Poole Cherbourg

[gjgm]

Don't rely on the AIS CPA until relatively close. It's difficult to hold an absolutely steady course in a small boat, and the CPA can jump about a bit.

Well sure, but I guess your handhelp compass isnt too accurate at several miles range, bobbing about either.
I am only saying that AIS gives you a good oversight on the plotter of all the ships about, where they are heading, and how close they might get. I suggest it does that alot faster,more clearly.
Sure, its a tool, not a fact, but persoanlly, I think it is excellent somewhere like the channel- and totally useless somewhere like the Solent !

 

[Twister_Ken]

Well sure, but I guess your handhelp compass isnt too accurate at several miles range, bobbing about either.
I am only saying that AIS gives you a good oversight on the plotter of all the ships about, where they are heading, and how close they might get. I suggest it does that a lot faster, more clearly.
Sure, its a tool, not a fact, but persoanlly, I think it is excellent somewhere like the channel- and totally useless somewhere like the Solent !

Agreed, faster and more clearly, but not more reliably because of changes in your heading. You'll see, if you read back, that I don't set much store on the HBC either until the range has closed down to less than two miles (not because of bobbing about, but because the incremental change in the bearing on anything likely to be a real threat is going to be so small as to be lost in your uncertainty about the exact bearing).

 

[dslittle]

So you wouldn't have any concerns re dawn fog which I understand can be an issue in the summer? An article I was reading said avoid night crossings because of this??

I came back during the day last Bank Holiday Monday and spent three hours in a fog bank mid channel. The vis was terrible and my main solace was the radar and AIS.

After the RTIR a couple of weekends ago, we came back across from Cowes in fog with dozens of yachts coming in and out of view - I would rather have been mid channel !!!

Whilst I appreciate dawn fog being a problem if you want to get inshore, there is more chance of it burning off there than mid channel if you stand off and wait for the sun.

Fog is horrible wherever it is night or day. It is not an experience that I would want to repeat but we survived...

 

[AlanRD]

Having also done the crossing from Studland to Cherbourg many times I would not leave before dawn but listen to the 05.20 shipping forecast to have the very latest weather information. It doesn't matter what time you reach the shipping lanes the ships will still be there.

Whilst many people favour the night time crossing I prefer a daytime crossing after having seen all the fishing buoys mid Channel, and the bits and pieces in the water. If you leave around 06.00 you should arrive in time for a shower and a few drinks and a meal to celebrate.

I used to go without radar but after getting caught out by fog in the shipping lanes, which was not forecast, I soon bought a second hand black and white machine. It was worth every penny.

 

[eddie2000]

Don't assume that big stuff can see you on AIS just because you have bought a transponder. Class A sets have the ability to turn off class B signals and many big ships do just to get rid of the AIS clutter.

I aslo agree with AlanRD about the buoys and floats (and debris) in the channel. Too many hazards for me at night.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

+1 on MK1 eyeball

Don't assume that big stuff can see you on AIS just because you have bought a transponder. Class A sets have the ability to turn off class B signals and many big ships do just to get rid of the AIS clutter.

I aslo agree with AlanRD about the buoys and floats (and debris) in the channel. Too many hazards for me at night.

+1 Too much cr@@p floating about. Every patch of mid Channel weed seemed to rooted on about 5m2 of net coming back 2 weeks ago, night passages have lost their savour therefore.
Much better 04.00 start this time of year with the light all the way, and treat all weed as hostile!