Ideal Boat Size for Channel Island Hop

[Sheppy]

Although I started a thread about cruising from Dartmouth to Milford Haven, I'm now thinking of a run from Dartmouth to the Channel Islands first to get some extra experience.

I'm interested however in views on the size of boat for certain journeys. I do know it's like 'how long is a piece of string' or 'bigger the better' but there must be some kind of acceptable minimum size for mainly coastal cruising but with the odd longer distance run. When I had a 15' boat a journey like this was unthinkable, when I had a 19' people said you need a 21, I skipped the 21 and went to a 25 but I fear now people will say I need a 28 or 31!! I can't really afford a larger boat so I need to explore the limits of my 25. She's a Fletcher 25 Diesel Sportscruiser. She's basically a large open cruiser with a few decent amenities such as sea loo, decent cabin, small galley and a full awning cover too.

So what I’m really interested to know is what size of boat have you done this journey in?
Was the size a problem and any interesting experiences?

Also, any advice on where to go in the Channel Islands would be useful too?

 

[Solitaire]

So what I’m really interested to know is what size of boat have you done this journey in?
Was the size a problem and any interesting experiences?

Also, any advice on where to go in the Channel Islands would be useful too?

Smallest was a 28ft single shaft cabin cruiser. Took 8 hours to get to St. Helier. No problems, just boring! But weather and tide has to be watched carefully.

I like Beaucette Marine.

 

[rafiki_]

I think you should be ok in your Fletcher, but you must pick a very benign weather window. I believe a few years ago the MBM cruising club put a minimum limit on length. Cant recall if this was 23 or 25 ft.

 

[Sheppy]

Thanks Solitaire,
What sort of speed were you doing or did you run a mixture? Why so boring? Did the 28 handle the sea well?
John

 

[Sheppy]

Thanks Rafiki,
I know sailing boats are a completely different design (probably answering my own question then) but many seem to suggest a 20/22 as very capable for this sort of crossing but many feel it should be larger in a MB. I suppose that makes some kind of sense. Well at least I’m in the ballpark at last
John

 

[rafiki_]

Thanks Rafiki,
I know sailing boats are a completely different design (probably answering my own question then) but many seem to suggest a 20/22 as very capable for this sort of crossing but many feel it should be larger in a MB. I suppose that makes some kind of sense. Well at least I’m in the ballpark at last
John

If I were you, I would be tempted to go in a convoy of likeminded people. Again, the weather is the biggest factor, plus your skill, and your confidence in your boat's reliability. With a few boats, you have some options.

 

[Solitaire]

Thanks Solitaire,
What sort of speed were you doing or did you run a mixture? Why so boring? Did the 28 handle the sea well?
John

Boat was semi displacement . Boring because there is nothing to see for sometime apart from large boats moving up and down the channel. Trip was from the Solent, down through the Alderney race. With a small boat, wind and tide play a major part in your planning as of course fuel consumption. The trip was around 120nm, so range is critical and speed will therefore need to be moderated accodinly.Wind speed and direction prior to your passage will also decide when you go.

 

[Whitelighter]

It is totally doable in your boat. As David says you need to watch the weather and choose the right time to go - and that means also being prepared to decide not to go. Plugging on regardless because your plan is your plan is when things can go wrong.

There are things you can do to make it easier/less stressful:

1) consider going very early in the morning. Weather tend to be more settled as the atmosphere is a cooler more even tempteture and there is less wind generally.

2) break the trip into smaller chunks. How about doing Dartmouth-Weymouth, Weymouth-Alderney, Alderney-Guernsey. This reduces your cross channel distance to about 80nm, which is you boat in good conditions is probably about 3 1/2 hours door to door

 

[Sheppy]

Thanks Whitelighter,
At least it seems I'm not barking up the wrong channel after all. I agree planning and weather is key and I'll start to look at that in more detail. Good idea about running via Weymouth/Alderney - hadn't really thought of that, but then I'm just trying to access at the moment whether I'm mad or not. As fuel prices increase, it'll have a knock on effect on longer distance travel so I figure perhaps I should get some runs in before the price rockets even further.

 

[Whitelighter]

Don't forget diesel fuel in the channel islands is duty free, so your return trip at least will be cheap

 

[Sheppy]

Don't forget diesel fuel in the channel islands is duty free, so your return trip at least will be cheap

Sorry, did you mean 'cheaper' as opposed to cheap
But a very good point, thanks.

