first time to Channel Islands !

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SBUK

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As the title suggests - we've decided to brave it and head for distant waters!!

i'm sure for many this would almost be considered a routine journey, but for us, it's certainly the biggest trip planned so far.

So the charts are ordered (admiralty folio - feb 2013) and i'm 'swatting' up like mad using the shell channel pilot. (lots of rocks aren't there!! :eek:)

With two (well deserved!) weeks off work scheduled at the start of August, this will be our window to go so I have just under a month to plan!

To break up the journey we're thinking of doing it in 2 legs, first leg to Cherbourg for an overnighter, then round to the CI's....and needless to say I will be watching the weather forecasts VERY closely!

Despite all the swatting, I know too well this is no substitute for first hand experience, so I welcome any comments/suggestions any of you have of nice places to go or avoid etc.

I should mention that we have relatives arriving in Jersey to meet us midway through the first week and leaving us midway through the second.

There was a great post on here many moons ago, detailing bays to anchor (even showed chart extracts) but i'll be damned if I can find it!

Scott
 
IMV going via Cherbourg doesn't really break the journey much and you still need to pick your time to get best conditions through the Race. I'd be tempted to head straight for Guernsey with Alderney as a safe haven if you don't fancy the last hour of the journey. The most important thing is to try and get wind and tide together when you get near Alderney and again when you approach Guernsey. Jersey is not quite so critical on tide but it does get lumpy with swell off the SW. Bear in mind that slack water around Alderney is actually at about half tide; which confuses some! With a boat of your size you shouldn't have any major worries though.
 
I have to say that this is a pretty routine trip, providing the weather window is settled. You have a fantastic vessal who will see you you through any rough stuff. Just plan your tides and go for it. I can tell you from past experience there are regular runs from Jersey to Plymouth all the time and its taken as every day occurance. Earlier this year one skipper went Jersey to Plymouth, flew back and picked up next boat and went Jersey Plymouth again.

Good preperation, good weather window, go for it and enjoy
 
Thanks Keith,

I was tempted to head straight for Guernsey, but calculated this would be about a 6 hour passage, hence the idea to break it up - 6 hours isn't a long time on the water for some - but for us - having mainly only done short hops around the solent plus a 2 1/2 hour brighton run. i think 3 - 3 1/2 hours at sea at 18-20 knots keeping constant vigile is about enough before a break!

The return leg may be different though, and i am actually considering the Alderney - home journey. (obviously we'll be 'proper' sailors by then!!)

Thanks for the tide info also, i see you are based in Jersey which is where we intend to spend the majority of the time - any advice on some nice anchorages.....?
 
With a boat like that Cherbourg is an hour the wrong way x 2.

Alderney unless the weather conditions are perfect is not a great nights sleep if the weather is unsettled its uncomfortable in a motor boat and if the wind is in the north its horrible.

Guernsey is only another hour to an hour and a half further than Alderney for you.

Apart from St Helier another couple of easy marinas in the area are Carteret and St Cast.

Get a good tidal atlas and hit the race or the swinge at slack water and it can be a pussy cat.

If you are concerned about the Little Russel aproach to Guernsey which looks worse than it is once you get your bearings then approach Guernsey/St Peter Port from the Great Russel south around the lowerheads bouy and on to St Peter Port it does not take much longer and is much more open.
 
Hi Paul - yes is it mate.

Is this the bit where you tell me that both engines need a complete overhaul before i go! ;)

I actually thought about calling you to do the 'yearly' before setting off - then i realised a) how many hours we've done since last Septembers service (hardly any!) and B) i think it's about a 6 week lead time to get you these days isn;t it?? :p

i may need to top up on some spares though - so expect a call soon!!
 
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Powersalt said:
I have to say that this is a pretty routine trip, providing the weather window is settled. You have a fantastic vessal who will see you you through any rough stuff. Just plan your tides and go for it. I can tell you from past experience there are regular runs from Jersey to Plymouth all the time and its taken as every day occurance. Earlier this year one skipper went Jersey to Plymouth, flew back and picked up next boat and went Jersey Plymouth again.

Good preperation, good weather window, go for it and enjoy
Click to expand...

Thanks Powersalt - i know to many this is very routine and i hope it will be for us going forward because after studying the channel pilot the islands generally look a great place to be boating around.
 
Bandit said:
With a boat like that Cherbourg is an hour the wrong way x 2.

Alderney unless the weather conditions are perfect is not a great nights sleep if the weather is unsettled its uncomfortable in a motor boat and if the wind is in the north its horrible.

