Cross Channel

[Zhivili]

I intend a Channel Crossing in June from Portsmouth to one of the north French Ports. I would appreciate advice. Many crossing the channel seem to go overnight. Is this best ? I think that I would prefer to leave in the very early hours to make an arrival in mid afternoon. What is the best approach?

 

[vyv_cox]

The overnight suggestion is made with the intention of arriving at dawn, so you can see lights when offshore but arrive in daylight. Preferable to arriving in a new place in the dark. If you head for Cherbourg, usually the first port of call on your first crossing, you will appreciate some daylight as it can be quite difficult to find your way around this large, brightly lit port for the first time.

In June it doesn't make a lot of difference as you will only have a few hours of darkness, given reasonable weather. Nothing wrong with your early morning start plan if you are familiar with your home waters in darkness.

 

[rogerroger]

I've left Cherbourg in the dark and looked back wondering how on earth anyone can possibly pick out the nav lights against the thousands of town lights.

My first crossing was in March a few years ago - left Portsmouth about 5:30 AM and got to Cherbourg with about an hour's light to spare at 6 PM. This gets you there in time for dinner and large p*ss up...



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[jamesjermain]

The sail overnight, make landfall just before dawn and close the land in first light, plan comes from the days before GPS when lighthouses culd be picked up and identified a lot sooner than the rather featureless (from a distance) Normandy and Brittany coasts.

In these days of GPS, most people prefer to avoid night passage and do as you suggest. It is quite possible to do the whole crossing in daylight in June.

The only thing I would add is, if you are going to use GPS for navigation, don't simply set the boat to head for a waypoint off Cherbourg and switch on the autopilot. Do a proper passage plan, taking into consideration the fact that the tide will sweep you down or up Channel and then back again and probably alittle further the other way. In allowing for the offset, make sure you arrive off Cherbourg on the up-tide, not down-tide side

JJ

 

[billmacfarlane]

Since your leaving from a deep water port Portsmouth , and probably heading for another one , Cherbourg , you don't have to worry about tidal gates , and I'd go for a day time passage. Crossing at night in pre Decca/GPS days gave you the chance to take bearings from lights like the Barfleur before dawn , but I assume you've got GPS , and of course can navigate without it. If you did a night passage it would also mean crossing the shipping lanes in the dark which can sometimes be eventful. If you leave at first light and reckon on an average speed of 5 knots , you'll be there in time for a moule frite and a bottle of red.

 

[ranga]

I normally sail across at night, mainly because I want to get a France trip in over a weekend. Leaving around 8pm on a Friday night after work means we get a lovely night sail across the channel, have all Saturday and Saturday night in France and then make our way back during the day on Sunday.

By Monday you certainly know that you've had a full weekend without missing a day of work!

 

[Guest]

Brought up in the old school as well. If sailing for unknown shores from offshore for the first time, it became a habit to arrive before dawn to catch the lighthouses along the coast, before day light. Plot your fix and enter your chosen harbour or refuge at your leisure. Up tide side is important, or you'll spend the rest of the day, at least going nowhere!

 

[tony_brighton]

As a first crossing I'd suggest going in daylight. It depends how long you have - as stated, if its a short weekend then Friday overnight is usual. If you have longer then do a daylight sail. To an extent it also depends on how many experienced crew you have - overnighting can be hard if soloing cos you'll probably want a sleep.

Cherbourg is much easier during the day - the lights can be very confusing after dark.

Personally I think the shipping channels are easier in day light - easier to judge distance off.

 

[LadyInBed]

I used to do night crossings, but now go for a day crossing if time allows.
After a short / single handed night crossing I was knackered the next day and not up for a good night out that night either. If you are three up or more and can set three watches, you can get adiquate sleep, so a night at sea is no problem.
The good thing about crossing the shipping lanes at night (without radar) is that its easy to tell when a ship is going to pass ahead or astern by what lights you can see. In daylight, its very difficult to see if its bow & port or bow & starboard you are looking at. I reckon that a ship up to 50 degrees off the COG will pass ahead. The next 25 degrees are the problem area, anything over 75 degrees will pass astern. NOTE this is only rule of thumb, NOT gospel.

