Crossing to France

[derekgillard]

I am about to embark on my first crossing to France as skipper, I am planning to visit St Vaast in July problem is the tides.

Sailing on a 29ft yacht from Portsmouth I expect the journey to take 15- 20 hours (eg average 4 knots). On the day I intend to arrive the lock gates open at 22.49 local time , so allowing my min 15 hours I should leave UK at around 0700 to arrive at open time, this will give me up to 21 hours before the gates shut. It will however mean arriving in a new harbour in the dark, the alternative is to arrive around 10.00 the following morning which means crossing the shipping lanes in the dark.

Whats worse arriving in the dark at a new harbour or crossing the shipping lanes in the dark?

Also does anyone know what provisions there are if I arrive too early are there holding pontoons or some where to anchor.

Thanks in advance

Del Buoy.

 

[billmacfarlane]

What a lot to try and answer . Firstly Derek are you sure of the speed you can make in your boat ? Four knots seems very conservative for a 29' boat. Secondly, please don't take this the wrong way but you don't sound very confident about the trip. If your the skipper you have to face the possibility of both crossing the shipping lanes in the dark , not as bad as you would think , and entering a strange harbour in the dark both of which could happen on your trip. If it's your first trip as skipper why not go to Cherbourg which has 24 hour access and you can do the whole trip in daylight ? It's only a short day sail to St Vaast from there which you can do in daylight either on the next day or the day after.
St Vaast has an area outside you can anchor in to wait for the lock gates to open , it's sheltered from anything except a wind with an easterly slant and is actually a very pleasant anchorage. If you leave at first light you can complete the passage in daylight , anchor off and wait for the gates to open. You'll know when that happens as the lock is floodlit at night. I don't have my charts at home but I think there is a sectored light leading to St Vaast but if you're approaching after dark under motor beware of pot markers as the area is stiff with them . Good luck with the trip and I hope it goes well.

 

[DaiBach]

Having just returned from my 10th crossing I would suggest that you take the easy option of a run into Cherbourg which is open at all tides.
Then having dealt with the cross-channel tensions use the next day to run around the Contentin peninsula on the flood tide.

 

[Skyva_2]

If I read your timing correctly you have 6 hours before the gates shut on July 13/14, which should be fine.

We crossed last weekend in a 29 footer from Chichester to St Vaast, it took 21 hours out and 15 hours back. The lanes were OK but a 500 metre tow of an oil rig exercised our recognition skills. Night crossings may be fine for you but much more stressful for the crew if they have not done it before. The seas on the return were very bad in a Force 4-5 on the beam, 50% of us were very seasick, and the rest were very quiet!

As Bill says Cherbourg would be easier, though the entry is rather more difficult at night. St Vaast is an easy entry by day but with the gates closed you would have to anchor north or south of the entry line, no pontoons outside. Lots of lobster pots around. Look out for fishing boats leaving as the gates open. At night its less easy as you round the seawall, find the lock entry which is quite narrow and then you are looking for a pontoon in the dark.

However both St V and Cherbourg are well marked and if you plan carefully the lights are good.

On balance I would arrive by day. Have a good passage.

Keith

 

[ccscott49]

I think, I would listen to Bill McFarlane on this, a very sensible opinion, also diplomatically put.

 

[JamesS]

I agree with the sentiments above.

If this is your first trip, make it easy for yourself and your crew.

Make your destination Cherbourg - easy access, 24 hrs a day and you can't miss it.

Do your first voyage by day, I generally like to be at Bembridge or the Needles by 0500 hrs. This will place less wear and tear on you and your crew and you will arrive at a reasonable hour in Cherbourg.

Aim to make it a 12 hour crossing by averaging 6kts or so, there is no disgrace in hoisting the Volvo if conditions dictate. Again its easier on you and the crew.

Once rested in Cherbourg you will then have the delight of a tide assisted passage round to St Vaast.

Good luck - enjoy your passage.

 

[tony_brighton]

I agree with Bill - put into Cherbourg first then its a couple of hours round the corner to St Vaast which you can time much more accurately.

St Vaast dries on the approach and there are no mooring buoys off; you would have to anchor. I can't recommend approaching at night at all - far too many lobster pots even if you get the nav right. For visual reference - you can tell when the lock opens (and hence has water all the way in) by the rush of fishing boats leaving harbour.

Having said that - St Vaast is a great destination, very friendly and easy.

 

[Viking]

I agree with everyone so far. My first trip across was to Cherbourg, easy access, rested then planned a dayight run round to St Vaast.

I away had my engine running acrossing the shipping lanes if the wind would not keep me at 5-5.5 kts.

You'll enjoy the adventure.

Good Luck

 

[robp]

As with everyone else here, daylight crossing to Cherbourg is best as a first. To answer your specific question; <"Whats worse arriving in the dark at a new harbour or crossing the shipping lanes in the dark?> Everything mid Channel that's dangerous is lit, (barring the odd container). St Vaast is tricky with the pot bouys.

 

[LadyInBed]

I've done lots of x-channel trips to Cherbourg and the CI's (just got back from Cherbourg and St PP yesterday) but did my first trip to St Vaast at the start of May. As has been suggested I also opted to go to Cherbourg first, as it makes the timing for St Vaast so much easier. Leave Cherbourg pontoon at local LW (HW Dover +3:15).

As for the day or night trip across, there are pros and cons for both.

Night
For: Easy to see when a ship that you think is heading for you is heading behind you (nav light changes from R to G or G to R). If you continue to see R and G you are in trouble!!!
Harbour entrance lights make the entrance easy to identify.
A clear night sky is a wonderful sight.

Against: Can't see pot buoys.
Crew can be tired if they have been up all the previous day to the trip.
Arrival at dawn is difficult, even more so if tired.
Spend all morning sleeping. As skipper on your first few trips you won’t sleep!

Day
For: Just like any full day of sailing, easy to see the size of any passing ship. (That might be a con).
Navigating at the chart table is easier by daylight.
Foredeck activity easier and safer. (Crew have to be well practised to work in the dark).
Arrival at dusk, you get the advantage of the Harbour entrance lights as well as seeing the features.
Arrive in time for a night out on the town.

Against: Difficult to judge a ships heading.

In general I have found that anything up to about 65 degrees off your heading will pass in front. Anything greater than 80 degrees off your heading will pass astern. It's the ones between 65 and 80 that you have to watch. (Much easier with radar).

If you haven't already, see St Vaast web site
http://www.saint-vaast-reville.com/pages_uk/cartes.htm

 

[derekgillard]

Thank you all for your reply's and I agree Bill was very diplomatic, I will take the advice and go for Cherbourg leaving Portsmouth just before dawn.

Del Buoy

 

[VMALLOWS]

One further idea: I now make a point of stopping overnight somewhere like Swanage bay on the way going, then making an early start from there. This cuts the cross channel bit down by 3 hours or so compared with a direct departure from Emsworth and certainly makes for a less tiring trip.