a direct course and don't make any tidal allowance until about 20 miles from the French coast when we will start to work the tides to make sure we stay up-tide of Cherbourg. I expect a strong E'ly tide (springs) as we approach so will aim a mile or so to the West. When you plot your track across, you will see that you have done an 'S' shaped course as the tide takes you one way and then the next. I set the watches so that I'm on during the crossing of shipping lanes. We keep the hand-held VHF in the cockpit on ch13, a couple of white flares, binoculars, and hand-bearing compass all at the ready.

Once clear of the shipping lanes the skipper can get some rest until closing the coast when there is inshore shipping - again listen ch13 and you'll hear communications with Joburg Traffic. Approach to Cherbourg is easy via either entrance, but as mentioned keep the red buoy to port on entering the Petite Rade as there are nasty rocks on the breakwater (covered at HW) to the east.

It always seems to take forever to make Cherbourg after you've spotted land!

Agree Cherbourg is the ideal destination for a first crossing (whether alone or in company) and it's only a short hop to St Vaast or Channel Islands, easily done on a tide. I'm sure that you'll find plenty of people crossing at the time you intend to go, and if you post again nearer that time I reckon you'll probably get a few boats in company.

I've done it a couple of times in company over the years but boats soon drift apart and you will quickly lose sight of each other.

Good luck
Tom

PS When you see a forecast like this make sure you have plenty of fuel!

HUMBER THAMES DOVER WIGHT PORTLAND PLYMOUTH
SOUTHWESTERLY OR VARIABLE 3 OR 4. MAINLY FAIR. MODERATE OR GOOD

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Pretty good and comprehensive advice, just would like to add that when crossing the shipping lanes, take any avoiding action in plenty of time ... that is when the ship is on the horizon .. before I had radar I used the compass bearing binoculars a lot, essential if you don'y have radar IMHO. The other thing that tends to happen is that you seem to get batches of ships. So sometimes it can be busy but I have crossed in good visibility and only seen one ship. The lane that worries me most is when they are crossing from your port side and its tempting to hang a left to go behind, if you do this then do it in tons of time as they will often turn to starboard to avoid you!I've seen on radar large ships altering course to starboard to avoid me at a range of 5 miles.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Chris_Robb]

Nothing wrong with Cherbourg - always include it in our destinations - always get a good meal - good showers - and booze delievered to your boat from the wine merchant in the Port office area.

Crossing the shipping lanes: Do keep a very close watch using regular compass bearings. If the bearing is changing - they will miss you so don't panic - just apply logic. I have sailed on boats where the very sight of a ship heading your way creates total panic reaction!

Its not as bad as people make out - ships do normally alter course in my experience, but NEVER rely on it - use the compass all the time, and make sure your crew also use it as it will give them more confidence in the whole process.

Good luck!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

from the air you can certainly see that ships do go (downchannel especially) in bunches. Must be a saftey, or perhaps a trucker thing!

I am not at all sure of the value of going with another boat,except social at the other end. In company, you double etyc the chances of there being "a problem" - if there is, should you go back and help? You might feel a bit of a git if you don't. But - to do what exactly? And so on. I don't think you are invariably safer with several boats. Perhaps a bit more safe with multiple motorboats who can close in to help quickly, but there's still the issue of multiplying up the chances of problems. Good if your own boat is a load of junk and quite likely to have a problem - in which case you shouldn't be there. Having someone knowledgeable person on board is a much better idea.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ParaHandy]

this is awfully good advice ............

I crossed the channel for the first time with a friend who had done so many times before - and much further afield. We hit fog with 50mtrs visibility and although I could parrot the text book actions etc, there is nothing like watching somebody experienced .... so, there you are

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tome]

Agree with this Jim. Now that we have radar, we tend to use autopilot on crossing the shipping lane (steers a more consistent course for our radar, which is head up only). Any target we are concerned about we set the EBL to intercept and the VRM to its range. Then it's easy to see if it's creeping our way or will clear us, without having to do any plotting. I set the range to 4 miles which gives us at least 10 - 15 minutes warning on most ships. The helm keeps an independent watch using hand-bearing compass.

Funny about the bunching of ships. Sometimes you can transit without any worries, other times it can get a little fraught especially for less experienced crew. On night crossings it's easy to under-estimate the range of ships so that you think they are closer than they are. Radar is a great help!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[philwebb]

All good advice. Start very early with a good weather forecast.Listen to the French coastguard forecast (CROSS) en route. Have enough fuel to motor all the way if the wind drops. Direct course, plot position every hour, aim to be up tide a few hours beforeyou get to the outer breakwater.Have plenty of snacksand cup-a-soups on hand. For crossing the shipping lanes what we do if there is a ship coming towards us is that we change course to a parallel course on the same heading (in plenty of time) , wait till they pass and then pass close behind them. We don`t have radar. Cherbourg is a very straightforward harbour, berthing charges are cheap but diesel is the same price as vehicle fuel.
Enjoy your trip, Phil


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[chriscallender]

Thats all pretty much what I did. Initially I was a bit overzelous with the hand bearing compass, you do need to give it time for the bearing to change by a worthwhile amount, so don't worry if the bearing of a ship many miles away hasn't changed noticeably. Its probably the ones you've missed and are not monitoring that are what you really need to worry about so a good look out all around is equally important, don't get too fixated on one "threat" and miss something else.

We are intending to cross again this year on Monday July 7 if conditions are right. Perhaps getting to Yarmouth on the Sunday night to make the crossing a bit shorter than direct from Gosport like I did last year.

Chris

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

dunno if does does it? From Gosport you go to eastabout IOW, but same-ish distance from Yarmouth westabout, overall even a bit longer innit?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

In fact if you get the tide right you can really rip down the East side of The IOW from Gosport, the only differencemight be the wind where if in the SW it might be a bit freer from Yarmouth

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[chriscallender]

Thought from memory I'd measured distances over the ground last year as something like 80NM from Gosport -> Cherbourg, versus 70ish from Yarmouth -> Cherbourg. So I was hoping for an hour or two less on the actual crossing (although of course the total distance will be more since we have to go down to Yarmouth the night before).

Anyway as jimi says it all depends on the wind direction on the day which is best, would be just my luck to go down to Yarmouth and then get a SE or S the following morning.

To be honest, it was all an excuse to go for a few beers in Yarmouth!

Chris

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tome]

Ah well, time to put it all into practice.

I meet my crew for pint and briefing 5pm Emsworth then it's onboard Northney and away with dinner served as we go up the harbour. We'll start our watches at 9pm and should be in Cherbourg for breakfast. Not sure I trust any of the forecasts as there's a complex high developing along the channel. Chimet is showing SW4 at present.

Have a long good Friday and a good sail if youre out at the weekend
Regards
TomE

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

oh bum, I'm totally and utterly wrong again. Cherbourg must be a bit further over, still a bit sw even from the needles, he says, trying to retrieve the situation. Tell you what, I'll make some tea and/or get the beers in at Yarmouth while you do the nav...

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tome]

Just one last thought on crossing the shipping lanes...

Beware the rogue ships!

Every now and again a ship will sail up the shipping lane in the wrong direction. I've witnessed this a number of times, and it's scary to see it (although if you monitor ch13 you'll generally hear warnings).

It's imperative therefore to keep a lookout from both directions just in case you experience this. Make sure you brief your crew on this possibility.

Safe sailing
Tom

<hr width=100% size=1>