Crossing La Manche into a southerly wind.

B

BlueSkyNick

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Apr 2003
Messages
11,766
Location
Near a marina, sailing club and pub
Visit site
Been across from Southampton to StVaast and Cherbourg 3 times this year. All the return trips were superb with W/SW 4/5 gusting 6.

Getting there was a different matter. Night crossings with no wind for a lot of the time, ie motoring. On two of these trips the wind picked up in the early hours when we were still 20 ish miles from the other side - but right on the nose. as the tides can be up to 3.5knots E/W around the peninsula, they have to be taken into account.

So you have 3 choices.

Bear off and sail with the tide, with the risk of ending up too far downstream to get back. eg going to StVaast, you can't sail towards Cherbourg.

Beat into the tide, which can be uncomfortable, on the basis that it will bring you back towards your destination.

Motor on a suitable direct heading, as its the quickest way of getting there, especially with novices on board.

What is the recognised wisdom?
 
Not sure about the recognised wisdom, but in those exact circumstances between Ramsgate and Boulogne this year, we motor-sailed to maintain correct track across TSS..... kept the sails up as it helped stabilise the boat a little in a heavy sea.....

Mind you, I guess you miss the TSS on that route, so perhaps I might beat on a single tack for a while to get enough West in my position to be able to free off a bit... depends upon the exact circumstances/sea state/wind direction/Distance-to-go.... or if crew were suffering, then I'd possibly motor.... but my experience is that motoring into a sea and wind is almost as tough on the crew as beating is....
 
The recognised wisdom, for what it's worth, is never plan to arrive down tide of your destination. It can take ages, and it seems even longer at the end of a passage, to motor or sail into the tide off Cherbourg.

Hopefully you can convince your crew the trade off between comfort and time at sea is worth it! But it might be a good test of the skipper's powers of leadership....which leads to another question - is it more difficult to manage the crew or the boat?
 
Fully agree - I always avoid ending up downtide hence the question.

So one can either sail into the tide, eg on a SE heading into a westgoing tide or motor. Of course it all depends on when the tide is going to turn - you can end up down tide on the opposite direction!

i guess the answer is that there is NO simple answer - depends on all the other circumstances at the time.
 
Set a course assuming you will have a Southerly wind for the last 20mls with the aim to tack with the tide for that 20mls. Should mean you initially aim for eitherDieepe or L'Aberwrac'h dependant on tide I reckon. Sod's law if you plan for it -it won't happen!
 
I smiled reading this as we did a Cherbourg return trip last weekend with precisely the opposite conditions. We had 35-40K NNW/NW on the way out with boat speed never dropping below 10K and hitting 14K at one point. But then on the return Saturday night the wind died out and the temperature plummeted to around 6 below!

Fun but cold!

As for course headings - around 10-15 deg allowance for tide in each direction meant we were never more than a couple of miles offtrack and the wind shift close to land allowed us to make that up as we approached.
 
Re: Crossing La Manche into a southerly wind - Go someplace else

Rule No1 - leisure sailors should never fight the weather

If wind goes on the nose change your destination

If Mid Manche en route to say Alderney/Cherbourg and the wind is SW from IofW loads of options using your preplanned diversion ports and ETAs - St V, Carentan, Caen, Dives, Honfleur, Le Harve, Fecamp.

Fecamp is not that many miles further than Cherbourg from the Nab and with F5 SW is a far better sail there and back. I would suggest Fecamp is a better run ashore than Cherbourg anyway.

Brian
 
[ QUOTE ]
we motor-sailed to maintain correct track across TSS.....

[/ QUOTE ]You are supposed to maintain the correct *heading* not track, when crossing a TSS (unless directed to do otherwise by control). So if the lane runs E/W your ship's head should be pointing N/S when crossing even if that results in a track 30 or 40 degrees off. No doubt you knew that but your post wasn't clear and it might confuse less experienced folk.
 
Between Solent & Cherbourg there is no Shipping Channel but the one at Dover and the other at Joborg does "stream " them between these two points I always try to avoid a situation where the collision regs apply but nothing to stop you crossing at a very oblique angle and insisting (if you are sailing) on right of way.
 
[ QUOTE ]
nothing to stop you crossing at a very oblique angle and insisting (if you are sailing) on right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

You could try - yacht vs 20,000-30,000 tons - would be fun to watch.
You're making a lot of assumptions here:
1. There's someone on the bridge
2. They've got VHF on
3. They speak English
4. They see you
5. They know what to do
 
I am sure you did'nt mean Shipping Channel, but are referring to a TSS. If so, you are correct in stating that no TSS exists between the Solent and Cherbourg. However insisting on your "right of way" under sail in front of one never mind 5 large vessels may be a trifle imprudent. If you take the trouble to read your CR at no time does it in fact grant anyone "right of way".
 
My point was nothing to do with one's 'rights'. Simply that the regs require traffic crossing TSSs to do so with a *heading* at right angles to the scheme, not the *track* at right angles. If one does not comply not only is one in contravention of the rules (and could be boarded, they are said to be hot on this around Holland) but far more importantly, one could cause confusion which could be a factor in causing a collision. Since it is easy enough to comply, surely one should do so?

Secondly, my point has nothing to do with whether there is a TSS in any particular place, I was replying to a general point about the rules as it was being suggested that one should adjust one's *track*, not *heading*.
 
Track or heading in TSS

Very important point cos the objective is to cross as quickly as possible and track at right angles in a strong tidal flow may be very slow indeed! The CR refers to heading
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
nothing to stop you crossing at a very oblique angle and insisting (if you are sailing) on right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

You could try - yacht vs 20,000-30,000 tons - would be fun to watch.
You're making a lot of assumptions here:
1. There's someone on the bridge
2. They've got VHF on
3. They speak English
4. They see you
5. They know what to do

[/ QUOTE ]6. They can be bothered
7. They're sober enough to do it

I haven't forgottent the MAIB report on a coaster with the 2nd mate on watch one night. He had a bottle of whisky for company. About half way down the bottle he turned off the bridge alarm and took the bottle to bed.

First anyone knew was when they steamed up Dungness beach at 13kts.

I work on the basis that the captain's Russian, the first mate's German and the rest are Philippinos. Their common language is 20 words of English, at least 8 of which would get my kids a clip round the ear of they used then in the house. The one bloke supposed to be on the bridge has been on duty for 30 of the last 36 hours /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
You seem to have missed the first sentence where I said I avoid a situation where collision regs apply.

The point I was making was going to Cherbourg there is no TSS so track etc is irrelevant just aim to get there asap and as we all agree keep away from the big ones!

Merry Xmas to you all - I'm off skiing to practice collision avoidance at a slightly faster speed - Happy sailing in 2006.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

V
Lead Carbon Batteries - a mistake?
Replies
4
Views
340
Vsalva
V
R
How fast does your boat go under engine?
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
PhillM
P

Share this page

Top