jcwads
Well-Known Member
Cruising Report - Hamble to Guernsey.
So it’s been an adventurous few days as I have successfully completed my first channel crossing with my Targa 40.
Just wanted to write up a report for the benefit of any others looking to do a similar route, or just if you want a read.
Set off early doors on Thursday morning. Low visibility was on the cards all the way but I had a force 2/3 predicted, so I took the opportunity and went for it.
Departure was at Dover high water. We would meet a foul tide off the Casquets and into Little Russell but the wind was Southerly /SE so it all worked together.
A few lumps and bumps as we transited past Hurst and the Needles Channel. I then turned her south on a bearing to take me 2.5 NM West of the Casquets.
Visibility was pretty poor at his stage. Once we got a further couple of miles out we hit a wall of fog / mist. It was quite eerie, with the sea like a mill pond with only a hundred or so feet of visibility... I had my AIS along with Radar. Two of my crew were also helping keep a solid watch.
All pretty uneventful for the first hour. Halfway into the channel and heavy rain accompanied the poor visibility... wet weather gear on and the SWIMBO was straight down into the cabin to keep warm! The AIS gave me a solid fix as we began to see the traffic appear on screen. I changed course a couple of times to avoid playing chicken with some rather large tankers!
It was a reassuring sight to see the Casquets to my port, knowing the channel was done. Course then set us to the entrance of Little Russell.
I had timed the crossing to bring us round the Casquets and into Little Russell on the slowest going stream possible. It was springs and Little Russell can push over 5 knots and I didn’t want to risk any turbulence! It all worked perfectly as the conditions were nice and calm and to top it off the weather lifted and warmed up nicely.
Pulling into St Peter Port was elating. Such an achievement to do the first crossing and to have all the planning work as it should.
We decided to stay on the walk ashore pontoons for ease. Very convenient, although the swell does pick up and you don’t get much respite as you would in the marina.
We ate at Le Nautique on the harbour side. One of the best meals I’ve had. Fresh seafood and outstanding quality. Things soon got very merry indeed. Perhaps too merry as the fateful Targa 40 stairs finally managed to show me just how steep and small they are and I took a tumble... still can’t sit down properly now! Lesson learned.
We had a trip to Herm on a beautiful afternoon. It totally reminded me of the Isles of Scilly. I will return there. I also got to meet a fellow T40 owner who had theirs beached on Herm with legs. It’s got me thinking of the possibilities that could provide.
Crossing back was less rainy but the vis was terrible once again. Wind and tide was in our favour so we surfed nicely. Bit more chop on the way home but it was only a F3/4.
Needles was completely fog banked. Next to zero vis, so all eyes were on watch and I kept a solid look out on AIS and Radar. Then all of a sudden as we passed Colwell Bay, it all lifted and left us with a glorious sunny afternoon.
We decided to finish off the trip by taking a mooring buoy at Newtown. A BBQ and few beers later and this turned into a memorable and unforgettable cruise. We were very lucky with the weather, had the great company of a couple of good friends and achieved a good adventure. The boat behaved all the way and cruised the passages with ease.
Back to Hamble this morning and back to reality tomorrow.
Same again next year methinks!
So it’s been an adventurous few days as I have successfully completed my first channel crossing with my Targa 40.
Just wanted to write up a report for the benefit of any others looking to do a similar route, or just if you want a read.
Set off early doors on Thursday morning. Low visibility was on the cards all the way but I had a force 2/3 predicted, so I took the opportunity and went for it.
Departure was at Dover high water. We would meet a foul tide off the Casquets and into Little Russell but the wind was Southerly /SE so it all worked together.
A few lumps and bumps as we transited past Hurst and the Needles Channel. I then turned her south on a bearing to take me 2.5 NM West of the Casquets.
Visibility was pretty poor at his stage. Once we got a further couple of miles out we hit a wall of fog / mist. It was quite eerie, with the sea like a mill pond with only a hundred or so feet of visibility... I had my AIS along with Radar. Two of my crew were also helping keep a solid watch.
All pretty uneventful for the first hour. Halfway into the channel and heavy rain accompanied the poor visibility... wet weather gear on and the SWIMBO was straight down into the cabin to keep warm! The AIS gave me a solid fix as we began to see the traffic appear on screen. I changed course a couple of times to avoid playing chicken with some rather large tankers!
It was a reassuring sight to see the Casquets to my port, knowing the channel was done. Course then set us to the entrance of Little Russell.
I had timed the crossing to bring us round the Casquets and into Little Russell on the slowest going stream possible. It was springs and Little Russell can push over 5 knots and I didn’t want to risk any turbulence! It all worked perfectly as the conditions were nice and calm and to top it off the weather lifted and warmed up nicely.
Pulling into St Peter Port was elating. Such an achievement to do the first crossing and to have all the planning work as it should.
We decided to stay on the walk ashore pontoons for ease. Very convenient, although the swell does pick up and you don’t get much respite as you would in the marina.
We ate at Le Nautique on the harbour side. One of the best meals I’ve had. Fresh seafood and outstanding quality. Things soon got very merry indeed. Perhaps too merry as the fateful Targa 40 stairs finally managed to show me just how steep and small they are and I took a tumble... still can’t sit down properly now! Lesson learned.
We had a trip to Herm on a beautiful afternoon. It totally reminded me of the Isles of Scilly. I will return there. I also got to meet a fellow T40 owner who had theirs beached on Herm with legs. It’s got me thinking of the possibilities that could provide.
Crossing back was less rainy but the vis was terrible once again. Wind and tide was in our favour so we surfed nicely. Bit more chop on the way home but it was only a F3/4.
Needles was completely fog banked. Next to zero vis, so all eyes were on watch and I kept a solid look out on AIS and Radar. Then all of a sudden as we passed Colwell Bay, it all lifted and left us with a glorious sunny afternoon.
We decided to finish off the trip by taking a mooring buoy at Newtown. A BBQ and few beers later and this turned into a memorable and unforgettable cruise. We were very lucky with the weather, had the great company of a couple of good friends and achieved a good adventure. The boat behaved all the way and cruised the passages with ease.
Back to Hamble this morning and back to reality tomorrow.
Same again next year methinks!
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