North Brittany and Channel Islands Pilot Books

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm planning to cruise around North Brittany and the Channel Islands for two weeks this summer. At the moment the only book I have which covers the area is the Shell Channel Pilot so I would like to get a couple of books which deal with this cruising area specifically. As I've sailed in the area before, in addition to information on the major ports it would also be nice to get some recommendations for anchorages etc..... that are off the beaten track. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

I was thinking of getting the YM cruising companion for the area, does anyone know if this is any good?

Cheers,

David

P.S. Please humour me if this information has been posted before on the forum, although I did a quick search and didn't come up with anything.

 

[DoctorD]

David,

For the Channels Islands I find the "Channel Islands Pilot" by Malcolm Robson very good ISBN 0 7136 5771 5. It has drawings of what things look like at Sea Level - extremely useful for transits which are vital because of the strong tides in this area.

I can't help you with Brittany

Graham

 

[Skyva_2]

The Cruising Association handbook is good but expensive. I agree on Robson. PBO did a good softback on the Channel Islands. 'North Brittany Pilot' is another good one.

Keith

 

[jamesjermain]

If my opinion as a former editor of YM and the commissioning editor of the latest edition is anything to go by, the Yachting Monthly North Brittany and Channel Islands guide by Peter Cumberlidge is well researched and entertainly written. It is also, by some margin, the most up-to-date and comprehensive of the pilot books of this area currently available.

JJ

 

[Guest]

You can't beat the Admiralty Channel Pilot for value. It also includes a whole series of very useful silhouette views along the coast.

 

[tcm]

Re: cumberlidge, michelin

Nothing to do with a pilot book of course. The thin green guides (Normandy, Brittany) an absolute must, and the red hardback michelin book for eating out.

Cumberlidge also did a "waypoint guide to the english channel" which is also v good, but not cheap at 15quid which i think works at at over 10p per waypoint - and some of them are duplicates!

 

[Guest]

James,

Does the YM cruising companion cover anchorages in addition to the major ports?

Cheers,

David

 

[jamesjermain]

Yes...

This is very much part of the philosophy. Local anchoragtes are included in the section on their nearest major harbour and some are covered as part of a general chapter on passage making between one part of an area and another.
All the books in the series approach their areas in a slightly different way, reflecting their different characters, but the principles are always the same. The companions are not just pilots. they are yachtsmens' guides and have a wealth of information ikn addition to the basics of what course to steer from where to where.

Having said all that, if you want really local knowledge of obscure, daytime only, half-tide hidy-holes, then a locally produced booklet might be more informative.

JJ

 

[johndf]

Re: Yes...

I'd agree on using the YM pilot and also, for the Channel Islands, the updated version of Robson's pilot which I think is called the RCC CI Pilot. This has excellent photgraphs and sketches linked to chartlets, which show transits for most minor as well as major passages.

If you have a boat which can take the ground, then the choice is limitless. I've now got a fin-keeler which has cut down my options a bit, but still leaves lots of choice. You also have the choice of beaches, rocky areas, islands and rivers. If I had to recommend one spot, it would be Ile de Brehat, but use the Port de la Corderie anchorage, which is a little less busy than La Chambre, but does dry out for quite a way at springs. Then of course there's Pontrieux, Treguier, Dahouet, La Rance, ....