Shell Channel Pilot

[eddystone]

Is it worth getting the latest (8th?) of this ?

I've got a very old one dating from 1990s, probably the first edition edited by Tom Cunliffe. I was given as a pressie the latest Mark Fishwick West Country Cruising Companion and I get latest Reeds every year. I don't think I need anything else to cover the north side of the Channel as far as Scillies but I'm thinking specifically Channel Islands and North Brittany. Even on my ancient version the aerial photos add something to the dry data in the Almanac but I imagine there have been significant changes to facilities in the area from say L' Aberwrach to Morlaix which I last visited about 25 years ago. Or if I'm really looking for something to cover N. Brittany perhaps there is something better, like the Peter Cumberlidge guide. to Channel Islands and North Brittany

 

[Poey50]

Like you, I only have an old copy of the Channel Pilot and probably won't update. I do, though, have a copy of both the Cumberlidge and the more recent Carnegie pilot which cover the CI and North Brittany. Although the first of these is ten years older I find it more reader-friendly. (You can, after all, get detailed information from Reeds.) The Carnegie would be useful if there is a massive failure of GPS systems since it seems to have every possible transit known to mankind and this makes it hard-going if you are trying to get an overview.

 

[McWester Beginner]

I have a 1990's edition shell pilot but if your cruising around the Bay Norman-Breton and the Channel Islands then Marine – digimap.gg can be very useful for relatively upto date info free of charge, means lots of printing if your not able to scan it on a mobile though.

 

[CLB]

Perhaps I had better update my original 7th edition. This dates from 1987 and comes on the back of the original "sailing on the south coast" published in 1937

 

[[70521]]

I prefer the Imray books, far more informative and not a narrative between to old codgers reminiscing about the "good old days", whenever they were.

 

[capnsensible]

I met Captain J. Coote on several occasions. A gentleman. Just sayin.

 

[James_Calvert]

Perhaps I had better update my original 7th edition. This dates from 1987 and comes on the back of the original "sailing on the south coast" published in 1937

View attachment 83938

I have this one.

It gave directions for the new marina at Trebeurden.

Except there wasn't one.

Not then.

Bit of a shock, although the lack of masts behind the new breakwater was a giveaway, in retrospect.

 

[johnalison]

As I have said before, I think that pilot books are generally over-elaborate and over-expensive. All you need is harbour charts, harbour information, and pilotage for passages between ports. You don't need colour photos, aerial photos or lists of local bars and restaurants, which are always changing anyway. I have used pilots in the past, and some have been very good, but this was before publishers decided to bulk them up and cost £40 or so. My favourites were ring-bound German pilots that matched the charts and had all that you need, with large harbour plans and drawings of essential views, and some delightful small drawings of birds, beacons and the like. Now that we have tablets and smart phones, all the local information is available for free anyway.

 

[LadyInBed]

Perhaps I had better update my original 7th edition. This dates from 1987

That's quite new, mine is in monochrome! ?

 

[ashtead]

Cruising companion is most useful for north Britanny but of course once you safely reach one Brittany port you can pick up useful booklets for others complete with tides etc. The RCCPF of John Lawson is an erudite volume but personally maybe too learned for me. I have Sir TCs third volume at home but 7th on board which seems fine when used with papers and electronic charts. I was looking online at some SHOM charts for this area on YouBoat and see it gives access to digital version so would be interested in views on this ? There do seem a number of blogs with helpful photos out there as well.

 

[dunedin]

I would get the Peter Cumberlidge Cruising Companion. I found that excellent, and complements the older Channel Pilot.

I disagree with Johnalison’s grumpy view about pilot guides - a good one is as much a joy to read in the winter planning the next year’s cruise as it is useful when actually underway.

At generally less than one night’s marina fee they can pay back the cost with a single night tempted by a new anchorage.

 

[chockswahay]

I prefer the Imray books, far more informative and not a narrative between to old codgers reminiscing about the "good old days", whenever they were.

As I have said before, I think that pilot books are generally over-elaborate and over-expensive. All you need is harbour charts, harbour information, and pilotage for passages between ports. You don't need colour photos, aerial photos or lists of local bars and restaurants, which are always changing anyway. I have used pilots in the past, and some have been very good, but this was before publishers decided to bulk them up and cost £40 or so. My favourites were ring-bound German pilots that matched the charts and had all that you need, with large harbour plans and drawings of essential views, and some delightful small drawings of birds, beacons and the like. Now that we have tablets and smart phones, all the local information is available for free anyway.

I agree with you both, would you recommend any particular guides etc for the cruising area between Cornwall, Brittany and Channel Islands please?

 

[doug748]

I agree with you both, would you recommend any particular guides etc for the cruising area between Cornwall, Brittany and Channel Islands please?

This is the most ambitious and informative pilot for the south west coast:

9780852880678: South England Pilot: Start Point to Land's End Chapter 4 - AbeBooks - Brandon, Robin: 0852880677

I was unable to afford it when it was printed in 1980 but have one now and use it a lot. Massively out of date it's USP is the chartlets which are mostly still useful and document in excess of 140 anchorages between Start Point and Land's End.

I have a spare, rough but usable, copy which anyone can have for the princely sum of nothing, collect Plymouth, or I will post for a fiver.

For France, the latest edition of "Secret Anchorages" is a good read

 

[ithet]

Perhaps I had better update my original 7th edition. This dates from 1987 and comes on the back of the original "sailing on the south coast" published in 1937

View attachment 83938

Nah, you're up to date I have my dads one - the "New Edition" from 1973:



What makes this really useful is he has annotated with mooring charges so I always know what I'll have to pay:






Actually I have the '87 one also, and several others up to the last edition. But I have never bought one myself, all were passed on to me or gifts. And I wouldn't buy one myself, TC's comments are amusing, but I find the way the are spread throughout the text obstructs getting the key information across clearly. Better (more concise) pilots are available.

 

[ashtead]

I find the cursing assoc red cover almanac handbook from circa 1976 an interesting read if time permits

 

[Lucky Duck]

South Coast Cruising was the first pilot book I bought and has rather a lot of 'background' information which made getting to the pertinent points while underway a challenge at times.

It does have a certain appeal as winter reading while at home although a lot has changed since 1993.