Solo Channel crossing in convoy? First solo passage

horatio_nelson

horatio_nelson

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I want to sail to France single-handed :) I've done many crossings but always with company, and having finally bought my own boat I want to do it alone - boat and me both plenty able, but it's daunting nonetheless, and it occurred to me that sailing across in convoy could be good, just for complete peace of mind, the first time. So if anyone's doing a crossing before Christmas and doesn't mind me tagging along, please let me know :encouragement:

Any advice or stories about a first solo passage appreciated :) Thanks
 
horatio_nelson said:
I want to sail to France single-handed :) I've done many crossings but always with company, and having finally bought my own boat I want to do it alone - boat and me both plenty able, but it's daunting nonetheless, and it occurred to me that sailing across in convoy could be good, just for complete peace of mind, the first time. So if anyone's doing a crossing before Christmas and doesn't mind me tagging along, please let me know :encouragement:

Any advice or stories about a first solo passage appreciated :) Thanks
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Too late in the season, with short days.
do it next May
 
Im a solo adventurer. Channel crossing is nothing to be worried about. sadly Im running short on time to do any more crossings before late december now. If the weather is pleasant enough after 16th december, give me a shout. I'd be up for that.
 
horatio_nelson said:
I want to sail to France single-handed :) I've done many crossings but always with company, and having finally bought my own boat I want to do it alone - boat and me both plenty able, but it's daunting nonetheless, and it occurred to me that sailing across in convoy could be good, just for complete peace of mind, the first time. So if anyone's doing a crossing before Christmas and doesn't mind me tagging along, please let me know :encouragement:

Any advice or stories about a first solo passage appreciated :) Thanks
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My view is, a convoy will distract you from your job. You will have to negotiate the TSS as a lone vessel anyway. The good news is that the ships are much fewer and more spaced out than you might imagine.
I forgot to ask where are you crossing.. Dover/Rambo to Boulogne would be a good first one IMO.
 
jerrytug said:
My view is, a convoy will distract you from your job. You will have to negotiate the TSS as a lone vessel anyway. The good news is that the ships are much fewer and more spaced out than you might imagine.
I forgot to ask where are you crossing.. Dover/Rambo to Boulogne would be a good first one IMO.
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From his header Chichester
 
jerrytug, OP looks to be based chichester way,
so likely crossing point is down to Cherbourg. TSS can be avoided. plus its nice to cruise in company, even if sailing solo.
I like sailing in company, though I get a bit competitive.
 
Not scary at all. crossing the channel is a doddle. its the coming in to land that's the tricky bit.
the scary bit is mooring up in an unfamiliar harbour or single handed being expected to tuck in somewhere tricky.
thats why its good to cruise in company. send one in first to land. then the other will be there to catch lines. and so on.
until theres enough people to all pile on one boat for arrival drinks.
I love night sailing. its a time when all the fair weather, daylight sailors stay away. and the waters are free to roam.
if its a clear night with a good moon, its simply beautiful.
 
My experience is that even when you have a group of boats crossing at a similar time, for example to the scuttlebutt Cherbourg rally, boats very quickly get spread out according to speed etc and essentially you are doing a solo trip but meeting up when there, unless you really do sail in convoy with a commodore signalling to keep formation and make less smoke like a WW2 convoy story.

For a first timer, head for Cherbourg, two entrances so if you miss one you might hit the other, plenty of shelter, a choice of fingers or alongside or anchor off till morning etc, usually enough folk to help with lines, if you avoid school holidays and races, usually plenty of space. Go for it next spring when the weather improves.
 
Sugar Kane said:
Not scary at all. crossing the channel is a doddle. its the coming in to land that's the tricky bit.
the scary bit is mooring up in an unfamiliar harbour or single handed being expected to tuck in somewhere tricky.
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Good idea to head to Cherbourg then - huge great place, clearly lit, marina is wide and easy and surrounded by illuminations so it's easy to see what you're doing at night. First time I crossed the channel was arriving into Cherbourg after dark (boat was too slow for anything else :) ) and it wasn't any trouble.

Fair enough if you want a swarm of boats for social reasons, but it's not necessary for practical purposes.

Pete
 
I'd also advocate a night sail... I much prefer it to the daytime as the ships are easier to spot and if the weather is kind, it's fun ! And you might get an amazing sunrise/sunset. I could be up for it with you Nelson... as I want to do a Cherbourg trip and I'm also Eastern Solent...

Like you, I've done the trip several times but always as crew on someone elses boat... Now I want to do it with my boat...
 
My first single-handed Channel crossing was from Guernsey to the Solent.

Shortly after passing Alderney I ran into thick fog. I could not see to go back and I didn't want to continue into the shipping. I couldn't think of anything to do except to heave-to until the fog cleared, so that's what I did. It took a few hours for the fog to clear and then I decided to abandon the Channel crossing for that day and sailed to Cherbourg. After a good dinner and an early night I left early next day and had a fast sail home with a strong westerly and perfect visibility.

I was very glad I had no-one with me in the fog because they might have been a bit worried (as I was!). I only had myself to think about and sometimes that's an advantage.

If you pick a day with a good forecast and get everything ready you will be fine, and very pleased with yourself afterwards. After all, you are only doing what many other yachtsmen have done before you.
 
I'm a channel virgin too and I'd be up for sailing across in company. Very small boat though and sailing from Plymouth, I'd prefer to wait til next year... Any opinions on how many days make a good trip? I'm guessing it's not worth doing in a weekend
 
parsifal said:
My first single-handed Channel crossing was from Guernsey to the Solent.

Shortly after passing Alderney I ran into thick fog. I could not see to go back and I didn't want to continue into the shipping. I couldn't think of anything to do except to heave-to until the fog cleared, so that's what I did. It took a few hours for the fog to clear and then I decided to abandon the Channel crossing for that day and sailed to Cherbourg. After a good dinner and an early night I left early next day and had a fast sail home with a strong westerly and perfect visibility.

I was very glad I had no-one with me in the fog because they might have been a bit worried (as I was!). I only had myself to think about and sometimes that's an advantage.

If you pick a day with a good forecast and get everything ready you will be fine, and very pleased with yourself afterwards. After all, you are only doing what many other yachtsmen have done before you.
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Nice one :)
 
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