Looking to lose my virginity.

[WayneS]

Channel virginity that is.

Now that I have your attention, I am looking to do my first channel crossing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg in mid August (around 14th)

A couple of Q's

1. Will it be a major problem that I cannot speak French

2. Wanting to ensure that my passage plan ensures that I arrive up tide at Cherbourg, is it best to arrive on a falling or rising tide? My current plan gets me there around low water so maybe it's not too much of a concern.

3. Is it really better to leave from Yarmouth or is going direct from Portsmouth OK.

Anyone else looking to do it at that time that would be happy to have me follow their wake.

Cheers

Wayne


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[snowleopard]

see this month's YM for info on passage plans from solent to cherbourg.

re language, you will get by in marinas, restaurants etc. obviously it's easier if you do have a bit of the language, especially once you get away from the places tourists go.

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[StugeronSteve]

Hi Wayne.

My answer to your questions:-

1) Only if you're also unable to speak English.
2) The real concern is being caught down tide, you may plan to arrive at slack but the tides are strong well off the coast and unless you are going to use the iron topsail it is difficult to be precise about passage times. Make sure that your plan allows for change and review your actual progress against plan so as to allow time to make adjustments early.
3) Certainly not if there is a stiff souwesterly blowing down the needles channel! If you keep your boat in the Eastern Solent leave from the east, there's b****r all difference in distance.

Good luck and enjoy..

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[Twister_Ken]

Just aim uptide of the entrance (several miles). Few things in life are worse than being downtide of Chbg. In fact, I'd try and avoid a slack arrival, coz that means the tide is about to change direction and might catch you out if you're a tad off sched.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Solent to Cherbourg

I am surprised they haven't sorted out a buoyed channel from the Solent to Cherbourg yet.

Only kidding /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[ParaHandy]

although Ken didn't say so, he does prefer the western end of the IoW ...

i've never set off from portsmuff via yarmouth but might be good idea if tide ebbs early in the morning to sail previous night to yarmouth, moor outside, and then leg it early in the morning before the wee man comes out to collect his dosh ... yarmouth is a) a bit closer to Cherbourg and b) with typical SW wind you've a bit better wind angle and c) always get caught by tide around bembridge one way or another

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[Twister_Ken]

Or, if you're the type, you can anchor to the east of Hurst Spit, and not worry about the wee man in the dory.

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[stiknstring]

I echo previous posters' remarks. I always used to go direct from Portsmouth. You are almost immediately on passage then. Going via Yarmouth is an unnecessary diversion IMHO. Once you get to Bembridge Ledge (which is the traditional "starting point" for a crossing), you can base your route planning from there and just reel off the miles from then. It's then only around 65 miles from the buoy. What you will find comforting - or annoying - is that it appears to take ages (around 3 hours) before you are abeam St Cat's point and then the IOW is visible for a further 3-4 hours depending on visibility and boat speed. Picking up the French coast by sight at 20 miles on a good day, some 3-4 hours out means that at most you will only have a few hours without sight of land.

Approaching Chbg, as others have said, the important thing is to ensure you are uptide by at least a mile at neaps and more at springs. I would advise you to monitor this especially during the last two hours of the trip as getting back uptide can be difficult. I use the Eastern entrance and the only danger points are the Roches Noires which as with everything maritime in France is an area well marked by bouyage. The height of the tide, except as it refers to the tidal stream, is of little significance at Chbg to you as it is accessible at all stages of the tide.

Can I recommend that you try the Cafe de Paris in Chbg (upstairs dining room my favourite). They are very accomodating to us yotties and the food is truly excellent.

Keep an eye out in the shipping lanes, swat up on your colregs and you will have a great crossing. You will enjoy it hugely, I am sure. Best of luck.

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[Mizzenrabble]

If you leave from Peterhead, there are salty fisherman who will gladly B+gg?r you just coz it's an old family tradition. I don't speak from personal experience of course.

It gets lonely out there you know.

(Sorry to lower the tone but you started it!!!)

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