Passage plan Ostende-Cherbourg

kingfisher

kingfisher

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Nov 2001
Messages
1,971
Location
Belgium, Holland
Visit site
We are planning our annual trip of the summer, destination: Sark. Our first goal is Cherbourg. I would like to run a few things by the Forum:
1) As the trip in westward direction is 'against the tide' (you always arrive at your destination at LW, if taking a fair tide), it is best to go during neap rather than spring tides?
2) From a scenic point of view, I would like to go across to dover, travel along the coast and then cross again at the Needles. The return journey would then follow the French coast. The trouble is, when I did that in 2000, I hated the bit between Dover and Weymouth, as there are no interesting stopovers (no, I do not consider Eastbourne 'interesting'), and only long journeys and overfalls). Did I miss something? I would like to cut up the journey in 30-Mile stretches.
So far
Ostende
Graveline
Boulogne
Le Tréport
Fécamps
Cherbourg

Versus

Oostend
Graveline
Dover
(suggestions?)
(suggestions?)
Weymouth
Somwhere in the solent (suggestions?)
Cherbourg

Boat is a Sirocco31 half tonner, we have a tender, I use 5knts as average passage plan speed. (hey, I'm an optimist)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Graveline is really a HW Hbr you might loose the fair tide to Boulogne

[/ QUOTE ]
I plan to leave Graveline HW+1 or +2, then I have 2 hours against the tide and 6 hours with, it's 36Nm, so at least 7-8hours. So do-able, I guess?
 
I was in Fécamp in 2000, we landed there at 1600h after a day-night-day trip from Guernsey, three crew doing 8 hor on, 4 hours off, so we were pretty tired. We looked around and got out of there at 1800H. What a sh*tehole, and that from someone who has already been 4 times to Queensborugh. We moved on to Dieppe. So if I can avoid Fécamps, I will.

Dieppe is nice, especially since they renovated the seafront. But been there, done that. I had St Val on my list, but Mapmedia does not give me a detailed map, thank God for Google Earth.

Braye harbour looks nice. Added to the plan.

Criss crossing is in my plan B book, if I have to go against the wind.

So there really is nothing between Weymouth and Dover?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[So there really is nothing between Weymouth and Dover?]

Google Earth

[/ QUOTE ]

We will take your valuable contribution most seriously in consideration.
 
Well you obviously didn't look very hard....

The Benedictine Monastry is very lovely indeed, with some magnificent architecture, a very good museum, and the acceptable by-product of a tasting session at the Benedictine distillery aftrwards!

Granted, the rest of the town is dull, but it does have the odd good bit too!

Much nicer than Cherbourg IMHO....
 
[ QUOTE ]
but Mapmedia does not give me a detailed map, thank God for Google Earth

[/ QUOTE ]

Might have to resort to an old-fashioned pilot book and a chart then?

Your question's academic anyway - my recollection of cruising a Sirocco 31 was worrying if deck and hull would remain stuck together. Quality of build not!
 
Not Le Treport - it's like Ramsgate the wrong way up, and you won't want to get there at low water. Boulogne-Dieppe is about 55 miles. St Valery sur Somme may be worth a visit if you've time & work the tides right.

If Fecamp-St Vaast seems too far, Corseulles may be a handy break (again, at the right tide)
 
[ QUOTE ]

Your question's academic anyway - my recollection of cruising a Sirocco 31 was worrying if deck and hull would remain stuck together. Quality of build not!

[/ QUOTE ]

Trust me, the hull/deck joint is the least of my worries. Since the standing rigging is attached to the hull, probably the compression on the mast alone keeps the deck in place.

I know it is not the sturdiest or roomiest of boats, but she sails well, if rather wet. And besides, she is a lot of boat for 10.000£

My cruising ground is the Zeeland river Estuaries, and for those sheltered waters she is just fine, allthough the 1m7 depth does pose a problem once and a while (it's mainly mud and sand here).

And no, I don't think that they intended for it to still be sailing after 38 years.

And you sail what again?
 
Not a lot of choices if you want all tide ports on English side, if you do not like Eastbourne and its plastic surrounds then Rye, Littlehampton are opposites in Character but very tide restricted. Newhaven and Shoreham locked basin are just grim unless you bus it to Lewes/Brighton, but Sussex YC in the Adur river part of Shoreham is good but tidal again.

Best to cross to Cherbourg/Alderney from Weymouth far better prevailing wind angle rather than come back to Solent.

I do not understand the comments about Fecamp, it has the Benidictine and a fantastic Abbey to see as well some very good cheap resturants off the main drag. Watch out for the swell at LW in the entrance. French coast I would skip Treport but if time allows recommend Caen up the canal, Carentan, St Valley, and Honfleur of course. Le Harve is LeHarve welcome in a storm and has good eating but thats yer lot unless you are a 50s concrete buff.

whatever enjoy



Brian
 
How about this:

Ostende
Dunkirk (useful waypoint)
Boulogne (Cap griz Nez - wind over tide is tough!)
Dieppe (getting expensive now but good eating)
Fecamp (You judged it harshly from its wobbly pontoons - the town is interesting and has good eating!)

Then you have a choice:

Round to Le Havre (which really is a dump) or
cut over the bay to Oistreham
St Vaast
Cherbourg

On a find day you can cut stright from Fecamp to Cherbourg on 3 tides, the last one west-going of course.

The UK equivalent is drear:
Dover
Eastbourne (104 miles to Cherbourg - 3+ tides on nice day)
Brighton (slightly shorter trip to Cherbourg if weather forces you along the UK coast)
Solent (take your pick) for the classic trip to Cherbourg

Eastbourne to Fecamp is just 60 miles and a nice trip with the right breeze.

Going to Weymouth seems to have little point on the way out.

Good sailing - see you en route, no doubt!

PWG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top