barryg
Active Member
Planning my first trip to cherburg from portsmouth next season, would appriciate tips on timing and tides etc. 25ft boat with inboard.
first time across channel
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Anonymous
Guest
Aim to make landfall at around dawn so you can identify the lights easily and close land and enter harbour in daylight.
bigmart
Well-Known Member
Last time I made the trip 26 Footer it took about 18 Hours. I wouldn't be too concerned about the time you leave as the tides tend to equal themselves although you would be advised to aim your arrival for slack-ish water at Cherbourg. I'd aim to leave around 20 hours before HW Cherbourg to allow a margin of safety.
Martin
Martin
dulcibella
Well-Known Member
Or leave at first light so that you have plenty of time to get there before dark on a long summer day. It really depends on how confident you feel about a night passage. Either way, it's a trip that never fails to be interesting, so enjoy what will probably be the first of many.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Cherbourg is a nice easy entrance, with plenty of room in the shelter of either the outer or inner wall to drop sails and sort yourselves out.....
As bigmart said, the tides are pretty straightforward.....
Only other thing I would add, is that while you are clear of the shipping lanes, traffic does tend to continue along the same tracks after leaving the casquets lanes because its heading towards the dover lanes... so this can help in knowing where to focus most( but not all!) of your time looking out.... but there is loads and loads of space so traffic isn't really a problem...
Enjoy.... the feeling of making your first foreign landfall in your own boat is a superb one....
As bigmart said, the tides are pretty straightforward.....
Only other thing I would add, is that while you are clear of the shipping lanes, traffic does tend to continue along the same tracks after leaving the casquets lanes because its heading towards the dover lanes... so this can help in knowing where to focus most( but not all!) of your time looking out.... but there is loads and loads of space so traffic isn't really a problem...
Enjoy.... the feeling of making your first foreign landfall in your own boat is a superb one....
AIDY
Well-Known Member
Plan to be uptide of the entrance to cherb.
for your first time across you may want to consider X-ing from yarmouth some 15 miles shorter. It also may be a better wind angle giving a prevailing SW wind.
for your first time across you may want to consider X-ing from yarmouth some 15 miles shorter. It also may be a better wind angle giving a prevailing SW wind.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
That is a fairly easy trip so not much to worry about. I would recommend arriving in Cherbourg in daylight as the lights can be rather confusing at night.
The only thing to avoid is to getting caught down-tide of the entrance. So when you are 10-15 miles off the coast of France you should replan the final stage of the voyage.
Although in theory trying to arrive in Cherbourg at slack water is a good idea in practice you will probably not be able to predict your passage time with enough accuracy for that to be possible and the danger is that if you do end up a little behind schedule you find yourself been carried down-tide.
The only thing to avoid is to getting caught down-tide of the entrance. So when you are 10-15 miles off the coast of France you should replan the final stage of the voyage.
Although in theory trying to arrive in Cherbourg at slack water is a good idea in practice you will probably not be able to predict your passage time with enough accuracy for that to be possible and the danger is that if you do end up a little behind schedule you find yourself been carried down-tide.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
The tides across the entrance can be fast. Take a good look at your poisition a few hours from Cherbourg and have a good look at that the tide is going to do to you. You don't want to be on the down tide side for too long.
The entrance in pretty straightforward, although I could appreciate that it may get confusing at night with such a strong tidal flow.
If you arrive in darkness, worth making sure you get some rest and sleep on the way across to make sure you are fresh.
The entrance in pretty straightforward, although I could appreciate that it may get confusing at night with such a strong tidal flow.
If you arrive in darkness, worth making sure you get some rest and sleep on the way across to make sure you are fresh.
stephenmartin
Well-Known Member
Leave Portsmouth at the beginning of an ebb tide....it'll help you for six hours (westward) and the flood tide should bring you into Cherbourg...its a struggle if you get the tides wrong...As said above...the entrance is confusing at night with all the lights
Takes me on average 12-13 hrs from Southsea....last trip in Aug was a Force 5 going and returning....very shaken not stirred...don't wanna frighten yourself to death....so pick a good forecast
Its a long trek but interesting....the TSS is easy...the solent is a nightmare with every man and his dog having a go...
Stay away from the big box boats wake....they really are huge and your boat will look like a tumble dryer afterwards....so put everything in boxes or big zip up bags from the cheapy shop
The chandlery is very reasonably priced too...unlike the pirates at home....if that offends anyone....tuff
Good Luck anyway
Takes me on average 12-13 hrs from Southsea....last trip in Aug was a Force 5 going and returning....very shaken not stirred...don't wanna frighten yourself to death....so pick a good forecast
Its a long trek but interesting....the TSS is easy...the solent is a nightmare with every man and his dog having a go...
