Cross Channel

[tokenjam]

I'm going on a cross channel sail with Hamble school at the weekend - hoping for a bit a wind (might have a curry before I go)

Any key tips re what to take etc.

Its a night sail and I've never done one before

 

[BelleSerene]

If you haven't done it before and you insist on a curry before you go, then yes, I have one recommendation to take.

A bucket.

If you have a particularly hardy stomach or can make do without the curry, you could save the weight of the bucket.

 

[fireball]

Warm clothes!! HAT & Gloves!

Torch in your pocket (like I didn't have!)

Nibbles - plenty of sweets for a quick snack.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Plenty of fuel looking at the weekend forecast....

 

[Boomshanka]

Stugeron (sp?) for the 's' word... best taken before you leave
Quite a few layers
A warm hat and gloves
A small pocket torch

 

[sarabande]

about 25% of your body heat is lost through your face and head, so lots of wrappings for the head area. You will need gloves, lots of layers of clothing so that you can adjust the insulation level to stay comfortable.

I'd take some eye drops, bcs you'll find that overnight your eyes become very sore.

Small LED head torch (as used by climbers) would be ideal in case you have to rummage around down below while the cabin lights are off - also useful for small fiddly things on deck.

Knife, spike, shackle key set.

Own LJ if you have one, or check there's a spare for you in your size/weight.

Camera, bcs sometimes the sky is unforgettable.

 

[aslabend]

Safety line to clip on with.
Thermos flask with warm drink (you'll get dehydrated without noticing it even at night)
Something to keep you awake (i-pod or something)

 

[bobgoode]

not just gloves but waterproof gloves...nowt worse than soggy wet gloves for making your hands cold.

Go on ask How I know..

 

[tokenjam]

If you haven't done it before and you insist on a curry before you go, then yes, I have one recommendation to take.

A bucket.

If you have a particularly hardy stomach or can make do without the curry, you could save the weight of the bucket.

Im my clumsy way, I was trying to refer to the forecast lack of wind at the w/e

 

[bitman]

safety line, life jacket etc

if it's a boat from the Hamble Sailing School then is't a MCA coded boat so all safety gear is aboard (you might suspect!) so you only will need to bring those things mentioned here in this thread, warm clothes etc.

seasick tabled's?

 

[tokenjam]

Thanks to all who advised, very welcome and valuable.
The only thing I already had was the headlight, a brilliant purchase for Le Mans.
I have been with Hamble before and found them excellent and did suspect they would provide safety gear (they did before) but all the other stuff were great recomends so thanks guys

 

[ChiPete]

As a number of posters have said, you need a torch.

I heartily recommend a Petzl e+Lite. Thery're cracking little lights (Ignore the spiel about it being an emergency light, it's a prefectly good working lamp). There are a number of light settings including white, dim white and most importantly for night sailing - red. You really don't want to use ANY white light at night for any reason apart from an emergency; you'll be amazed how long it takes to get your night vision back.

The light output is amazing in both colours, the torch is small enough to be in your pocket unnoticed or even on your head!

You can get them at Cotswold Outdoor for £28.

Have a great trip.
Cheers,
Pete

 

[tokenjam]

Thanks Pete,
I have aheadlight which has a red setting and seems to work well, it'll probably do for this trip but I'll certainly take your recomend when I upgrade.
BTW I am both drunk and ugly - is there any hope

 

[Ruffles]

Good book.
Travel Scrabble.

 

[Sailfree]

X channel

Everyone needs to make their own decision about safety gear.

Most wear lifejackets.

If you accept the need to wear a lifejacket you are assuming that you may find yourself in the water at some time.

For most the thinking stops there.

If you find yourself in the water I suggest you think of how people are then going to find you!

Having lost 2 spinnaker poles from dinghys (until I leant how to fix them on better) in daylight and being able to see one frequently for some 15 min but being unable to see it close enough to pick it up I think the wearing of lifejackets just prolongs your death if you have no means of being found.

Read MAIB reports especially the Ouzo fatalities.

Hamble have fully charter coded boats (I was the original owner of Classic Dream a Dufour 36 some while ago) with all the safety gear on board but it will not have what I consider to be personal safety gear.

My decision initially was to always have a small torch in my waterproof salopettes and a pack of 10 minifares. At first being a new inexperieced skipper I used to insist on all the crew being so equipped before coming X channel. I must confess that I now leave others to make up their own mind but try to lead by example. Both torches and minflares are relatively inexpensive.

After the Ouzo incident I added a waterproof handheld VHF and when the boat EPIRB batteries passed their safe date I replaced it with a personal EPIRB with GPS that is permenently attached on my lifejacket (so if you go overboard make sure you pull me over with you!!).

I hope for everyone that buys these products they are a total waste of money but I respectfully advocate that wearing a lifejacket is a waste if you cannot be found hence I would recommend at least the torch and minflares.

I would also endorse others comments about warm clothing. Cold can creep up on everyone and adversly affects decision making so keeping warm must be an overiding priority.

Hope you get as much pleasure out of your 1st X channel as we did (on Classic Dream - then called Janes Buoy) some 11 yrs ago

 

[ChiPete]

Tokenjam, only a pleasure!

Probably best to be just ugly when you do your crossing though - save the drunk for when you get there (I'm sure French Stella is more lethal than the UK brew)!!

 

[gjbentley]

Take lots of Euros with you. Do not use ATM's for cash.

 

[tokenjam]

And still the good ideas come in, I've got years of knowledge behind me now, I'm sure this will make the voyage more enjoyable than it would have been.
Thanks sailfree, the flare idea was something I hadn't considered,
The money aspect I hadn't got to but 'may have' eventually but it's on my checklist now so ta GJB

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

And still the good ideas come in, I've got years of knowledge behind me now, I'm sure this will make the voyage more enjoyable than it would have been.
Thanks sailfree, the flare idea was something I hadn't considered,
The money aspect I hadn't got to but 'may have' eventually but it's on my checklist now so ta GJB

*Post Offices in towns usually o.k. for Euros.
*If you'r off watch at any time get some sleep.
*If you are prone to seasickness it could be worse at night without an all round view of the horizon. My wife now has a prescription for patches worn behind the ear.... 'Scopoderm' which have been a Godsend.
*if low wind is forcast make doubly sure the diesel tanks are full and all engine checks have been made, don't rely on others. i.e. belt tension, oil levels, sealed water cooling level.
Take a torch as well as the personal safety gear. Call in your voyage plan confirming CG66 to CG (do a CG66 on line if not yet done)
Take a kitchen timer with you and make sure an all round check is done at least every 15 minutes... e.g. visual look out, check AIS, radar, and all boat 'health' insruments... voltmeters, etc...
Keep a log........ I would recommend every 30 minutes taking it in turns to write up, as it gives a set purpose to the crew through a long passage.
Don't annoy others by being overexcited and 'gobby',
remember to be safe and that it's meant to be fun.

 

[Sailfree]

And still the good ideas come in, I've got years of knowledge behind me now, I'm sure this will make the voyage more enjoyable than it would have been.
Thanks sailfree, the flare idea was something I hadn't considered,
The money aspect I hadn't got to but 'may have' eventually but it's on my checklist now so ta GJB

Do come back and post about your experiences. We can all learn from a fresh pair of eyes especially what is the most relevant points to brief newbes on wrt X channel.

The mini flares are a small pack of 10 red parachute flares. I add a piece of cord to both the pack (so that I could put it round my neck if in the water) and another to connect the small firing handle to the pack. If you ever needed them your hands may be freezing and fumbling. IIRC they cost about £35.