First voyage advice

[New Boater]

Pretty straightforward once you have cleared Alderney.

Assuming you bought it in Guernsey presumably you are going to clear customs and pay VAT, in which case makes sense to talk to customs at Portsmouth as to the best port to do this. Here is th Government guidance for entering the UK www.gov.uk/guidance/sailing-a-pleasure-craft-that-is-arriving-in-the-uk

Indeed, the broker is helping with that.

 

[Gemini]

Guernsey to Portmouth approx 100m
Portsmonth to Brighton approx 65miles
Brighton to Dover approx 90miles
What size and type of boat are you making the crossing in and expected cruising speed, fuel capacity etc,
Mid channel can be F4 or F5 on a calm day subject to wind and tidal conditions.
Portmouth easy access and refueling available, Brighton refueling and 24h access if the weather turns againt you as a bolt hole, after Brighton next access port Eastbourne
Dungerness area can get bumpy

 

[SC35]

Last time I did something similar, it was Guernsey to Yarmouth IoW, then to Eastbourne, then Dover.
Breaking it up into shorter legs makes it more fun.
With more time for dinner.

 

[ylop]

Haven't asked him specifically yet as he is abroad. He has decades of experience sailing boats so I assume he has a fair amount of knowledge.

How much experience does he have in motorboats? And in particular getting on a previously unknown motorboat and going on big trips, and almost inevitably sorting problems. Obviously guernsey doesn’t give you too many options for a short first leg - but it’s a big passage for day 1 - not just in terms of distance, “exposure”, “traffic”, “complex arrival in the dark” etc…

 

[East Cardinal]

Some thoughts.
Allow yourself a day in and around your departure port to test the new boat. Setting off across the channel in an untried boat isn't a good idea
Make sure you have plenty of spares and tools in case of breakdown.
Passage plan. I don't know what engines/speeds you are planning but I would look at making about 10kn on average. There will be traffic,
possibly breakdowns, poor weather. (Weather doesn't have to be particularly bad to seriously affect passage in a planing boat)
Plan for at least 3 days. Clearing Revenue and Customs in Portsmouth may delay your start on day 2.
Portsmouth to Dover is about 150nm. Doable in a day with very calm weather and no breakdowns but a long day. Break into a 2 day passage.
Will the boat even do 150nm on a tank of fuel (over 7 hours at 20kn!)

 

[colhel]

It looks to me like Savvy Navvy is under estimating distance by quite a lot. As the crow flies perhaps they're a bit closer but in my view add at least 50 % to the figures you've quoted.

 

[jrudge]

Never heard of savy navy but if it can't get distance right it does not seem that savy

 

[dunedin]

…………

The journey will be from Beaucette Marina, Guernsey (or very near by) to Dover.
…….
One thing I did notice on the way there and back on the Ferry was a patch of very rough and confused sea. Will aim to go around that.

All advice welcome.

How much boating experience do you have?

You will be really straight in at the deep end with this trip. Exiting Beacette Marina can be tricky even for experienced hands (definitely not one of the easiest harbours).
And the Channel Islands, including Guernsay, have some of the strongest tides in the (southern) British Isles. There can be rather more than a little “patch of very rough and confused sea”. Can’t necessarily “go around that” departing Guernsay.
You really need to understand the concepts of wind/waves against tide, and study carefully the tide times, wave forecast and weather forecast before attempting departure. It can be dangerous if get this wrong in bad weather (equally can be lovely when tides, waves and weather suit).
Relatively easy stuff once reach England.

 

[stelican]

Have you considered going up the French side of the channel. I havn't looked but it may be considerably shorter route.
Radar? Having crossed twice in heavy fog I found it very reassuring.
excuse earlier bold could not clear.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Portsmouth to Dover is 103nm. Easy half day trip in a planing motorboat. Long day at displacement speed but still doable, but that’s not really the key thing here. As others have said, I’d not be comfortable doing this, especially starting off with a channel crossing, in an unknown and untested boat.

