First time Channel crossing - take 2

Magnum

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I'm seriously considering my 1st Channel crossing on Wednesday. Not been onboard Magnum for aver a month now and I'm itching to give her a good run. Weather forecast this week looks windy on Tuesday but Wednesday looks pretty good.

Theyr.net is predicting force 2 straight on the nose all afternoon so with High Water in St Peter Port is 20.40BST I could head over to Dartmouth, fill up with fuel, and leave at about 14.00 to arrive in Guernsey at around 17.30-18.00.

Does this sound reasonable?
 

Jobs_a_ good_ un

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Re: First time Chanel crossing - take 2

I reckon its a good plan mostly because Im going across for the 1st time myself on wednesday am at 6 am nab tower to le harve I hope to be in the same force 2
Good luck with the trip and enjoy it Ive been out every weekend this year since I bought the boat except for 5 weekends and 3 of those I was out the country
Whats the point in having a nice boat if you dont use it thats my take on it
 

tcm

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sounds fun:

never mind the SPP entrance timing cos you can hang about on waity pontoon and ferry ashore till it opens - key thing for flattest water and smoothest ride on the way over is to have wind and tide together in same direction if poss - i thort it was a bit sw on wednesday so i think you want to be leaving earlier to have tide going in same direction. Or anyway, whatever time so the tide at least isn't against the wind, go then.

sepretly, i wd always try to start early in the day to give lots of daylight if summink happens.

routewise, I went round the south side to avoid the poncing around the N coast g'sey.
 

tcm

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oh and

if you have non-jet dinghy (ie ok to leave in water overnite) and tis calm, i wd not reject the idea of staying out on the waiting pontoon - being inside is like being in a big concrete bucket when tide is out whereas nice views outside to herm provided you get the rearmost spot on that waity pontoon.
 

Magnum

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Waiting pontoon

Waiting pontoon is a single one just to right of marina entrance? That dries at one end and only 0.3m at other. Or is that not it?
 

tcm

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Re: Waiting pontoon

er didn't think it was that shallow - seen boats hang on there all night - usually there are sizeable boats there and were were sort of level with it on another mooring and not aground nor even close - its length is along the line of the path into the marina, yep, probly to the right. probly more than one and sailing boats with big draft sit there as well. Springs anyway so expect the worst per chart i spose.

Where is that blimmin depsol when you need him, eh?
 

alastair

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Re: Waiting pontoon

Although the wind may have died by Wed, the sea state might still be a bit lumpy. Waiting till Thurs might give a smoother crossing - but then Im no forecaster!
Hope they have cleaned the birdshit off SPP waiting pontoons by now! They were filthy when we visited at Easter. Great apart from that.
Have a good trip

Alastair
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DepSol

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Datrmouth to Guernsey is about 75 miles and is a nice easy trip as you avoid all the nasty tidal rips etc near Alderney.

They are saying its going to clear but looking at todays weather its going to need to blow through by mid afternoon for that to happen. Its bloody miserable here today.
 
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Re: Waiting pontoon

The waiting pontoon has enough water, its the Boatworks fuel pontoon which dries completely. If you want to stay outside the marina there are some fore/aft buoys to moor to as well. There is usually a harbourmaster about in a dory who will direct you. If not call them on the VHF
If you do arrive around LW especially springs, make sure you stay within the marked channel, its pretty shallow on the port side as you approach the marina. Maybe an idea to spend a night in Alderney on a buoy and plan next day arrival at St PP for near HW?
 

tcm

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Re: Waiting pontoon

those are LAT readings, yes - 0.3 plus 1.4 at low tide on wednesday afternoon and turning from springs to neaps means 1.7m at the western end of the pontoon would be shallowest at the deep end, against your draft of erm max 1.2m?
 

kimhollamby

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Take another view on it later today/tomorrow morning

The approaching low only has to move a bit further east than forecast and you could have a lot of wind there, looking at current synoptics for tomorrow.

If you have the luxury of doing so I'd get ready to go but take a view on conditions close to departure time...and also allow for the possibility of some west in the wind. Looks like one of those 'could-go-either-way' forecasts to me.
 

DepSol

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If you are arriving in the evening then no problems as there

25th May
HW 20:40 9.2m
LW14.42 1.3m

Any problems give me a call I have sent you my tel number by PM
 

Nick_H

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This is the view from the waiting pontoon, which I agree is better than in the marina in calm conditions. If the sea gets very calm you can take the jet rib across to Herm, but watch out for the very shallow rocks.

IMG_1614.thumb.jpg


IMG_1615_2.thumb.jpg
 

jimg

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As Kim says keep an eye on the forecast, looking out the window here in Dartmouth, it really is blowing at the moment!
 

hlb

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Yep. 70 miles ish. Think I usually go round south side of Gurnsey, less going to Alderney first, which is much nicer. Stay outside the marina or in, as you wish. Though alot of farting about, getting in or out!! Visit Herm but mind the rocks. Fit in the harbour if tide is in. Bit squeeze up though!! Or buoy outside.
 
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