Falmouth to L'Aberwrach timings

[sadlerbob]

Attempting my first crossing of the channel from Falmouth to l'Aberwrach soon early next month by myself and my wife. Best time to leave and arrive in an unfamiliar port? I'll be sailing myself as my wife isn't a confident sailor but a very good boatman/person/woman.
I estimate the 90miles at an average 5kts.

Bob

 

[GrahamM376]

Attempting my first crossing of the channel from Falmouth to l'Aberwrach soon early next month by myself and my wife. Best time to leave and arrive in an unfamiliar port? I'll be sailing myself as my wife isn't a confident sailor but a very good boatman/person/woman.
I estimate the 90miles at an average 5kts.

Bob

l'Aberwrach has a narrow and rocky entrance which is nasty in an onshore blow and tricky at night so would suggest daylight entry first time there. Plan to arrive an hour or two before HW and if the weather has kicked up, you can always head west a bit and do the DuFour down to Camaret.

 

[jerrytug]

l'Aberwrach has a narrow and rocky entrance which is nasty in an onshore blow and tricky at night so would suggest daylight entry first time there. Plan to arrive an hour or two before HW and if the weather has kicked up, you can always head west a bit and do the DuFour down to Camaret.

Graham I totally agree with your first sentence, but may I politely disagree that if it's too rough to enter L'Aber, then the Chenal du Four would be a good idea for first time channel crossers, after a 100 mile run?

 

[GrahamM376]

Graham I totally agree with your first sentence, but may I politely disagree that if it's too rough to enter L'Aber, then the Chenal du Four would be a good idea for first time channel crossers, after a 100 mile run?

Problem with that bit of coast (we used to do it from Penzance or direct from Conwy) I don't know of easy alternatives and they may be short on sleep. The top of the Dufour is wide and well buoyed and, arriving HW - 1 or 2 gets one well down before the tide turns. I'd rather do the DuFour in a brisk N or N Westerly than l'Aberwrach. Would be interested in learning of any easier/safer options from those, maybe you, who know the area better.

 

[WalshamUK]

I agree with the other poster who suggested going to Camaret, unless you really really want to go to L'Aberwrach. It's easy to whizz through the Chenal du Four on a favourable tide, and the entrance to Camaret is very easy. Big problem in this part of the French coast is fog. Dense fog. I did Falmouth-Camaret last year and had several hours of incredibly thick fog right in the middle of the shipping lanes. No fun. We had radar on the boat, but how do you know the other boats do? We got within 75 metres of a boat showing on the radar and we still couldn't see it, turned out it was a fishing boat trundling backwards/forwards merrily ignoring the fog. I'd never attempt the entrance to L'Aberwrach with fog around, and the fog has nearly always cleared by the time you're through the Chenal du Four.

Hope this helps.

Keith J.

 

[Mrnotming]

Did this crossing from Padstow in April 2014.
The forecast wind doubled due to isobars being squeezed between two systems.Due to having to reef all sail,bar a scrap, and being tossed all over the place,we had to acknowledge we were no longer in charge of ourselves (two up).I'd had a good bang on the head whilst landing on, and squashing the cooker.The chart table got loose from its sliding gear, and fell on the cabin sole.We had AIS intermittantly, and the (wildly swinging)radar worked throughout.Between these two items we were able to ask a vast black blob, a car carrier to please avoid us, as we had little control of our destiny.Cross Corsen were excellent, and advised that our plan to enter the Chenal du Four was off, as the tide had turned and the wind was howling from N.So they proposed l'Aberwrach as the only port we could enter.We were concerned, naturally about the aforementioned rock strewn approaches, especially with onshore winds.It was explained to us that because there are so many rocks, the sea's energy is absorbed, leaving the channel passable.We were at lowest ebb and although capable of progress, we felt that to avoid becoming a casualty we would ask for the (proffered) lifeboat to be launched, to guide us in.So this is what transpired, and the eight guys on the lifeboat were charming and sympathetic, and the bill of €350 was considered fair,and we added a bit to this for the hassle we had caused.So with due respect to the various opinions, it all depends on what the weather throws at the yacht in question, and the number of stalwarts onboard.A crew of four would have been under pressure in this passage, and two were overwhelmed by the ferocity of the seas encountered.The weather this year is still very unsettled,so please get a decent weather window if short crewed.

