Guernsey

[Grehan]

. . and Herm, Sark, etc

We're sailing there for the first time next week (ok, ok) although we've (flown over and) stayed there many times in the past (near Petit Bot).
Tips and suggestions on approaches, moorings, anchorages, quiet spots, etc would be gratefully received. Guernsey, Herm and Sark. I've always wanted to stay over on Herm.
What's Beaucette like? (our family's going to be B&B-ing nearby at L'Ancresse).
The West coast is obviously bad news, but the North?

Thanks in advance

[btw I have bought Peter Cumberlidge's Pilot book]

 

[tcm]

There's nothing much except fields outside beaucette, but the entrance is spookily narrow, so gets the pulse racing- i wd not say it's a "must do". Not sure if you meant staying at anchor at herm - for a first time it wd be best (i think) to follow PC's advice, leave boat in st PP and take a ferry, and have a fright at all the rocks. Sark highly recommended- guernsey is like the UK in 60's, sark probably half a century before that. There are mooring buoys to be had on the west side of sark, Havre Gosselin, need dinghy to get ashore. Prapsd the net will show hotels on Herm and Sark, both have quite good ones, i belive.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If going to Guernsey, don't forget to reset the ship's chronometer.

To approximately 1959.

 

[Grehan]

yes, by "staying over" (on Herm) I meant mooring/anchoring over.
Are the rocks really fearsome?

 

[Chris_Robb]

I would seriously go accross on the ferry first - preferably at springs. Then do the first vist - AT NEAPS. I have chickened out so far from doing this, might do it this year if the weather is quite.

 

[tcm]

yes, the rocks are indeed fearsome. worth a look first at low water on a fery, only 10-15 mins and quite a nice jolly imho

 

[hlb]

I've been to Herm. Lovely place. Cant remember it being all that difficult. Especialy on a nice day. Just watch where everyone else goes and do the same. (Slowly). Theres a harbour, dries, but can moor to the wall if room. Buoys and of course you can anchor. It's well worth a visit.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[DepSol]

Beaucettes fine a bit quiet and out of the way but as a marina it has all the facilities.

Send me a PM I will give you my mobile number and you can give me a ring and ask any questions. Can give you as much info as you like cos I live in Guernsey.

Local navigation is fine when you know it but as they have said with 10 mtr tides you can turn up at low tide and go back at high and not know you had been here before. I can also get you info on sleeping in Herm etc. If you send me your address I will send you over a local tide table and as Parahandy will confirm they are packed with info.

Cant be more helpful than that. ;-)


Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[Mike_02]

Don't bother with beaucette...too expensive. Go straight to SPP..much better and a bit chaper...or if you prefer you can anchor in havelett bay next to it.

Where are you sailing from....are you going straight to gernsey or do you have a stop over planned.

I go to Cherbourg first then to guernsey the next day. not sure of the exact time but if you leave Cherbourg at the right time the tide will carry you al the way to guernsey..think it's 3 hours before hw dover....something like that but the almanac has it all inside.

 

[Guest]

Avoid St Peter Port!

If you like incompetent berthing masters, crews who wouldn't know a fender if it hit them and like filling out forms go there by all means. Only plus point, cheap fuel.

Go to France instead.

 

[hlb]

Rubbish. Theres only a little form asking you if you have any bacon or ham on board. Just say no!! The parking's a bit tight but all good fun. Just need to be able to drive, thats all.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[DepSol]

Well said H ;-)

Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[Mike_02]

For once we agree on something..nothign wrong with SPP...it makes for great fun wtching all the skippers who haven't a clue make a total ass of themselves....it's often the highlight of the day.

And have you ever noticed that the older the skipper the louder they shout..and the more they often hit...??

 

[incognito]

the older the skipper the louder they shout..and the more they often hit...??

Oh how I wish I could arrange to sit around and watch you...

Don't you think it likely that you will actually get better at everything you do with practice? (Oh, BTW, whilst you are getting that practice you will also get OLDER!!) But, of course, Mike, you won't be like those old skippers you are denigrating, will you - they have obviously got worse at everything, and shout louder and hit things.

Regards

Old Skipper.

 

[Mike_02]

If you and to sit and watch me in a arina you are more than welcme.


I am nor perfect but who is..all i am saying is that as people get older (60-70 plus) they loose the abality to react and see whats going on around them.

I am not trying to tar everybody with the same brush as i know some very very good skippers in that age range but i also know some very very dangerous ones.

If you exclude racing skippers i think that 30 something skippers with 5-10 years experience can be the best in a marina......
personally i take me time..i do everything very slowly and make sure my crew know what to do, what will happen and more importantly what may happen. How many times have you seen somebody on the bow not knowing what to do as they drift towards another boat.....prior prep preent p p p....

Also the most dangerous skipper of all is the one who thinks they know it all....and i my experience it tends to be the older gent who has 50+ years on a boat and so they must know everything about everything...wrong..!!!

 

[Chris_Robb]

agreed - form filling not a problem. Berthing however can, but is normally great fun and undertaken with good spirit. And yes there is good entertainement, though I cannot say that the oldies are normally responsible.

Peronally I don't like to see people cocking it up, but rather to see aboat being handled well, and with total confidence.

We did suffer once from an incompetant berth master from down under (oh dear - thats just where he came from - they aren't all like that) When 2 50 foot powerboats were put out side us and an old gaffer hanging onto a small finger berth.

The wind was 7 SE and there was a serge coming in, and we could not hold them - the old gaffer being crushed onto the end of the finger pontoon. We put a short line accros the harbour (to the road)which sorted the problem, which he then demanded we remove. He still refused to consider moving them else where until I asked him to except liability for damage (which was already occuring). His boss told him to move them, and next day came to appologies.

Otherwise SSP is a favourite especially with the other half, and far morefun than St Helier. don't miss it out

 

[incognito]

Let's agree to differ... my observations are quite the opposite of yours (maybe we move in different circles, I am East Coast and you are probabley from the sailing Mecca that is the Solent)...

My observations are that almost ALL the loudmouths, who (we are agreed on this) are the ones who bump into other boats, are between 25 and 40, and I rarely see an old stager getting into trouble. The accident statistics are dead against you, too, as you can check by asking any broker - the VERY worst are the 25-35 group, chartering boats they know are insured and mistreating them, their crews and anything or anybody around.