Cruising almanac v Reeds

[Sailfree]

Any opinions of best one for use in 2015 sailing down to possibly N spain.

I have the 2014 version of Reeds on board so wondering whether to alternate with another for 2015.

 

[Sandyman]

Any opinions of best one for use in 2015 sailing down to possibly N spain.

I have the 2014 version of Reeds on board so wondering whether to alternate with another for 2015.

We sailed South in 2012 using a 2007 Reeds. Proved perfectly adequate.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have the CA Almanac and am planning a similar trip (and beyond). It has port info, but frankly I'm more likely to be relying on pilot books. The CA entries are a little vestigial for that part of the world. I haven't seen Reeds for years, so can't compare.

 

[lpdsn]

Any opinions of best one for use in 2015 sailing down to possibly N spain.

I have the 2014 version of Reeds on board so wondering whether to alternate with another for 2015.

I've found inaccuracies and errors in their coverage of Ireland and updates seem to take years to come through. I would be very reluctant to place too much absolute reliance on them outside of the main cruising grounds of the S & E coasts of England. If you do use them towards the edges of their coverage be prepared for some of the data to be out of date. There are most likely pilot books and Spanish websites that are more current and accurate.

 

[oldvarnish]

I've found inaccuracies and errors in their coverage of Ireland

I hope you sent them corrections.

 

[lpdsn]

I hope you sent them corrections.

I didn't realise they were Shareware. Damn, I've been paying 30 odd quid a year for free books.

Where I've volunteered my local knowledge has been on to the web where it is available to all and sundry for free.

 

[LadyInBed]

I prefer Pilots to Almanacs. What info do you want from the Almanac, tides and port info are on your plotter and there is more info about an area in a Pilot.
How far do you intend to go?
RCC's South Biscay pilot covers the coasts of France and Spain from the Gironde to La Coruna in Galicia.
Cruising Galicia - Northwest Spain from Ribadeo to Baiona
Atlantic Spain and Portugal - Galicia to Gib.

 

[Contest1]

Have tried Reeds, Afloat,CA and just bought Irish Cruising Association Southvand West coast Ireland.
I reckon the CA had the best cover but then I only sail Irish East coast, for now.

 

[[3889]]

Any opinions of best one for use in 2015 sailing down to possibly N spain.

I have the 2014 version of Reeds on board so wondering whether to alternate with another for 2015.

Or try Bloc Marine Atlantique, more detailed than Reeds but no longer includes English descriptions. I alternate between this and Reeds each year.

http://nautisme.meteoconsult.fr/bloc-marine/votre-livre-de-bord.php

 

[Sailfree]

Or try Bloc Marine Atlantique, more detailed than Reeds but no longer includes English descriptions. I alternate between this and Reeds each year.

http://nautisme.meteoconsult.fr/bloc-marine/votre-livre-de-bord.php

I always added bloc until they stopped the English descriptions - poor decision IMHO

Anyone know the cheapest source for Reeds or Cruising Amanac? May let price be the deciding factor!

 

[LadyInBed]

I always added bloc until they stopped the English descriptions - poor decision IMHO

Agreed, but not untipical for the French, they seem to think that we should all speak french!

 

[lpdsn]

Anyone know the cheapest source for Reeds or Cruising Amanac? May let price be the deciding factor!

I usually found Amazon the cheapest, but this year I've decided to do without so I don't know if they're still as competitive.

 

[maby]

We tend to alternate - they both come with adequate tide tables. Reeds seems to have a wider range on information, but the CA seems to have better pilotage notes.

 

[jimbaerselman]

We tend to alternate - they both come with adequate tide tables. Reeds seems to have a wider range on information, but the CA seems to have better pilotage notes.

I prefer the CA chartlets, which cover all the important ports (all weather ports) very adequately, especially N Spain and Rias.

For detailed exploring, there's no denying pilot books or full scale charts are very helpful, though I've been embarrassed a couple of times finding that sandbank soundings were very different - Ribadeo and in the river behind Laredo. Oops!

 

[Lucky Duck]

I usually found Amazon the cheapest, but this year I've decided to do without so I don't know if they're still as competitive.

Just had a look and the Channel edition is just over £25. What I don't understand is all the previous year's offerings being marketed at similar amounts and in one case nearer £30.

 

[lpdsn]

Just had a look and the Channel edition is just over £25. What I don't understand is all the previous year's offerings being marketed at similar amounts and in case nearer £30.

I never understood the price of old almanacs on there - maybe there is a market, but you'd expect people who wanted an out of date almanac to offer a couple of quid somewhere like this forum.

I made the mistake of buying the Western Almanac once. Hardly an adequate reduction in price for the smaller wire-bound version. And I thought it petty that they'd invested time and money to remove information on the east coast from the opening generic chapters (e.g. coastguard stations details).

 

[The_man_from_ABBA]

Anyone know the cheapest source for Reeds or Cruising Amanac? May let price be the deciding factor!

Till May we tend to stick to local waters (if not laid up) - buy mid-May you can usually find a Reeds for £20-25

 

[The_man_from_ABBA]

Agreed, but not untipical for the French, they seem to think that we should all speak french!

Hardly a fair comment - there are no French descriptions in Reeds either.

 

[LadyInBed]

Hardly a fair comment - there are no French descriptions in Reeds either.

Mon Due! You have a lot to learn about this forum and me

 

[Sailfree]

Hardly a fair comment - there are no French descriptions in Reeds either.

But Bloc was v good with both French and some English that widen it's appeal to a greater number of prospective buyers.

Blocs chartlets were accurate for navigation and could be used with a yeoman plotter.

French aren't stupid so I expect the production costs of a bi-lingual edition exceeded increased sales profit or did Reeds threaten them with producing a competitive bi lingual edition of reeds or with a cheque!