 

[sadlerbob]

Did this crossing from Padstow in April 2014.
The forecast wind doubled due to isobars being squeezed between two systems.Due to having to reef all sail,bar a scrap, and being tossed all over the place,we had to acknowledge we were no longer in charge of ourselves (two up).I'd had a good bang on the head whilst landing on, and squashing the cooker.The chart table got loose from its sliding gear, and fell on the cabin sole.We had AIS intermittantly, and the (wildly swinging)radar worked throughout.Between these two items we were able to ask a vast black blob, a car carrier to please avoid us, as we had little control of our destiny.Cross Corsen were excellent, and advised that our plan to enter the Chenal du Four was off, as the tide had turned and the wind was howling from N.So they proposed l'Aberwrach as the only port we could enter.We were concerned, naturally about the aforementioned rock strewn approaches, especially with onshore winds.It was explained to us that because there are so many rocks, the sea's energy is absorbed, leaving the channel passable.We were at lowest ebb and although capable of progress, we felt that to avoid becoming a casualty we would ask for the (proffered) lifeboat to be launched, to guide us in.So this is what transpired, and the eight guys on the lifeboat were charming and sympathetic, and the bill of €350 was considered fair,and we added a bit to this for the hassle we had caused.So with due respect to the various opinions, it all depends on what the weather throws at the yacht in question, and the number of stalwarts onboard.A crew of four would have been under pressure in this passage, and two were overwhelmed by the ferocity of the seas encountered.The weather this year is still very unsettled,so please get a decent weather window if short crewed.[/QUOTE


What month was the passage?

 

[guernseyman]

I'd repeat WalshamUK's warning of fog. The nose of Brittany is where warm moist air from South Brittany often meets cooler air and turns into fog.
So keep your eye on the forecast before setting out, and listen out on VHF for the Jersey forecast (for the Bay of St Malo) in English and the Breton stations round the coast, making sure you have some fog proof waypoints. All the stations announce on Channel 16.

From Roscoff to L'Aberwrac'h there are no safe havens, so in the event of a fog warning it might be best not to start on that stretch.

 

[Sybarite]

I agree with the other poster who suggested going to Camaret, unless you really really want to go to L'Aberwrach. It's easy to whizz through the Chenal du Four on a favourable tide, and the entrance to Camaret is very easy. Big problem in this part of the French coast is fog. Dense fog. I did Falmouth-Camaret last year and had several hours of incredibly thick fog right in the middle of the shipping lanes. No fun. We had radar on the boat, but how do you know the other boats do? We got within 75 metres of a boat showing on the radar and we still couldn't see it, turned out it was a fishing boat trundling backwards/forwards merrily ignoring the fog. I'd never attempt the entrance to L'Aberwrach with fog around, and the fog has nearly always cleared by the time you're through the Chenal du Four.

Hope this helps.

Keith J.

I had the same except I didn't have radar (returning from Scilly). I could hear the boats around me but I couldn't see them - except for one which loomed up very close having first deafened us with its horn.

 

[LadyInBed]

Do you really want to go to L'Aberwrach, there isn't much there! Or is it just a rest stop off place?
If the latter, go on up the river a bit past L'Aberwrach and pick up a buoy, much more peaceful and a lot cheaper
If not totally shagged and you get the timing right, carry on down to Cameret.
All the above assumes weather that you are comfortable with.

 

[doug748]

If you set off after local HW you will get a boost down Falmouth Bay. I would get going after a good sleep and late breakfast, midday is not too soon. You will then have the first half of the journey to settle and clear the shipping for Lands End. The middle of the route is normally quiet of ships and the short night will be over before you meet the main shipping track for Ushant, in the last third. You will also have daylight for L'Aberwrach which is a top thing, as already mentioned.

You always feel the benefit of any swell in that corner and it can be disconcerting but entry to the port is generally always possible - as paulclan has pointed out, things calm down as you get inside the protecting rocks. It looks iffy on the chart but in fact the fairway is large and open. I am sure you have a chart plotter. Take care if visibility closes down but, with care, you will be fine

It is a quiet place but has most of the things you would want within striking distance and there are some fine beaches and coastal walks. Given your passage time you would probably get you to the head of the Four too late anyway but in any case I would say L'aberwrach is well worth seeing in it's own right. Being shorthanded it is the perfect place to rest and regroup.

 

[ribrage]

Unless you can "Guarentee" your boat speed and avoid any unforeseen circumstances like fog it's better to stay offshore and head for Camaret which is easier any ways. We went outside of everything and night entered Camaret which is fairly easy but visitors tucked into a poorly lit marina when we were there.

 

[sadlerbob]

L'Aberwrach was more of a rest harbour before heading down to cameret and then into brest.
I am thinking of setting off from falmouth at midnight so only the first 5hrs at night the rest daytime?

 

[jimbaerselman]

If you set off after local HW you will get a boost down Falmouth Bay. I would get going after a good sleep and late breakfast, midday is not too soon. You will then have the first half of the journey to settle and clear the shipping for Lands End. The middle of the route is normally quiet of ships and the short night will be over before you meet the main shipping track for Ushant, in the last third. You will also have daylight for L'Aberwrach which is a top thing, as already mentioned.

