Scuttlebutt Cherbourg Cruise 2013

L

Laundryman

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Dec 2007
Messages
667
Location
Live in Hemel Hempstead, Boat is in Haslar.
Visit site
The forum isn't behaving itself tonight. It took me ages to find the original thread and even then it only showed 4 posts. I tried to reply to bump it back to the top but my post is now just sitting in the search function. Oh we'll, here goes anyway.

Just wanted to bump this thread back up to the top because there are questions being asked. My reason for posting is to say that yes, we, Lustyd my first officer and i,still plan to be in Cherbourg on the 14th Sept assuming its still on and plan to continue to the Channel Islands for a few days before returning. If anyone else fancies tagging along that would be great. Especially if you know where you're going, because then I can follow you! Looking forward to good weather in September. Thanks. Alan
 
We would be up for that, depending on the current weather pattern at the time. St Peter Port and Jersey St Helier are much better out of season.
 
Laundryman said:
The forum isn't behaving itself tonight. It took me ages to find the original thread and even then it only showed 4 posts. I tried to reply to bump it back to the top but my post is now just sitting in the search function. Oh we'll, here goes anyway.

Just wanted to bump this thread back up to the top because there are questions being asked. My reason for posting is to say that yes, we, Lustyd my first officer and i,still plan to be in Cherbourg on the 14th Sept assuming its still on and plan to continue to the Channel Islands for a few days before returning. If anyone else fancies tagging along that would be great. Especially if you know where you're going, because then I can follow you! Looking forward to good weather in September. Thanks. Alan
Click to expand...

No need to follow others, I've been doing prep this weekend so know where to go and how to go about it now. I even know roughly when we'll need to go there! Of course if there is someone who's been before following may be easier :D
 
Sounds like we may have a bit of a fleet developing!

There is some bad news though...high water Dover is 0805 BST on Sunday, 2046 BST on Sunday or 0915 BST Monday. In order to get to the CIs we'll need to be at Cap de la Hague at around high water, preferably a little before. Realistically this means leaving Cherbourg at, well, silly o'clock on Sunday morning. It's about 20NM to the alderney race which if we average 5kt is 4 hours. Westerly is likely but we'll have favourable tide with a back eddy so feel free to hope for less. In my estimation we'd want to leave Cherbourg at 0605 BST on Sunday or 0715 BST on Monday to catch this right (we'll obviously make a call on wind beforehand).

It's then either slip into Alderney (this would work better leaving earlier), a few hours to Guernsey, a lot of hours to Jersey, or a day to St Malo :) Looking at my tidal atlas for the area, getting south earlier is better as the tide will help us more in that direction so heading to St Helier might be "easier" if a long day. We can then start moving north in short trips or a single trip to St Peter Port before making the jump back. I've gone with the major destinations as they have good access to marinas and I suspect this would be easier as a group.
When moving to Guernsey, the tide would allow a reasonable trip leaving 7-8am to stop at lunch and anchor in Sark before a jaunt to Guernsey around 2-3 when the tide has calmed down a little.
The days these things happen are flexible but the timings if we head in this direction will be similar all week. The trip home will need a good timing out of Alderney race but this again seems in our favour for an early start.

Any thoughts on this? All based on lots of assumptions but hopefully the tides and times are right.

Edit to add, anyone looking at this wondering why we'll be near Dover - the tidal atlas always refers to Dover tides to "make it easier" which is why your Almanac bookmark is Dover tide times :)
 
Last edited:
My first thought is that none of us will be in a fit state for an early start on Sunday, so I see Monday leaving Cherbourg. The days are much shorter by mid September so early starts are to be expected. I would rather be relaxed, catch the tidal gates and enjoy the cruise. Like you, I want to see everything and prefer the idea of a long sail Monday after a days rest,then Island hop on the return. I'm really pleased that Colhel has shown an interest. He looked after us well in Poole. Wizard I remember from Cherbourg 2011. Im sure there will be others. You appear to be on top of the planning so I'll leave it to you. You can explain it all to me on the way. Thanks. Alan
 
Laundryman said:
My first thought is that none of us will be in a fit state for an early start on Sunday, so I see Monday leaving Cherbourg. The days are much shorter by mid September so early starts are to be expected. I would rather be relaxed, catch the tidal gates and enjoy the cruise. Like you, I want to see everything and prefer the idea of a long sail Monday after a days rest,then Island hop on the return. I'm really pleased that Colhel has shown an interest. He looked after us well in Poole. Wizard I remember from Cherbourg 2011. Im sure there will be others. You appear to be on top of the planning so I'll leave it to you. You can explain it all to me on the way. Thanks. Alan
Click to expand...

