Maldon to Calais

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Mariner69

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I am considering a run down to Calais at the beginning of May in my 19 foot Hunter Europa.

I have stared at the charts for some time and have been coinsidering threading between the sand banks from the Wallet Spitway down towards Ramsgate.

Another part of my mind whispers, just run out on the ebb down the Wallet towards the Sunk then sail on a broad reach (assuming south westerlys) around the outside to Kentish Knock and South Goodwin before turning left to cross the channel.

Do I follow my whispers?
 
That's a long way that way! With a Hunter you can easily cross the Sunk Sand either using the swatchway at the SW Sunk (clear of the wreckage of the old beacon) and then Fisherman's Gat or crossing adjacent to the Barrow No 2 midway between the two obstructions, then heading up to Fisherman's Gat on the assumption that Foulger's Gat might still be closed because of the wind farm construction (but you might be lucky).

In an 18 footer getting the tides right will be a good idea but its a great trip and very satisfying. I would suggest Maldon all the way to Calais is quite a long journey - possible of course but a break at Ramsgate might come in handy.

There are a couple of useful books (he said breaking the forum rules - for which I apologise to stave off suspension)
 
On the other hand I can recommend, as a satisfied recent purchaser and therefore with no fear of reprimand from IPC Central, a book entitled "Crossing the Thames Estuary" by some bloke called Roger Gaspar. It should give you lots of information. And numbers. Lots of numbers. It's a book crying out for an app :)
 
If your chosen speed is say 5 knots then the book needs rearranging with all those 5 knot pages together at the front and ignore the rest - looks easier that way.

A friend on a delivery trip was about to do the final leg from Ramsgate. I did him a plan of route and timings from the CTTE book to wash him up to Bradwell at HW, which was 1500 that day. He rang me at 1500 "Just coming up the creek" :cool::cool: How cool was that :)
 
Try Boulogne instead

My only suggestion is that not only is Calais a pain to get into the facilities are nowhere as good as Boulogne. To get to Boulogne I go west of Dover until I am level with the radio masts halfway between Boulogne and Folkestone, point directly at Cape Griz Nez, check the course on the compass, which should be roughly SE and keep that heading even though Cape Giz Nez will slide to one side or the other. If you do it with a strong West flowing tide you will find that at 4-5 knots you will come out of the TSS roughly right on Boulogne. If you do this you don't have to worry about the ferries once you are past Dover now Speedferry has stopped running. I've never had a problem with any of the shipping in the TSS by doing this crossing as if conditions are good I am very visible to them even at night and they have always altered course for me so I have been able to maintain my course throughout.

Boulogne has wonderful buildings in the old walled city on top of the hill, in summer the gardens are a delight. Good restaurants and best of all a big supermarket [was Champion now Carrefour if I remember correctly] within trolley wheeling distance of the marina. The club at the marina will make you very welcome. And best of all you don't have to wait for the lock to open to go into the marina, which to me is a real pain at Calais.
 
Ditto. I had occasion to be lifted at Boulogne a few years back and they could not have been more professional, helpful and pricewise reasonable. Even gave us a personal key to the shipyard showers.
 
Well, I like Calais.

Firday/Saturday nights in the yacht club can be great evenings - the locals often head down there and a party atmosphere develops. Granted access is limited to the bridge openings, but if we get there early then we just grab a waiting bouy and head ashore...

Boulogne is always smelly and the trawlers kicking off early in the morning isn't excatly conducive to sleeping off the hangover. And the club isn't a patch on the one at Calais :)
 
Sea_Spray said:
Well, I like Calais.

Firday/Saturday nights in the yacht club can be great evenings - the locals often head down there and a party atmosphere develops. Granted access is limited to the bridge openings, but if we get there early then we just grab a waiting bouy and head ashore...

Boulogne is always smelly and the trawlers kicking off early in the morning isn't excatly conducive to sleeping off the hangover. And the club isn't a patch on the one at Calais :)
Click to expand...

[Boulogne is always smelly and the trawlers kicking off early in the morning ]

when were you there last :eek:

our last visit we stayed for 4 glorious days in the sun, no smell, no noisy fishermen & this photo was the Boulogne brochure for the next season
2006_0802aug060031-3.jpg
 
I prefer Calais to Boulogne. Was in Calais end of Mat 11 and Boulogne in June 11. Boulogne was smelly and the club dull in comparison with Calais.

Getting into Calais is OK - cross over the entrance channel at an appropriate time to get to the beach side and hang about out of the tide near the breakwater and ask to follow the ferry in. I had to sail in once when I had engine failure and port control were very helpful.

Both cities have some great buildings.
 
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