Rookie question

Paulfireblade

Paulfireblade

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I am still enjoying exploring the East coast and having only had my boat a year the Medway is the furthest I have been from Shotley but at some point the French coast will beckon.

The conventional crossing point is Needles to Cherbourg but as an East coast sailor would Dover to Calais be more beneficial, apart from Dover being nearer to my home berth the crossing is a third of the distance and I appreciate it would be busy but would it not be easier overall.

Possibly a silly question but interested to know.

Regards Paul
 
I have done the short crossings and the Solent ones a number of times. The Solent ones are famously easy because you take roughly two tides which cancel out, but they are longer. I have done Calais-Dover in little over four hours with the help of the tide, but the tides can be awkward. We used to reckon on seven hours Ramsgate-Boulogne, and this was the way we went to Normandy. I agree that Boulogne is nicer but Calais can also be fun and suitably foreign. You will need to know if Boulogne involves the taxi trip to Calais to check in with immigration, but both these crossings ar about the right length for a crew new to it. You need to cater for the need to cross the shipping lanes at right angle, so there will be some planning to do.
 
MoodySabre said:
Ramsgate is nearer. See her for Dover details Dover Marina News 2022

if you haven’t got it then get “Crossing the Thames Estuary “ by Roger Gaspar (Tiller Girl of this forum).
Click to expand...

I had heard about Dover being closed but won’t be going this year.

Excellent advice, I have bought East coast pilot and Crossing The Thames Estuary. Both are invaluable.
 
johnalison said:
I have done the short crossings and the Solent ones a number of times. The Solent ones are famously easy because you take roughly two tides which cancel out, but they are longer. I have done Calais-Dover in little over four hours with the help of the tide, but the tides can be awkward. We used to reckon on seven hours Ramsgate-Boulogne, and this was the way we went to Normandy. I agree that Boulogne is nicer but Calais can also be fun and suitably foreign. You will need to know if Boulogne involves the taxi trip to Calais to check in with immigration, but both these crossings ar about the right length for a crew new to it. You need to cater for the need to cross the shipping lanes at right angle, so there will be some planning to do.
Click to expand...

What do you mean the tides can be awkward?
 
Glad I asked as it seems it is a viable option and next year might be fun to cross over from Ramsgate, will have to check out availability of marinas along the French coast.
 
Paulfireblade said:
What do you mean the tides can be awkward?
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They aren't really. You leave Ramsgit on a south-bound tide and carry the tide to a suitable spot on the edge of the TSS and if you have picked the tide right, you can adhere to the 'right angle' rule and do a nice diagonal track saving time and distance down to Boulogne. In 2016 I made a free supplement available so anyone could pick the times right. If that is your plan for next year, I'll dust off the tables - I admit they needed to be simpler.
 
As it stands Boulogne is not a port of entry, Calais or Dunkirk are so you would have to book in there. Next year might see some sense restored but I wont hold my breath.
 
Ports of entry are the restricting factor for your first & last port of call post Brexit. Gravelines is well worth a visit from Ramsgate but the nearest place to go in (& out I guess) is Dunkirk. It all depends how much time you have and which parts of France you would like to get to.
 
I agree that Boulogne is nicer than Calais - although I prefer Dover to Ramsgate - just personal prfeerence.
Dover isn't closed - but do phone ahead for berth - they're not taking sail-ins.
Why not (if you're prepared to do Needles - Cherbourg) do Shotley - Oostende. No additional stop offs needed and easy navigation?
 
Paulfireblade said:
What do you mean the tides can be awkward?
Click to expand...
The tide off Dover can run at 3-4kn, running roughly across your course, and around 2.5 off Boulogne. In the 25' boats we used to sail in the '70s, this meant that one just made Ramsgate-Boulogne, 35m, on one tide. The tide will also mean that one's course can be nearly 30 degrees from the boat's heading. In practice, this is helpful because when crossing the shipping lanes at the regulation 90 degrees one's resultant track is actually close to one's intended course.
 
Marmalade said:
I agree that Boulogne is nicer than Calais - although I prefer Dover to Ramsgate - just personal prfeerence.
Dover isn't closed - but do phone ahead for berth - they're not taking sail-ins.
Why not (if you're prepared to do Needles - Cherbourg) do Shotley - Oostende. No additional stop offs needed and easy navigation?
Click to expand...

My longest coastal passage as Skipper is eleven hours so not confident enough to go from the Needles I just know it is the most common crossing point.

Holland and the Baltic are on the Bucket list but need to build up to that.
 
tillergirl said:
They aren't really. You leave Ramsgit on a south-bound tide and carry the tide to a suitable spot on the edge of the TSS and if you have picked the tide right, you can adhere to the 'right angle' rule and do a nice diagonal track saving time and distance down to Boulogne. In 2016 I made a free supplement available so anyone could pick the times right. If that is your plan for next year, I'll dust off the tables - I admit they needed to be simpler.
Click to expand...

That sounds really helpful, a four to six hour crossing would be would definitely be on my list for next year.
 
johnalison said:
The tide off Dover can run at 3-4kn, running roughly across your course, and around 2.5 off Boulogne. In the 25' boats we used to sail in the '70s, this meant that one just made Ramsgate-Boulogne, 35m, on one tide. The tide will also mean that one's course can be nearly 30 degrees from the boat's heading. In practice, this is helpful because when crossing the shipping lanes at the regulation 90 degrees one's resultant track is actually close to one's intended course.
Click to expand...

That sounds a realistic option, just need to research marinas and anchorages along the French coast.
 
Paulfireblade said:
Are there any good cruising guides that cover French coast especially West of Calais
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We went there with a copy of Delmar Morgan on board, in 1978. TBH, I don't think that pilots are much use, being expensive and full of unnecessary pretty colour photos and information that soon goes out of date. I think that you would be better off with Reeds, which gives you the important stuff, and a copy of something like the Michelin guide, which can be really useful.
 
Paulfireblade said:
I am still enjoying exploring the East coast and having only had my boat a year the Medway is the furthest I have been from Shotley but at some point the French coast will beckon.

The conventional crossing point is Needles to Cherbourg but as an East coast sailor would Dover to Calais be more beneficial, apart from Dover being nearer to my home berth the crossing is a third of the distance and I appreciate it would be busy but would it not be easier overall.

Possibly a silly question but interested to know.

Regards Paul
Click to expand...
Dover to boulogneas lo lock ot wail for. And big wide entrance sans bsferry traffic
 
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