First time across the channel.....
- Thread starter BarryH
- Start date
gjbentley
Well-Known Member
If you have an extra day and tides are right I would recommend picking up a mooring buoy outside Yarmouth, then heading for Cherbourg via Needles. If the wind is from the west you are likely to get a better chance of actually sailiing across the channel some of the way. Chichester to Cherboug in a SW wind is frustrating and costly in fuel. You will also keep passage time to under 12 hours making it possible to depart and arrive in daylight - the latter being quite important for a first timer in Cherbourg. When you arrive in the marina keep a sharp look out for an easy berth in the visitor area and just take it. Lastly don't try to rush your first crossing - enjoy the solitude of the experience.
prv
Well-Known Member
I'd recommend the same - head for somewhere just inside the Needles the previous day. I have tended to anchor inside Calshot Spit, assuming a wind somewhere in the west, but Yarmouth would do too. Never made a 12 hour passage though! Feasibility of that depends on size and type of boat. I wouldn't worry so much about arriving in daylight - I haven't on either occasion I've been to Cherbourg, and didn't have any trouble. As you'd expect of a big port it's all wide, deep, and well lit, and the route in is simple. We had plenty of light to see what was what in the marina too; not sure if it's floodlit or just stray light from all the nearby docks etc.
Pete
laika
Well-Known Member
One thing about Cherbourg for the first timer: Plan which pontoon you're heading for well before you get there. Plan of the marina and pontoons which are appropriate for your length are listed here:
http://www.portchantereyne.fr/en/access-surroundings/access-to-the-port/
Better familiarise yourself with this beforehand rather wondering "What did that say?" as you pass the notice on your starboard side coming in with other boats behind you
http://www.portchantereyne.fr/en/access-surroundings/access-to-the-port/
Better familiarise yourself with this beforehand rather wondering "What did that say?" as you pass the notice on your starboard side coming in with other boats behind you
greggron
Well-Known Member
No longer a virgin
A thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread and gave me the confidence to make my first cross channel passage. 2up on a Sadler 25, we set off last Friday morning at around 0400 from Gosport and made the best if the tides and the F4-5 northeasterly to take us around IoW via Bembridge Ledge. Although pretty choppy in places, we had a very fast passage exceeding hull speed on the log many times.
We motored back a tide early to avoid a similar NE F4-5 wind and forecast rain to have a beautiful and windless night crossing. Arrived back just after dawn on Sunday. Knacked but chuffed.
Just a word of warning. The marina seems to be a building site at the mo and the showers are pretty carp, no hot water and flooded out. In temporary buildings.
Now, where next...?
A thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread and gave me the confidence to make my first cross channel passage. 2up on a Sadler 25, we set off last Friday morning at around 0400 from Gosport and made the best if the tides and the F4-5 northeasterly to take us around IoW via Bembridge Ledge. Although pretty choppy in places, we had a very fast passage exceeding hull speed on the log many times.
We motored back a tide early to avoid a similar NE F4-5 wind and forecast rain to have a beautiful and windless night crossing. Arrived back just after dawn on Sunday. Knacked but chuffed.
Just a word of warning. The marina seems to be a building site at the mo and the showers are pretty carp, no hot water and flooded out. In temporary buildings.
Now, where next...?
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
You could come along on the Cruising Association cruise in company, starting Cherbourg, ending St Cast, via Guernsey & Jersey. July 19-27. Almost certainly be other boats doing the Gosport-Cherbourg leg a day or two before.
For this one, you don't need to be a CA member.
More...
http://www.cruising.org.uk/node/19656
For this one, you don't need to be a CA member.
More...
http://www.cruising.org.uk/node/19656
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[70521]
Well-Known Member
With the shorter nights Shetland is nice at this time of year...
Glad to hear you had a great trip.
greggron
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately, it coincides with the family holiday in Turkey.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Channel Islands.
Keep the option of going direct to Alderney or diverting to Cherbourg, then onto Alderney, open as long as possible. From Alderney, Guernsey and or Jersey.
When you've done the CIs and visited some of the smaller places You move on to the north Brittany coast. Loadsa fab places to visit.
The alternative is to go east to places like St Vaast ( Barfleur even if you can dry out against a wall.) Carentan, Isigny, then all the places between there and the Seine . Not keen on Le Havre but Honfleur is a place not to miss ... touristy though.
prv
Well-Known Member
That's very interesting. I'm generally **** at organising things in advance, then end up scrabbling to sort out people and plans at the last minute. Having a definite date to aim for might help me get my act in gear.
I was going to ask "are these events any good - would you recommend them?", but I guess the answer to that is fairly clear
Pete
Seajet
...
If you're feeling so keen, yes the Channel Islands are quite simple, Guernsey gives a good wind angle to and fro if working your way to at least Studland or further West first, which reduces workload and is a great trip in itself.
Personally I'd forget Alderney for newbies, scary intense piloting among rocks and big tides !
From St Peter Port it's a simple day sail to St Helier, then on to re-conquer France at St Malo and along to Binic, then back across to Salcombe or Falmouth.
The tide tables and tidal streams atlas will be more important than any GPS.
Have fun.
Personally I'd forget Alderney for newbies, scary intense piloting among rocks and big tides !
From St Peter Port it's a simple day sail to St Helier, then on to re-conquer France at St Malo and along to Binic, then back across to Salcombe or Falmouth.
The tide tables and tidal streams atlas will be more important than any GPS.
Have fun.
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greggron
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the suggestions. Channel Islands sounds very attractive. I haven't been to guernsey since I was a nipper.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I doubt much has changed!
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
To help dream about what the possiblities of crossing the Channel can offer, see http://jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/channel-all , then look at some of the more detailed pages.
Personally, I'd do Alderney next - as long as NE winds aren't forecast!
To make the job easier on the first visit or two, do neap tides. Once you're used to using the tidal streams, enjoy. This is one of the more challenging cruising areas in the world. If you can pilot and navigate around here, you can manage any well mapped regions
And yes, a Cruise in Company is a great way to enjoy early trips. The Cruising Association does them well. It's the clebration on arrival, and the chat about lessons learned that is most useful.
Personally, I'd do Alderney next - as long as NE winds aren't forecast!
To make the job easier on the first visit or two, do neap tides. Once you're used to using the tidal streams, enjoy. This is one of the more challenging cruising areas in the world. If you can pilot and navigate around here, you can manage any well mapped regions
And yes, a Cruise in Company is a great way to enjoy early trips. The Cruising Association does them well. It's the clebration on arrival, and the chat about lessons learned that is most useful.
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