pLYMOUTH TO nORTH bRITTANY

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Paddydog`1

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I fancy a round trip from Plymouth to N Brittany , the channel islands, dartmouth and home. Any suggestions particularly about land fall in N Brittany. I presume anticlockwise is best but as first time across channel am open to all constructive suggestions including favourite places to visit on the way
TY
 
The route I usually took - when we used to have summers ! - was across to Guernsey ( Alderney puts the willies up me, possibly the things the Germans got up to incorporating slaves into the breakwater, though the strong tides, Swinge, Race & rocks may be a factor ! ).

Then a simple daysail to Jersey, on to St Malo - make sure the visibility is forecast OK in all this area and you have a good pilot book, I find Adlard Coles 'Channel Harbours & Anchorages' very good but it may be a bit dated now.

From St Malo it's a daysail to Binic, a nice little port; then a long but relatively simple sail from there to Plymouth, which should be fast if the prevailing South Westerlies behave.

One tip, in case GPS is for some reason not playing ball or just for curiosity I used to find that the cumulous clouds above Start Point reflect the shape of the land below spookily accurately inc' the inlets of Salcombe etc, easily spotted from a long way off.

Have fun !
 
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Depends which way the wind is blowing!
If it's from East then the world is your oyster :)
Plymouth L'Aber-Wrac'h about 110nM then carry on west till the wind changes.
If it's from West then I would head to Guernsey first about 87nM then St Malo about 55nM, Lezardrieux about 50nM then carry on west till you run out of time and head back to Plymouth.
 
I recall reading somewhere (Tom C's Channel Pilot?) that you should start in the west and sail east as that's the way the tides go - ie you can leave somewhere just before HW and reach the next place soon after as their HW will be later. So yes anti-clockwise is therefore best.

As for a landfall it depends how far west you want to start - L'Aberwrach is a relatively (for this part of the world) easy entrance especially in the dark regardless of the state of the tide. Further east Tregier is also not too hard at night - the lights are easier to follow than the leading beacons in the day! And at Paimpol you can anchor if the tide is not yet right to enter the harbour. St Quay has 24 hour access.

If you are around that area in late July then we may see you as weather permitting we will be heading to S Brittany from Granville.
 
Starting in the West would be spiffing, but I've found if the weather is settled in the area the wind is likely to be South Westerly so a snag beating and doubling the distance.

I find it useful to get as far West along the Southern English coast as reasonably possible to get the right wind angle for the crossing, though setting off from Plymouth for Guernsey should be fine; watch out for the Platte Fougerre reef to the NW though !
 
As others have said, it will depend on the wind direction and the later forecast. SW wind, I would personally head due South towards Treguier, which is a really nice town. Then perhaps East towards Jersey (never actually been there myself though), and then Guernsey, perhaps even a day on Sark.

Plymouth to St Peter port along the South coast is fine (done it twice in my 22 footer) but keep well clear of the coast and slowly close on St Martin's point, avoiding the pot boys!. But if you are tempted to visit Alderney, then do really consider the wind and wind over tide! If intending to return from Braye, you would have to go West to avoid the shipping separation scheme, and then either towards Dartmouth or Plymouth. I did it the first time, and it was horrid, and at night too.

Hoping to go again in July, and my proposed route will be towards Alderney, then Guernsey. It's far easier to return from Guernsey than Alderney in my opinion.

Have a great time.
 
sailorgirl said:
you should start in the west and sail east as that's the way the tides go - ie you can leave somewhere just before HW and reach the next place soon after as their HW will be later.
Click to expand...

Yes, the tides are later, but it depends on the length of each hop, it works well for short hops having a following tide, but you end up entering on a falling tide.
Note: Paimpol is only one hour later than Roscoff and it is 60nM!
Going west, yes you leave on a falling tide but what time you leave is totally under your control and yes you start off with foul tide, but you end up with a following and, more important IMO, a rising tide.
 
Anticlockwise is really easier. You can get quite far on one tide over there. In summer winds are much more likely to have W in them, than E.

I made my landfall in Perros-Guirec last summer, departing from Salcombe. Went W from there to Morlaix, spending a few days before going E again, working our way eventually to St. Malo, then CI, then crossing to Poole. It was a great cruise and we always had a good sailing wind, other than the initial crossing (in a dead calm). The only beating was the E part from PG towards Morlaix.
 
I agree with Jimi, and the others, commit yourself to a crossing to Guernsey.

For a first crossing it is a daylight trip and short enough to motor in comfort if the wind runs out. You generally get a favourable wind and the landfall and entry is good, even at night.

It does not matter where you go after that, it is all grand. The more you miss, the more you have to look forward to next time.
 
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