 

[jimg]

Have done the Dartmouth - CI many times, it really is all about the weather.

Smallest boat was a 28' Nimbus Nova walkaround from Jersey to Dartmouth on a delivery trip.

Not sure I would bother going to Weymouth, etc as you would need several days of good weather, rather than one to go straight from Dartmouth.

cannot be much in it distance wise?

 

[maybh1]

Our first trip "abroad" was in our Hardy 27 - an MBM trip to Jersey. We travelled at 8 knots and it took us 12 hours

Luckily the day was gorgeous and the sea flat calm and we had the comfort of following another slow boat with an experienced skipper

Perhaps you can find another boat to travel in company with for your first trip.

When we belonged to the Upper Hamble Cruising Club we did an Easter trip to Guernsey with a Fletcher 21 footer as part of our fleet (if my memory serves me correctly) and he was absolutely fine

May
Xx

 

[Jurgen]

Interesting Thread, SWMBO & I are 2 weeks away from collecting our new to us boat and doing day skipper.

We are based in Brixham and would also like to head off to the Channel Islands.

On the basis that we will be going in an unfamiliar boat we might be wise to leave it until next season unless we were part of a large/more experienced group.

Either way would defo be happy to discuss over a pint in the FBI

 

[Solitaire]

Interesting Thread, SWMBO & I are 2 weeks away from collecting our new to us boat and doing day skipper.

We are based in Brixham and would also like to head off to the Channel Islands.

On the basis that we will be going in an unfamiliar boat we might be wise to leave it until next season unless we were part of a large/more experienced group.

Either way would defo be happy to discuss over a pint in the FBI

I know your boat well. It is/was my registered school boat. I have an f37 as well. Next year I am planning a cruise n company for people who have done courses with me over the last 2 years. I also the arrangement you have with Mark on certain things.

 

[gjgm]

How long do you hope to go for? If it is a w/end, then the weather forecast should be pretty reliable, but if you are thinking of 5 days + the problem is being sure of a decent return sea (you can choose the one of the way out ) You also want to pay attention to wind and the tide and get the best passge. The seas have come a long way if from the west, so consider how long it has been blowing to gauge how long before it settles.
You have a choice of timing Alderney Race/stopping in Braye to wait and then going down the Swinge. You can also go out via Casquettes and so not have to worry so much about timings, but there are overfalls out the way(milder) too. It is a good idea to note where the rougher seas will be, as it gives some peace of mind to know this bit is 5 miles, not another 50 !!
There is a sense of adventure in a sea crossing, but comapred to going along a coast, it is pretty boring.
You can do it, yes, but I would decide what seas you will be ok with, and just wait for the seas, whether that is next week or next year. Planning a date is the wrong way round, but 80 miles in F2 isnt going to alarm you.
80 miles in 25ft wind over tide in F4 might prove more of a slog that you intended.
Oh.. and nothing wrong in phoning Alderney and |SPP harbour masters and asking how it looks over there!!

 

[Jurgen]

I know your boat well. It is/was my registered school boat. I have an f37 as well. Next year I am planning a cruise n company for people who have done courses with me over the last 2 years. I also the arrangement you have with Mark on certain things.

Might still keep the Certification, as were based in Brixham dont know what the demand will be?

 

[Keith-i]

A number of ribs ranging from 5.5m to 8m make this trip most years from Southampton to Alderney. Personally I would not want to go in anything under 21' due to the uncertainty of the weather for the return crossing. The most important thing is to avoid wind over tide, especially around Alderney. It doesn't take much to become very uncomfortable.

 

[Jeepster]

Although I started a thread about cruising from Dartmouth to Milford Haven, I'm now thinking of a run from Dartmouth to the Channel Islands first to get some extra experience.

I'm interested however in views on the size of boat for certain journeys. I do know it's like 'how long is a piece of string' or 'bigger the better' but there must be some kind of acceptable minimum size for mainly coastal cruising but with the odd longer distance run. ?

Its not the length of the boat thats important, its how much freeboard your boat has and how the particular hull design of your boat handles the waves...As soon as I can afford a bigger engine I'll be crossing the channel in my Marina 16 GT...Thats plently big enough for the job, providing the weather isn't too bad

 

[GuyS.]

When we raced at Cork week a few years back, on the trip back from Ireland to the Solent (yacht, not MB) I was amazed at the number of ribs making the same trip back across the Irish sea. I really don't think size should be an issue.