Guernsey is only another hour to an hour and a half further than Alderney for you.

Apart from St Helier another couple of easy marinas in the area are Carteret and St Cast.

Get a good tidal atlas and hit the race or the swinge at slack water and it can be a pussy cat.

If you are concerned about the Little Russel aproach to Guernsey which looks worse than it is once you get your bearings then approach Guernsey/St Peter Port from the Great Russel south around the lowerheads bouy and on to St Peter Port it does not take much longer and is much more open.
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Thanks Bandit - i can see i may need to re-think the route!

Any recommendations of a good tidal atlas?

A stop off at Guernsey was definately on the cards anyway (especially considering the cheaper fuel rates!), so as you and Keith suggest a better idea seems to be to head for Guernsey with Alderney as the bolt hole.
 
I use the Admiralty tide books, my CI one is 25 years old and i also have the south Brittany and English Channel, they dont go out of date.

When coming from the race of Alderney to Big Russel leave the Schole bank shallows to your East.

Fuel in Guernsey by road tanker Rubis 01481 200 800 by tanker at St Sampsons at high water is cheapest, you will need to book a day or two in advance.

The entrance to St Sampsons is quite straight forward but if I am around PM me and I will either talk you through it or do the first run with you. But on my hols 1 to 11 Aug.
 
Bandit said:
I use the Admiralty tide books, my CI one is 25 years old and i also have the south Brittany and English Channel, they dont go out of date.

When coming from the race of Alderney to Big Russel leave the Schole bank shallows to your East.

Fuel in Guernsey by road tanker Rubis 01481 200 800 by tanker at St Sampsons at high water is cheapest, you will need to book a day or two in advance.

The entrance to St Sampsons is quite straight forward but if I am around PM me and I will either talk you through it or do the first run with you. But on my hols 1 to 11 Aug.
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Bandit - thanks again for the tip - and the fuel contact.

I'll purchase a tidal atlas today - i would imagine the place my charts are coming from will do these.

Would you recommend any particuar achorages for a newcomer - or are these a 'locals' closey guarded secret :D
 
I buy my admiralty charts and publicationd from Kelvin Hughes in Southampton.

Anchorages there are several good day anchorages around the CI but often they are a little exposed for night anchoring in a motor boat, ( yachts with big keels dont roll as much).

Day Anchorages, get your tide ranges worked out for thdays in question, Herm Rozaire, Shell or Belvoir, sark Derrible or Havre Gosselin but dont forget destinations with good marinas such as Carteret and St Cast as starters in France.
 
Bandit said:
I buy my admiralty charts and publicationd from Kelvin Hughes in Southampton.

Anchorages there are several good day anchorages around the CI but often they are a little exposed for night anchoring in a motor boat, ( yachts with big keels dont roll as much).

Day Anchorages, get your tide ranges worked out for thdays in question, Herm Rozaire, Shell or Belvoir, sark Derrible or Havre Gosselin but dont forget destinations with good marinas such as Carteret and St Cast as starters in France.
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Thanks Bandit - all duly added to the list

I called Rubis today just to get a feel of timings, minimum order etc - gobsmacked at the price - we really do get stung in the UK !!!
 
SBUK said:
Sorry should have said.

Boat is fairline 43 and home port is Port Solent...
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I have done St Peter Port to Portsmouth in 4 1/2 hours. My wife was so bored she started counting the ships! She said and you do this to earn a living ? Yup I said, but you'd not like it when the weather is ...............


Check the weather , time your tide through the race and leave France alone.
 
With a boat of your size you will need to stick to proper harbours and marinas overnight, but if you want a nice bay for the afternoon then head for Beauport on the south coast of Jersey. Dixcart in Sark and Shell bay in Herm are also really scenic in the right weather. I'd recommend Carteret or even dielette for a night if you want to try the Normandy coast. Very reasonable rates and not too busy during the week.
 
Solitaire said:
I have done St Peter Port to Portsmouth in 4 1/2 hours. My wife was so bored she started counting the ships! She said and you do this to earn a living ? Yup I said, but you'd not like it when the weather is ...............


Check the weather , time your tide through the race and leave France alone.
Click to expand...

Solitaire - that's a lot of miles to cover in 4 1/2 hours! wow....


Regarding the weather, naturally i'd love it to be a mill pond but realistically what would be the worst window you'd consider sensible to make this trip? F3? F4? F5!!!!! :eek:

I guess timing wise, leaving on an ebb tide with a north easterly is perhaps a little much to count on!!:rolleyes:

And re the races, I guess hitting it at slack or at worst wind with tide is a must.....
 
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