Stay away from the big box boats wake....they really are huge and your boat will look like a tumble dryer afterwards....so put everything in boxes or big zip up bags from the cheapy shop
The chandlery is very reasonably priced too...unlike the pirates at home....if that offends anyone....tuff
Good Luck anyway
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Since no-one else has replied {edit: well they hadn't when I started, but work got in the way!} , here's my 2 penny'th, in no particular order.
1. Don't overestimate your cruising speed. If you can cruise at 4 1/2 knots under power, I wouldn't plan on more than 3.5 - 4 knots. You can always adjust if you're getting there early. Being late is depressing!
2. Make sure you're uptide of your destination. Tides are strong across Cherbourg entrance. You're likely to struggle to make it east against a spring ebb. Another reason for 1.
3. Have enough fuel for the entire trip - you really don't want to be short when the wind dies a couple of miles out. If the wind's light, you might consider keeping the engine ticking over in the traffic lanes, so you can dodge the ships
4. Most ships do keep a good lookout and will comply with colregs, but some won't. Be ready to run!
5. Have a good lookout system. I set an alarm to go off every 10 minutes. When it goes off, I have a good look round - including behind! If there's nothing of interest, I reset the alarm and relax. In 10 minutes, a ship doing 30 knots will do 5 miles. In good visibility you'd see it at 10 miles, so even if you just miss something, next time you do your meerkat bit, it'll still be 5 miles away. If visibility's poor, well you don't really want to be out there, but if you are, shorten the time appropriately
6. Make sure you've got all your paperwork on board - SSR, insurance, passage plan & so on. SOme of the French maritime police find slapping on the spot fines for minor infractions on les rosbifs a most amusing way of passing an afternoon.
7. It may be obvious, but check your weather to try and be sure of a stable window for the return trip too. If conditions are a bit iffy for the return, don't be afraid to come back by ferry. Having to be as work at 0900 on Monday has killed too many sailors already!
8. Last, and most important: None of the things you'll worry about are likely to happen if you plan you passage carefully. ENJOY!
1. Don't overestimate your cruising speed. If you can cruise at 4 1/2 knots under power, I wouldn't plan on more than 3.5 - 4 knots. You can always adjust if you're getting there early. Being late is depressing!
2. Make sure you're uptide of your destination. Tides are strong across Cherbourg entrance. You're likely to struggle to make it east against a spring ebb. Another reason for 1.
3. Have enough fuel for the entire trip - you really don't want to be short when the wind dies a couple of miles out. If the wind's light, you might consider keeping the engine ticking over in the traffic lanes, so you can dodge the ships
4. Most ships do keep a good lookout and will comply with colregs, but some won't. Be ready to run!
5. Have a good lookout system. I set an alarm to go off every 10 minutes. When it goes off, I have a good look round - including behind! If there's nothing of interest, I reset the alarm and relax. In 10 minutes, a ship doing 30 knots will do 5 miles. In good visibility you'd see it at 10 miles, so even if you just miss something, next time you do your meerkat bit, it'll still be 5 miles away. If visibility's poor, well you don't really want to be out there, but if you are, shorten the time appropriately
6. Make sure you've got all your paperwork on board - SSR, insurance, passage plan & so on. SOme of the French maritime police find slapping on the spot fines for minor infractions on les rosbifs a most amusing way of passing an afternoon.
7. It may be obvious, but check your weather to try and be sure of a stable window for the return trip too. If conditions are a bit iffy for the return, don't be afraid to come back by ferry. Having to be as work at 0900 on Monday has killed too many sailors already!
8. Last, and most important: None of the things you'll worry about are likely to happen if you plan you passage carefully. ENJOY!
StugeronSteve
Well-Known Member
Pick a neap tide weekend. If a bit of a breeze gets up against a spring tide the sea state in the channel can change quite dramatically.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Loads of good advise already given. Just about all the information you need in fact. My first trip was in a 28ft boat so not that much larger!
You will be surprised in the summer months how many other boats are going the same way as you. You might even put a post on the forum here and find you have company for the trip, not needed I know but it is nice to have someone out there, that you can share a bottle of grape juice with on arrival to celebrate.
You will be surprised in the summer months how many other boats are going the same way as you. You might even put a post on the forum here and find you have company for the trip, not needed I know but it is nice to have someone out there, that you can share a bottle of grape juice with on arrival to celebrate.
Talbot
Well-Known Member
To give you a better idea of the concentration of shipping into lanes, here is a print of activity on 1 Oct:
tome
Well-Known Member
I think you'd do better to zoom into the area of interest as this picture won't be of much reassurance to a novice
If you limited the shipping to the likely bounds of his longitudes on the crossing it would paint a more accurate picture
If you limited the shipping to the likely bounds of his longitudes on the crossing it would paint a more accurate picture
A
Anonymous
Guest
Ships are normally easy-peasy. It's the fishing boats that make it fun! How many fishing boats have AIS?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think you'd do better to zoom into the area of interest as this picture won't be of much reassurance to a novice
If you limited the shipping to the likely bounds of his longitudes on the crossing it would paint a more accurate picture
[/ QUOTE ]
True - but I already had that page loaded up on a server, and I am basically a very lazy person! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I think you'd do better to zoom into the area of interest as this picture won't be of much reassurance to a novice
If you limited the shipping to the likely bounds of his longitudes on the crossing it would paint a more accurate picture
[/ QUOTE ]
True - but I already had that page loaded up on a server, and I am basically a very lazy person! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
ColinHuggins
N/A
Re: First time cross-Channel
The most imbecilic 'advice' given above is that tides will cancel out; that they aren't important comes a close second. So plot this:
Depart Needles just as the Spring flood starts up-Channel, course for Cherbourg, boat speed such that ETA is 12 hours later.