You always feel the benefit of any swell in that corner and it can be disconcerting but entry to the port is generally always possible - as paulclan has pointed out, things calm down as you get inside the protecting rocks. It looks iffy on the chart but in fact the fairway is large and open. I am sure you have a chart plotter. Take care if visibility closes down but, with care, you will be fine

It is a quiet place but has most of the things you would want within striking distance and there are some fine beaches and coastal walks. Given your passage time you would probably get you to the head of the Four too late anyway but in any case I would say L'aberwrach is well worth seeing in it's own right. Being shorthanded it is the perfect place to rest and regroup.

+1

Very good description. Narrowest part of main channel is 200m, easy in bad vis with GPS, waypoints and track error indication. Doddle with chart plotter. Once inside Trepied, offlying rocks kill any swell, but the surf it raises on the rocks can look very daunting!

 

[Mrnotming]

Attempting my first crossing of the channel from Falmouth to l'Aberwrach soon early next month by myself and my wife. Best time to leave and arrive in an unfamiliar port? I'll be sailing myself as my wife isn't a confident sailor but a very good boatman/person/woman.
I estimate the 90miles at an average 5kts.

Bob

Hi again Bob,
Just wondering if you could persuade 2 experienced friends to crew on your Falmouth /France crossing?You could make Roscoff your landfall,
and the two pals could use the ferry connections to Plymouth.
I've also used this system in the past, and wished I'd had last time!
We used Brest as the destination in a previous passage, sailing outside everything, anchoring in Baie de Lampoul, west side of Ouessant,which got a bit lumpy at High Water.
We left Lampoul at night as we were well crewed.A good searchlight proved useful, as we had to locate the unlit Pierres Noires South Cardinal which did not then have a light sequence.I do not know if it is still unlit or not?
We could not begin our turn in ESE until this had been found.In the event we just managed to pick it out a mile off our port beam.Big sigh of relief and the rest was easy.
Coming into Camaret there were many pot buoys,so we took our time as it was still dark.
I would not like to put you off your plans Bob, just thinking aloud really.Do you have a strong underdeck Autopilot?I find the 4000+ I used to have was inadequate in rough weather, and a person on the helm was better,hence the need for 4 crew.

 

[AIDY]

My first channel crossing was Falmouth to l'ab. Was on a 38 foot yacht managed it in daylight leaving at the crack of dawn and arriving just before dark. Took us about 16 hours, with just me and swmbo onboard both arrived knackered. Pilotage wasn't ideal on arrival with the dogleg in. Made sure we made 6 knots boat speed.

Roscoff is a safer option... You could always pick a buoy up off ill de batz.

 

[WalshamUK]

We started out from Falmouth with visibility predicted as being perfect. We ended up in some of the worst fog that I have ever been in from about 3am through to an hour or so after dawn. When the fog boiled off.

 

[stiknstring]

We started out from Falmouth with visibility predicted as being perfect. We ended up in some of the worst fog that I have ever been in from about 3am through to an hour or so after dawn. When the fog boiled off.

Plymouth/Dartmouth to L'aberwrach was a regular route for me up to two years ago and I would echo most of the statements made here - daylight approach definitely preferred. Provided you can visualise the approach and not confuse the two cardinals at the entrance, the approach is not too bad, however, I would argue that missing out L'Aberwarch for Cameret via the Chenal du four is not necessarily the easy option. It is a complicated series of dog legs down the chenal often with a strong current under you. I would not want to head in to the current. In fog, the chenal can be really uncomfortable. There is often contrary traffic from fishing boats and as I said, the route is not straightforward. At the end of a long day and having missed the entrance to L'aberwrach (or having decided not to approach), a foggy passage through the chenal is not to be trifled with. Going around will add considerable distance off Ushant but in good weather (you shouldn't think of setting off for this part of France without a steady forecast) it is not a bad option. However Cameret is a doddle to get into and in good weather, the right chart planning and with the tide timed correctly, the Chenal is a good challenge

At the end of the day, you need to get as many of the variables on your side as possible - weather, time of day of the approach and crew rest/condition.

It might sound daunting but with a lot of planning and awareness, it is eminently do-able. The comments about L'aberwarch are interesting. The town at the top of the hill is pretty quiet but there are good restaurants near the marina and as someone said, going up the river reveals a really charming inlet with an excellent restaurant at the top. You will certainly get great weather protection there too.

 

[fergie_mac66]

We were glad we got stuck in L'Aberwrach as we enjoyed our stay account here +photos

http://cardiffyachtclub.proboards.com/thread/1851/lord-lady-fergiemac-brittany

 

[KevO]

So what was the answer to the OP's question? We're banning to hop over on or about 21 June and try to be in place for the tide down the CDF and on to Cameret. HW Fal is 0903. Working on a 4kn average passage speed. I have had it suggested that slipping Fal at HW-1 is the way to go but we haven't started doing detailed planning yet... What do regular hoppers do from Falmouth?