Glad I'm on the right track. Don't let this stop you planning too if you want to (you're the skipper!) - I just enjoy mucking about with charts and it makes the trip feel a bit closer to start planning and plotting :)
 
Currently in Paimpol.

Back on the 10th August and I will resurrect thread and list attendees. Previous thread in July got the list started. As usual I am turning crew down as I have a full boat.

Unfortunately Fergus cannot attend this year but has kindly offered to arrange the menu. Fergus has suggested the same as last year.

I intend to repeat the wine tasting. Got some cheap Bin 29 medium dry white wine a couple of weeks ago and its amazingly good quoffing wine.

Usual afternoon pontoon gathering for further wine/beer drinking and nibbles and usual banter - weather permitting. Most bring a bottle but "Janes Buoy" usually has sufficient stock for others - important thing is to bring yourself!
 
Last edited:
lustyd said:
Sounds like we may have a bit of a fleet developing!

There is some bad news though...high water Dover is 0805 BST on Sunday, 2046 BST on Sunday or 0915 BST Monday. In order to get to the CIs we'll need to be at Cap de la Hague at around high water, preferably a little before. Realistically this means leaving Cherbourg at, well, silly o'clock on Sunday morning. It's about 20NM to the alderney race which if we average 5kt is 4 hours. Westerly is likely but we'll have favourable tide with a back eddy so feel free to hope for less. In my estimation we'd want to leave Cherbourg at 0605 BST on Sunday or 0715 BST on Monday to catch this right (we'll obviously make a call on wind beforehand).

It's then either slip into Alderney (this would work better leaving earlier), a few hours to Guernsey, a lot of hours to Jersey, or a day to St Malo :) Looking at my tidal atlas for the area, getting south earlier is better as the tide will help us more in that direction so heading to St Helier might be "easier" if a long day. We can then start moving north in short trips or a single trip to St Peter Port before making the jump back. I've gone with the major destinations as they have good access to marinas and I suspect this would be easier as a group.
When moving to Guernsey, the tide would allow a reasonable trip leaving 7-8am to stop at lunch and anchor in Sark before a jaunt to Guernsey around 2-3 when the tide has calmed down a little.
The days these things happen are flexible but the timings if we head in this direction will be similar all week. The trip home will need a good timing out of Alderney race but this again seems in our favour for an early start.

Any thoughts on this? All based on lots of assumptions but hopefully the tides and times are right.

Edit to add, anyone looking at this wondering why we'll be near Dover - the tidal atlas always refers to Dover tides to "make it easier" which is why your Almanac bookmark is Dover tide times :)
Click to expand...

Just did this left HW Cherbourg and took close inshore route to catch back eddie. Kept towards France 40%: Aldernay 60% to get max tide then straight to Jersey. Cherbourg to Jersey - 9hrs. Unfortunately a mill pond and motor sailed.
 
Sailfree said:
Just did this left HW Cherbourg and took close inshore route to catch back eddie. Kept towards France 40%: Aldernay 60% to get max tide then straight to Jersey. Cherbourg to Jersey - 9hrs. Unfortunately a mill pond and motor sailed.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that gives me some confidence as Cherbourg tides are just over 3 hours before Dover so matches up with my thinking. I'd take millpond over a stong wind over tide there!
The 9 hours figure is useful too, that's less than I thought so looks like the tides help a lot.
 
lustyd said:
The 9 hours figure is useful too, that's less than I thought so looks like the tides help a lot.
Click to expand...
But remember he's in a 43 footer!

You're right about the tides though. We came round Cap de la Hague last week the day before springs with a maximum of 9 knots of tide under us.
 
DJE said:
But remember he's in a 43 footer!

You're right about the tides though. We came round Cap de la Hague last week the day before springs with a maximum of 9 knots of tide under us.
Click to expand...

Well spotted, I hadn't noticed that :)
 
Laundryman said:
The forum isn't behaving itself tonight. It took me ages to find the original thread and even then it only showed 4 posts. I tried to reply to bump it back to the top but my post is now just sitting in the search function. Oh we'll, here goes anyway.

Just wanted to bump this thread back up to the top because there are questions being asked. My reason for posting is to say that yes, we, Lustyd my first officer and i,still plan to be in Cherbourg on the 14th Sept assuming its still on and plan to continue to the Channel Islands for a few days before returning. If anyone else fancies tagging along that would be great. Especially if you know where you're going, because then I can follow you! Looking forward to good weather in September. Thanks. Alan
Click to expand...

The main event is still on for the 14th, correct? I would like to extend the cruise to somewhere; maybe St. Vaast if not the Channel Islands? Anyone interested?

I might have room for one additional crewman, or a couple, in case someone is still looking for a boat.

DH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top