Night time approach to St Vaast

[bedouin]

A number of those on this month's Forum Cherbourg trip are planning a stop off in St Vaast that is likely to require an approach in the early hours of the morning.

On all my previous trips I have approached in daylight - and I seem to recall that it is not the easiest of approaches and pots are a bit of an issue.

I'm wondering what it is like as a night time approach - it does have a sectored light that in theory makes it fairly straightforward but only if the area is pot-free!

Does anyone have experience of a nighttime approach or recent knowledge about the number of pots in the area?

 

[sailorman]

Pots, try the East Coast, its where they breed

 

[BlueSkyNick]

there were pots there in July, although didn't seem as bad as last year. I guess it varies from one week to another. They all have flags, albeit black but better than nothing.

As long as you leave the Gavestadt (sp?) buoy to starboard, I think you will be OK. If you can have a crew on the foredeck with a decent torch all the better.

 

[cnh]

There is a good set of leading lights along the line to the south of Tatihou. I have some pictures of these [daytime, I'm afraid] on a page of my site:

http://www.channelpilot.info/stvaast.php

Nicholas Hill

 

[BlueSkyNick]

a good site, Nicholas.

You say there are no hazards - I went at first light one morning last July, (with Parahandy on board) and there was a boat moored to the La Dent South Cardinal shown on your picture!!

A German flagged AWB, IIRC.

 

[jimi]

How far is it safe to leave La Dent to port?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

depends on the height of the tide. why do you ask?

 

[jimi]

mmmm .. just wondered ... cos the reef there provides superb shelter when anchored up waiting for the lock to open.

 

[paddywackcocker]

Have arrived and left in the dark, quite straight forward, always had to be on guard for the pots. Came across a string of them about 1.5 miles out (this set not flagged) but only the ounce (in June 04). Hence seeing I have Swmbo with me, I am opting for a day time arrival, don’t won’t to have the fatigue induced domestic.
I.e.,
Pot, port side bow. No that’s starboard. That’s what I said. No you didn’t. Yes I did.
How you got YM beets me. You Bxxsted
And so it goes on, ending in the broken telly (picture no sound) meal out for two.

Great fun really, it’s all in the heat of the moment

How’s me spell check going?
Pat

 

[Sans Bateau]

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