Single handed x-channel

[rwoofer]

I've set myself the challenge of going singlehanded across the channel this weekend.

This will be the first time I've attempted this, so any advice from the esteemed panel?

 

[sailorman]

no probs done it 3 times
planning + chart / nav prep. tidal atlas marked up hourly helps with tide changes
prep food/ snacks/ drinks all to hand
h/h + hand bearing compass + bins to hand in cockpit
watch the weather for the nxt few days

have a good & safe trip

 

[silvertop]

Green with envy.
Been saying to my self for last two years" must do" But I am based in North and would mean getting down to south coast first.
Will Do one day (soon).

 

[Chubb]

Where are you setting off from? & where are you aiming for?

 

[rwoofer]

Gosport to Cherbourg.

Hoping that Cherbourg has recovered enough from the storm damage. The most difficult bit will be the Cherbourg pontoons. Since I'm on a 44 footer I really don't know how I'm going to tackle them. Worst case scenario is that I anchor in petit rade.

 

[sailorman]

hopefully get the other side ( east ) on the linear visitors pontoon

 

[FAITIRA]

well rested before you go, nothing to prove, just make sure you are enjoying, if not turn back for another day. hope you have a good time. Bill.

 

[Poignard]

If you are a bit apprehensive about berthing in the marina, why not anchor when you arrive [you'll probably be quite tired]. Then next morning, after you have had a good sleep, you will find that a lot of people leave the marina heading for St Vaast or the Channel Islands etc. So you have a choice of vacant berths and can pick an easy one that you can approach into wind. There are usually loads of people around the pontoons willing to take your lines. Put out fenders and warps both sides. Your boat is longer than the fingers so you will need springs ready rigged to keep your bow off the walkway; a spring from a midship cleat led aft is ideal. There are no cleats on the fingers, just a loop of large diameter steel tube at the outer end so one of those boathook gadgets for attaching a line might be a help.

A berth near the shore saves walking but you might get disturbed by drunks carousing on the grass nearby.

 

[rwoofer]

I like the idea of using the mooring buoy quick attachment hook for the horrible loops. Even with a full crew I struggle on them because the fingers are probably only a 1/3 of the boat length and it's impossible to get a spring on quickly.

Think I will try that one. Thanks

 

[tome]

If the bit you're worrying about is the Cherbourg ponteenies then I don't doubt your ability to safely make the trip

When you get there, head for Q pontoon. It's the most E'ly and if you leave it to starboard its a normal long pontoon without any fingers but with lots of cleats. You may have to raft alongside, but tht won't be a problem. There's space to turn her around and come alongside port-to if you prefer

Enjoy

 

[Poignard]

Make sure it will go round the large diameter pipe. First time I berthed there I had an old-fashioned Grabit boathook all rigged up and ready and I found out to late that it wouldn't open enough to go round the pipe, so we came to a stop in the traditional way!

 

[Guest]

I tend to use a warp on these things - then you don't have to worry about thickness of the hoop etc. The main thing is not to use a warp with too much length to pull through. Take it to a centre cleat on your boat, NOT to the stern, so it will be close in to the hoop when you stop the boat just off it, have a shortish length, then it only takes a moment to thread it through and back to the centre cleat. Then you can do the bow at your leisure.

The big mistake is to try to take a warp from the stern to the hoop, that just pulls the bow into the pontoon at the front while the stern swings out freely.

 

[tome]

Or just go alongside Q pontoon

 

[Guest]

Or that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tome]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rwoofer]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Is anyone else going to Cherbourg this weekend?

 

[tome]

I was going to but have been warned by my insurers that there's a mad brit headed over with a pontoon grudge and desperately short of sleep

 

[ozzyb]

I'm tempted to nip across but it looks like motoring there and possibly back. Also my daughter and her friend have decided to join us. Her friend has never been at sea before and might restrict us a bit. We'll see what happens.

 

[jimi]

Other idea is to reverse onto a pontoon and just get a stern warp on , tons of time to sort the rest out

 

[Guest]

Or just go alongside Q pontooon! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (sorry Lord Tome)