 

[Alicatt]

Spares wise I have 3 sets of V-Belts for each engine, 2 diesel filters for each engine, 2 oil filters per engine and 2 sets of impellers per engine, then 2 sets of Racor filters for the 4 diesel filters between the two diesel tanks and the engines, 1 set of assorted gaskets/seals/O-rings for the engines, assortment of tapered wooden bungs, propellors. this all came with the boat.
Lifejackets, flares parachute and handheld
Tool kit to cover most options, electrical and mechanical
Plus these two big boys...

 

[New Boater]

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the input , it is all being taken on board (literally)

There are a couple of more options being thrown out there. My Pal has suggested we might do the french coast as another option (as stated above, thanks Stelican)

One option is the french coast route (this might depend on whether HMRC want me to physically take the boat into Portsmouth)

Another option offered today is the Broker has a guy who delivers boats for a living who would be happy to come along for all or part of the journey.

 

[New Boater]

Spares wise I have 3 sets of V-Belts for each engine, 2 diesel filters for each engine, 2 oil filters per engine and 2 sets of impellers per engine, then 2 sets of Racor filters for the 4 diesel filters between the two diesel tanks and the engines, 1 set of assorted gaskets/seals/O-rings for the engines, assortment of tapered wooden bungs, propellors. this all came with the boat.
Lifejackets, flares parachute and handheld
Tool kit to cover most options, electrical and mechanical
Plus these two big boys...
View attachment 182082

Are they for Pirates?

 

[New Boater]

Sorry, forgot to add as some have asked the question.

The boat is a Hardy Seawings 305 with twin KAD32’s and has a 477litre fuel tank (if it has the original tank in)

Will check that.

Yes it has a Garmin RADAR.

 

[New Boater]

Some thoughts.
Allow yourself a day in and around your departure port to test the new boat. Setting off across the channel in an untried boat isn't a good idea
Make sure you have plenty of spares and tools in case of breakdown.
Passage plan. I don't know what engines/speeds you are planning but I would look at making about 10kn on average. There will be traffic,
possibly breakdowns, poor weather. (Weather doesn't have to be particularly bad to seriously affect passage in a planing boat)
Plan for at least 3 days. Clearing Revenue and Customs in Portsmouth may delay your start on day 2.
Portsmouth to Dover is about 150nm. Doable in a day with very calm weather and no breakdowns but a long day. Break into a 2 day passage.
Will the boat even do 150nm on a tank of fuel (over 7 hours at 20kn!)

Will be in touch with HMRC today to get the process nailed down. will let you know

 

[stelican]

Sorry, forgot to add as some have asked the question.

The boat is a Hardy Seawings 305 with twin KAD32’s and has a 477litre fuel tank (if it has the original tank in)

Will check that.

Yes it has a Garmin RADAR.

 

[stelican]

Does the fuel tank have an inspection hatch so that you can check for contamination: water/ fuel bug.

 

[SC35]

Some thoughts.
Allow yourself a day in and around your departure port to test the new boat. Setting off across the channel in an untried boat isn't a good idea
Make sure you have plenty of spares and tools in case of breakdown.
Passage plan. I don't know what engines/speeds you are planning but I would look at making about 10kn on average. There will be traffic,
possibly breakdowns, poor weather. (Weather doesn't have to be particularly bad to seriously affect passage in a planing boat)
Plan for at least 3 days. Clearing Revenue and Customs in Portsmouth may delay your start on day 2.
Portsmouth to Dover is about 150nm. Doable in a day with very calm weather and no breakdowns but a long day. Break into a 2 day passage.
Will the boat even do 150nm on a tank of fuel (over 7 hours at 20kn!)

Seawings should manage to cruise at 18kts or so if clean.
Fuel capacity is 477litres.
Consumption at cruise ... 40 litres/hr?
The first leg from Guernsey seems do-able, but don't blame me if those figures aren't correct.

 

[stelican]

Portsmouth to Dover is 103nm. Easy half day trip in a planing motorboat. Long day at displacement speed but still doable, but that’s not really the key thing here. As others have said, I’d not be comfortable doing this, especially starting off with a channel crossing, in an unknown and untested boat.

I think you will find its just short of 150nm

 

[SC35]

I think you will find its just short of 150nm

I did Belgium to Hayling Island for unrelated (technical) reasons once.
I don't recall the exact distance, but it was 100nm+.
About three days later I was able to walk normally again.