Minquiers (Minkies): Beacon names clarification - Gauliot?

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RIBW

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In planning next year's cruises, I am trying to understand navigation into the Pool at Maitresse Ile.

After an exploratory RIB trip last month, I think I have most of issues sorted but there is one niggling discrepancy between the original Robson (1979) and current-ish Carnegie/RCC pilot books.

The Bn that Robson labels 'La Petite Gauliot' is described by Carnegie/RCC as 'La Grande Gauliot'. This is the pole with an open diamond topmark. To the NE of this mark is a lower Bn, labelled, I think, by Carnegie/RCC as 'La Petite Gauliot' but without a description or reference in the text to its purpose. It appears to be on the E side of what I believe to be the 'Gauliot Channel'. Robson was silent on this beacon.
A Jersey pamphlet just refers to the diamond topped Bn as 'Gauliot'.

Has anyone any authoritative information? By simple logic, Robson seems to have got it wrong?

TIA
Bob
 
Morning All,

Thanks for pointing this out, I hadn't noticed the discrepancy. To avoid any further confusion I'll just point out that where you mention the lower beacon being NE of the larger, I assume you meant SE :confused:

As for which is the correct name, I can only guess. The official pilotage text book from Ports of Jersey (the syllabus for Pilot examinations) refers to the lower beacon as Petit Gauliot. My theory would be that a beacon normally gets it's name from the rock it's sat on - the rock would've been named long before a beacon was installed on it after all.The beacon to the NW is on the bigger rock so would likely be the Grande Gauliot. This would tie in with what the pilot book says, suggesting that Robson didn't quite get it right on this occasion.

Have you seen this thread? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?328726
May be of interest to you. The last pic in post #39 shows Petit Gauliot, the easternmost beacon, steel lattice tower and a Targa passing through the Gauliot.

Happy to help further with anything I can
 
Thanks for that JSYmartini.

I'm with you on the naming protocol and can forgive Robson, given all the other wonderful stuff in his book.

Yes thanks, I did see your earlier posting - it was a very good read. I enjoyed reading it.

JSYmartini said:
Morning All, To avoid any further confusion I'll just point out that where you mention the lower beacon being NE of the larger, I assume you meant SE.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my mistake. I had not moved my mind's perspective to Grande Gauliot.

I do have a couple of other queries if you don't mind.

The first is the rock in the 'middle?' of the pool. How does a newbie best avoid it? It looked pretty ominous at just about half tide.

The second is a beacon I observed from the Condor to St Malo, which seemed to be travelling much further west than usual (it was Springs). I'm guessing we were SE of Maitresse Ile by then. I can't relate it to anything on my charts/chartplotter.
View attachment 46310

Many Thanks
Bob
 
Theres quite a few heads that don't show until nearer low water just to the east of the anchorage so you don't want to stray over that way. As you make your approach on the Grande Gauliot x Rocher NE transit, when the toilet (B/W stripes, you mustve seen it) comes in line with the most southerly chimney on the cottages behind, you can then turn to port and head for the moorings. There's a good chance somebody will already be on the States mooring and the 1 or 2 others are private (probably occupied as well). I often anchor a few yards south of the states buoy, firmish sand that dries at 1m (St. Helier) above CD.

The beacon you saw from the Condor would be the Coq Beacon, now an E cardinal. The Coq passage takes you from the SE Minquiers, up past the beacon then NNW roughly toward the N Minquiers buoy. It's a short cut on the St. Malo to Jersey route that takes you over some drying rocks so is generally used only above half tide. The safer route is from the SE Minquiers buoy straight up to the NE Minquiers buoy.

Despite the Coq beacon being an East cardinal, I found myself passing W of it earlier this year, about 1.00 in the morning, with a swimmer alongside the boat doing about 1.5 knots. :rolleyes: Short video here if you want to know more: http://youtu.be/T8Ad4op11qo

Incidentally, many years ago when Condor were running the hydrofoils, one of them managed to strike the Coq whilst on passage to St. Malo. I have it on good authority that the main contributing factor to this accident was the fact that the captain was busy servicing one of the hostesses at the time. Whether thats how the rock came to be so named, I'm not too sure...
 
Matt,
Thanks for the detailed advice. I'm intending to go in from the north at Neaps half tide up (plus a bit) to clear my 1.5m keel, so it will probably mean anchoring where you have suggested as it will be after the early birds.

Interesting video - 2knots average seems pretty good!

As to the old Condor - sounds like he caught his prey?

Thanks again
Bob
 
I know all the pilot books say choose a neap and stop over the high water but personally I don't see the point of going there when 99% of it is under water! It can be a fairly unwelcoming place over HW, you feel in the middle of nowhere and it can be quite rolly, I never really relax down there above high tide.

My advice would be to go on a spring, arrive at HT down ish, possibly 10-11am. Approach from the north starting at the Demie de Vascelin, south down toward the Jetee des Fontaines de Bas, then turn SW and pass over the sandbank which you will see the outline of in the tide. Anchor S of the sandbank, wait an hour or 2, when the bank dries the tide stops and you are in a beautiful, crystal clear lagoon almost. Take the dinghy with a reliable outboard across the sound over to the Maitresse Isle, recce the area, take some lat longs, explore the island and be back aboard by an hour or 2 after LW when the tide starts to build again.

Pilotage to the "lagoon" is much easier and safer, you'll see a lot more local boats there than at the Maitresse Isle anchorage. I'm happy to give more detailed instructions/ waypoints etc nearer the time.
 
JSYmartini said:
My advice would be to go on a spring, .....Pilotage to the "lagoon" is much easier and safer, you'll see a lot more local boats there than at the Maitresse Isle anchorage.
Click to expand...

Matt,
Thanks for the suggestion. The Springs option makes sense from the scenic point of view. [As a visitor, the combination of Springs, The Channel Islands, fin keel and a max speed of 5kn-ish has made me cautious - hence the Neaps!]

Looking at your chartplotter screengrab, I'm assuming you mean anchor close to your M017.

It will also liberate me from planning the whole trip around the tides.

Regards
Bob
 
JSYmartini said:
Ah fin keel changes things a bit, we're not talking about a lot of water here in general. That would make me slightly nervous!
Click to expand...

Matt, Sorry I missed your reply - I received an alert for the most recent postings.

If you are 'slightly nervous' then I will plan with due caution!

Cheers
Bob
 
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