 

[ottie]

Your departure time depends on how long you expect the crossing to take. What is the speed you use for passage planning and what is the distance to your chosen destination. It is generally easier to arrive in daylight but darkness has advantages when some miles off as lights can be used to pin point your position and lights can be seen from considerably further. There is also something quite special about night sailing. Personally I would always opt for an overnight crossing.

 

[cgull]

I am going to Honfleur(weather permitting) around 03 June and am thinking early start from Portsmouth and therefore night approach ..... from aan earlier thread on this forum I gather it could be poor on visibility at Honfleur.

Distance is about 100 miles and best arrive at LW so I am told....

 

[Viking]

I agreed with Bill. Cherbourg would be an easier landfall for your first crossing. Keep a watch for the cross channel ferries coming up your stern! I prefer night crossings. But maybe a daytime crossing would be best first time, arriving with daylight to spare! and Bill - white wine with the moules, say a cool bottle of Chablis?

 

[JamesS]

I agree with James - do a proper passage plan it will save you miles rather than following the course dictated by the GPS.

If you a plotting your position on the chart every hour or half hour don't be surprised to find the tide has dragged you several miles off your straight line between the IOW and Cherbourg - once the tide swings you will be dgragged back onto the planned course.

One of the joys of sailing from say Bembridge Ledge to Cherbourg is that it is a 12 hour (one full tide) crossing so generally speaking the course dictated by a straight line on the chart is the course you sail!! - but do confirm this will your passage plan first.

With regard to timing - why go overnight when everyone is tired? I usually plan to leave Langstone so that I'm off Bembridge Ledge for 0500 which will put me in Cherbourg for about 1700 - 1800 local time, in time for dinner.

Enjoy your passage.

Cheers

 

[billmacfarlane]

I drink red wine with most food - mind you I think I could manage a Chablis.

 

[tcm]

Re: Cross Channel wine

oh surely not, sir! Shellfish requires a sauvignon blanc. May i recommend a Sancerre?

 

[zefender]

Re: As simple as...

ABC - Anything But Chardonnay!
...personally, I think a decent Alsace would do the job just fine.

 

[tcm]

Re: Agreed!

also think cherbourg a bit hopeless, like everyone zooming to Dover. If possible, St Vaast should be first stop, and Deauville shd not be missed: Ciro's on the beachfront is one of the nicest lunch places on the french coast, imho, and perhaps THE best restaurant which does not have a road bettween you and the sea.

 

[Gunfleet]

Lots of very good advice has been offered. I have just one nugget to add. Last year at the end of June I crossed to Cherbourg. I did all the usual passage plans, allowing for tide, collected weather reports, the lot. We don't have radar and fog was not predicted. Needless to say, right in the middle of the shipping lanes it came down (or more likely up) and lasted all night, with visibility I would think under 50 metres the whole way (but hey! what do I know? I couldn't see). By this stage heading back was as bad as going on, so we went on. All we could do was plug on and hope all the big ship skippers were watching their radar. We certainly heard their engines and felt their wash. We found Cherbourg at dawn by GPS and the corne de brume on the pier honking. The GPS took us right to the middle of the western entrance with stunning accuracy. I was so relieved when we got on the berth I felt like crying! Never again. For the future it's Calais/Dover for me, at least until I get a radar. Good luck
John

 

[rogerroger]

Re: Cross Channel - fog

Had a similar experience last year coming home from Cherbourg. Of five boats in our party, two, including me turned back after just entering the shipping lanes and deciding it wasn't worth it.

Three got across - one with radar, one without who has subsequently installed one as the skipper described it as the "most scary experience".

The third had a skipper who turned in leaving two novice crew members at the helm, crossing the shipping lanes in 50 m viz.



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[iangrant]

Leaving the boat there and a ferry trip back to Portsmouth for a week can be good fun!!