The nearest you'll get to Cherbourg is . . . Alderney!!
PLEASE DEBUNK THAT FICTION ABOUT TIDES. They are so much stronger over that side that you will not simply be miles away from your destination but probably incapable of getting back on track.
If that's your level of navigation I recommend you carry a selection of courtesy flags, just in case.
And an embellishment about visibility: a fine, sunny day may not produce 'good' visibility at all, but a summer haze which is down to 2 miles or so. That's enough to miss Alderney altogether.
(Alderney? Is this another classroom exercise? No? You don't mean . . ? Actually missed it? Blimey!)
The most imbecilic 'advice' given above is that tides will cancel out; that they aren't important comes a close second. So plot this:
Depart Needles just as the Spring flood starts up-Channel, course for Cherbourg, boat speed such that ETA is 12 hours later.
The nearest you'll get to Cherbourg is . . . Alderney!!
PLEASE DEBUNK THAT FICTION ABOUT TIDES. They are so much stronger over that side that you will not simply be miles away from your destination but probably incapable of getting back on track.
If that's your level of navigation I recommend you carry a selection of courtesy flags, just in case.
And an embellishment about visibility: a fine, sunny day may not produce 'good' visibility at all, but a summer haze which is down to 2 miles or so. That's enough to miss Alderney altogether.
(Alderney? Is this another classroom exercise? No? You don't mean . . ? Actually missed it? Blimey!)
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Re: First time cross-Channel
Been doing it for years, from Weymouth since pre DECCA then from Poole since 2000. I always aim straight at Cher (W entry) then make any adjustment normally within ±5º in the last 4 of about 14 hours.
The only important thing is to aim a bit up current on the final adjustment.
Not missed the entrance yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Been doing it for years, from Weymouth since pre DECCA then from Poole since 2000. I always aim straight at Cher (W entry) then make any adjustment normally within ±5º in the last 4 of about 14 hours.
The only important thing is to aim a bit up current on the final adjustment.
Not missed the entrance yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
David_Jersey
Well-Known Member
Tides? I would work your course back from Cherbourg (and as suggested, try and aim to err on "uptide" when you arrive and I would add to aim for daylight, if you have not been before - no reason why you couldn't do arrive at night, but IMO it just makes life easier / less stressful when you can see what you are doing when going somewhere new, especially after a long trip!).
Just accept that due to the length of voyage you will be dealing with tides that are unfavourable at some points on your voyage and plan accordingly (as far as you can). I appreciate that this will be a bit of a pain to factor in all the variables on HW times / day of departure. But easier to do as much as possible at home, in any case if you are under sail the odds are you will need to recalculate during the trip to trade off wind direction against tide movements.
I would suggest that you mark up a chart with 4/5 waypoints of your <u>intended</u> positions and during your trip plot your actual position so you see what the tide is doing to you and whether this agrees with your calculations so you can make adjustments to your course if needed, rather than "plugging on" regardless by simply trying to follow your GPS bearing. (of course you may have a GPS that is "all singing and dancing" that allows for tides - but I suspect not, being the reason for your post?!)
I suspect the above answer is not quite what you were after, but if you give us the boat type / average expected speed I am sure someone can do a lot better on the help front!
Just accept that due to the length of voyage you will be dealing with tides that are unfavourable at some points on your voyage and plan accordingly (as far as you can). I appreciate that this will be a bit of a pain to factor in all the variables on HW times / day of departure. But easier to do as much as possible at home, in any case if you are under sail the odds are you will need to recalculate during the trip to trade off wind direction against tide movements.
I would suggest that you mark up a chart with 4/5 waypoints of your <u>intended</u> positions and during your trip plot your actual position so you see what the tide is doing to you and whether this agrees with your calculations so you can make adjustments to your course if needed, rather than "plugging on" regardless by simply trying to follow your GPS bearing. (of course you may have a GPS that is "all singing and dancing" that allows for tides - but I suspect not, being the reason for your post?!)
I suspect the above answer is not quite what you were after, but if you give us the boat type / average expected speed I am sure someone can do a lot better on the help front!
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Re: First time cross-Channel
Quite...
But then as 'imbeciles' we wouldn't know any better I suppose....
Quite...
But then as 'imbeciles' we wouldn't know any better I suppose....
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