Salcombe to Roscoff

[ithet]

We are looking to do this trip this weekend as husband and wife crew but have not done before. Wondering about timings. Peter Cumberlidge in "Channel Crossings" suggests (for Plymouth to L'abervrac'h) leaving at 17:00 to aim to reach the shipping channels just after dawn, and get an early afternoon arrival. Our distance will be a little less and we plan a little faster at 5.5 knots, and could be doing 6.5 on a good reach looking at the wind. So I am worried about arriving at the shipping lanes too early, so my instinct is to leave Salcombe about 7-8pm?

 

[TiggerToo]

In my experience crossing the shipping lanes in the dark is actually easier than in daytime. Apart from the fact that AIS really does help with looking at things over the visible horizon (and is independent of sunlight), the ships' lights usually make them very visible at night from a workable distance.

I'd base my plans for leaving on favourable tides... and "sit back and relax": in reasonable weather it is a great passage...

Enjoy!

 

[jlavery]

In my experience crossing the shipping lanes in the dark is actually easier than in daytime. Apart from the fact that AIS really does help with looking at things over the visible horizon (and is independent of sunlight), the ships' lights usually make them very visible at night from a workable distance.

I'd base my plans for leaving on favourable tides... and "sit back and relax": in reasonable weather it is a great passage...

Enjoy!

I agree. Plan around tides for departure/arrival, they're more important than shipping lanes. The latter are fine if you are observant, and AIS can help a lot.

 

[ithet]

Thanks all. I think that is good advice especially as it is recommended to arrive at Roscoff at slack water due to flows in marina, and it is springs. Will now go for early afternoon departure, arriving Roscoff just before HW tomorrow morning.

 

[wonkywinch]

Technically there isn't a shipping lane anywhere near your planned route even though AIS makes it appear so. Normal colregs apply. I've planned a channel night crossing to benefit from lights but was thwarted by fog and rain. I think a daylight tide favourable eta to your destination is paramount.

 

[gjgm]

Thanks all. I think that is good advice especially as it is recommended to arrive at Roscoff at slack water due to flows in marina, and it is springs. Will now go for early afternoon departure, arriving Roscoff just before HW tomorrow morning.

There is a current at the entrance to be well aware of, exactly as you turn in.
Yes, there are currents running through the marina, but as long as you know, you should not be caught out. It is not as though you are in a river at full flood!
If during normal hours, a guy in a rib will take you to your berth, so someone is on hand.

 

[ithet]

There is a current at the entrance to be well aware of, exactly as you turn in.
Yes, there are currents running through the marina, but as long as you know, you should not be caught out. It is not as though you are in a river at full flood!
If during normal hours, a guy in a rib will take you to your berth, so someone is on hand.

Looks like we will be arriving 7:30-8:00 am. Hopefully ring guy starts early!

 

[ithet]

I think I will adjust on approach to arrive at marina about 9:00. Looks like not too much ebb then. Hopefully someone around by then.

 

[ithet]

Did you all spot my mistake? Those tide time are BST, so it will be an hour later in France anyway!

 

[Dockhead]

I agree. Plan around tides for departure/arrival, they're more important than shipping lanes. The latter are fine if you are observant, and AIS can help a lot.

This.

I prefer dealing with traffic at night, as others have said. But tides are the main things.

 

[zoidberg]

Be very aware of the ferry either looking to dock, or looking to leave, Roscoff terminal - right beside the marina entrance - at exactly the time you turn up, very tired....

 

[John_Silver]

….And remember that Monday is Le Quatorze (Bastille Day). Certainly La Trinite is bursting at the seams with Bank Holiday traffic this weekend…..Arriving 10ish (CET) @ Roscoff is a good move. If that is slack water, ‘cos it gives you an easier ride in the marina (it rips through the outer ends of the pontoons, at springs) and because boats on passage should have left to ride that tide along the coast, leaving you a vacant berth

 

[Amlov]

We have done that trip many times and now opt for a 4am departure from Salcombe. This gets us in early evening with similar speeds to you.

As you will pass some distance down Channel from the separation lanes the shipping is well spread out and rarely comes with a few miles of you - so not an issue. There is tide on the ends of the pontoons, but this is much less further in on the pontoons. Finally, should you arrive after dark the fuel pontoon is just inside on the right, well lit and somewhere to wait (unofficially) until dawn.

 

[doug748]

As Amlov.

Though i prefer to arrive ar first light. You can pick your berth without assistance, and a couple of hours headown you are ready to face the day with no jet lag.

The last 20 miles in the dark is largely dead ocean with just the odd fishing boat.
.

 

[zoidberg]

The last 20 miles in the dark is largely dead ocean with just the odd fishing boat.

You reckon.....!

.

 

[ithet]

Thanks all. Over Salcombe bar at 15:30, arrived Roscoff 09:30 today (both local times). What little shipping there was seemed to have gaps in the flow just where we passed. As suggested absolutely no problem at night especially with the nearly full moon. Didn't expect trip to be so quick so probably could have done in daylight with the same wind.

 

[TiggerToo]

Technically there isn't a shipping lane anywhere near your planned route even though AIS makes it appear so. Normal colregs apply. I've planned a channel night crossing to benefit from lights but was thwarted by fog and rain. I think a daylight tide favourable eta to your destination is paramount.

[pendatic]

I think you may find that there are evident shipping lanes running up and down the length of the channel (see below). Maybe you were referring to the Traffic Separation Schemes... that are another kettle of fish altogether.

The ColRegs include behaviour in/across the TSS.

[/pedantic]

 

[MontyMariner]

So I am worried about arriving at the shipping lanes too early

I didn't know that you could book a slot to cross them