First time Channel crossing - take 2

Quite frankly this is a ridiculous plan and, as you have clearly surmised, your craft is quite unsuitable for such a trip.

The only appropriate course of action is to wait calmly for the 67........ /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Maybe it is, I usually fill in Torquay, but it was closed last time.

Weather looking less favourable now for Wednesday. Better Thursday but with poor visibility.
 
Vote against waiting pointoon

Magnum I've only been a couple of times. Agree the comment that view can be better on waiting pontoon, but imho it aint that bad inside the concrete basin either. Thing is, waiting pontoon has no lectrik afaik and you have no genset afaik so you need to get inside for lectris and creature comforts imho. else you will be running engines to charge batteries and for hot water. There are some restaurants around the edge of the marina, dunno if any good, but you can sit in them having dinner and look at the boat if it's inside marina :-)
 
ah, magnum but not loaded and weather musings

oops, waity pontoon not good then.

With that southerley, the very worst conditions will be first thing as step out beyound start point. Worth calling st peter port for a nowcast just as ready to leave too.
 
Dont bother with waiting pontoon go straight inside plenty of space on the left as you go in agaisnt the wall which is best and also has best showers et and has less swell when condor comes in.
 
I never bother about direction of wind and tide, less going over overfalls or have to get back in crap weather. For me setting off time, as I've said before, is when ever yer ready. Long as wind is no more than F4 maybe 5, it's going to be OK and only about four hours anyway. If wind behind, it will be smooth as baby's bum, if on nose, it will get better and better the further you go. Main thing is. Dont hit the rocks at the other end!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

Hi Magnum,

If all goes to plan we'll be in Guernsey on Friday night so will say high if you're about.

Depsol,

Now I know where your office is may come and see you for a bottle of magic diesel additive.
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

What happened to going West?? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

Down in Torquay now and just had a good look at all the forecasts and weather reports. Not going today, mainly because the visibility isn't that great. Channel light vessel reports 4000m and wave height of 7.2ft. Not disastrous but Friday looks better. Wind dropping, warmer and better vis. So that's our plan.

So, today we'll be doing exciting things like scrubbing waterline and stocking up on provisions. Need to get fuel too, although may do that tomorrow.

Been looking at Pilot books and I think I fancy the Little Russel route. Any words of wisdom regarding this? Also I reckon we'll just miss the TSZ by going to the West. Do you think I still need to cross the approaches to it at right angles?
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

Sounds like a good plan but would'nt mind betting you get vis probs tomorrow as well. Little Russel is much wider than it looks on the chart so no prob using it as St PP approach but make sure you plot a couple of waypoints in the channel and get a large scale chart as there are a lot of lumpy bits either side and it's easy to lose concentration as the destination finally nears
Always best to cross any shipping lanes at right angles, separation zone or not, as it gives widest profile for radar detection. Whatever the ColRegs say, dont expect any ships to give way. They're on a mission so just keep out of their way
 
Tips for Guernsey

If you arrive with enough water and the fuel pontoon is empty fill up then. I was there 3 weeks ago and had to float around for 45 minutes to get fuel. (One of their pontoons was lost over the winter) Fuel pontoon is always busier in the morning and whenever their's enough water to get out of the marina over the sill. Also consider putting springs on when fueling. If the fastcat comes in you'll understand why!

If you want food from Marks and spencer get it as soon as you can. They'll run out on Saturday of just about everything.

Recommend Le Nautique for dinner. Expensive but worth it. Reservations a must on 01481 721714.
 
sea crossings

Agree the little russel route actually has loads of space when you get there. All this "difficult" commentary is massively bigged up by the pilot books imho. Will be piece of cake with the big colour plotter turned on

Check out the weather charts for the 170nm Antibes - Bonifacio (bottom of Corsica) crossing. Sea is glass like, zero gradient wind. Our boat leaves 8am tomorrow for this crossing (delivery skipper + Jud). We're flying to Figari at weekend /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

[ QUOTE ]
Been looking at Pilot books and I think I fancy the Little Russel route. Any words of wisdom regarding this? Also I reckon we'll just miss the TSZ by going to the West. Do you think I still need to cross the approaches to it at right angles?



[/ QUOTE ]

Leaving from Dartmouth I aim for Platte Fougere then over to Little Russel. You just about miss the Seperation Zone and past west of Channel LV, which provides a useful visual.
 
Re: sea crossings

If you are going to Bonifacio ( wonderful place ) .. great. Do go to the Yacht Club and up into the old town ... reastaurants not as good as CdA, but good seafood ... you may wish to avoid local beer ... made from weird ingredients ( chestnuts ?? ). Blat across to Costa Esmeralda worthwhile ,, but then you know that !

mmh rather obvious but actually discovering the channel to the port is wonderful experience too.

Yes weather is superb, wind disappeared , blue skies, warm, obviously time for me to come back to UK tonight .. sulk
 
Re: Vote against waiting pointoon

Weather here is gorgeous today visiblity no problem at all and flat as anything, sun shing a few clouds but all is good, couldnt pick a better day.

If you are worried about it and arent here too late on friday or whichever day ie arriving before 5pm I will come out in RIB and guide you in but as others say it really wide and easy. The only thing you have to watch and not that it will bother you is the overfalls as you enter to the platte as it can get rough depending on state of tide (ask manatee and the others on MBM cruise last year) but as I said there is an inside route (dont say anything COL!!!) which I can guide you through.

Just get on over. I am off to Dielete on Saturday on a clients boat.

Any problems or info you need you have my number so call me.
 
massivley bigged up

chenal de Four, chenal de heille, the Raz de seinare similarly er fine, really. So is blimmin biscay - huge area with one name so any boat prob on entire w coast of france aargh it's "Biscay" again....

you bringing it back yes? Otherwise, really, that's very lazy gittish even for a moboer. In fact, it is *fairly* lazy gittish to get it taken over there in the first place. Oh yes it is!
 
Re: sea crossings

Yup plan is to base boat in Bonif, which everyone says is v. nice. Boat leaves antibes at daybreak tomorrow, so should arrive Bonif tomorrow 4 or 5pm. Have confirmed mooring there. Then visit N Sardinia and those little islands with turquoise sea and fab beaches, off the top of Sardinia, Madellena and Spargi or whatever they're called. Here's a pic of Spargi beach and one on the next island, stefano. The weather is just like in these pics at the mo. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

granara-opl.jpg


pesce01-opl.jpg


Have to fly back to UK Weds night so plan to bring boat back Weds morning, but if weahter isn't good I'll leave it in Ajaccio and fly home from there, and return the next weekend 4/5 june on my own to bring it back to antibes (will let you know, in case you fancy doing the crossing?)
 
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