St Peter Port to St Helier

[lustyd]

Hi all, we've done the reading for this trip but just after some experience. If we ignore the books and leave at 2:30 before high water from the marina will we really be dragged off by the tide? Experience this week so far says that the books are very much on the negative side and in the present conditions we'll be absolutely fine.
Cheers
Dave

 

[doug748]

It can be awful slow unless you pick the best time but you get there in the end, esp if you have a brisk wind.

X weather is suggesting over 30kts so it might be brave sailing today.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Come out of the marina onto one of the Swan pontoons and wait for the tide to go in your favour.

 

[bendyone]

Dont fight the tide in the Little Russel, it's not worth it.

 

[Sailfree]

If not doing in in daylight and talking the close inshore route around the SW corner of Jersey feed waypoints of course changes into a GPS or make sure you have some backup. Alternative is to go outside all rock outcrops and then into St Hellier.

I was relying on chartplotter, night was pitch black - no moon and raining and suddenly realised I was relying completely on chartplotter. Since then bought I pad with Navionics package as backup.

 

[Angele]

The tide will be foul heading down the west coast of Jersey (and the south for that matter, but less material). If you don't make it to St Helier by HW+3 you are destined to spend the next 6 hours on the waiting pontoons for the next flood tide.

 

[Seajet]

Definitely always always go with the tides there !

No need to worry about covering the distance in time, it's like riding a travelator.

The pilotage itself on that leg would be a total doddle for you, not really pilotage at all just common sense.

 

[Angele]

Have you seen this?

http://www.gyc.org.gg/cruising/idealdeparture

Ideal Departure Times PDF Print E-mail

Stan Cleal's list of recommended, optimum, departure times for leaving St Peter Port when heading for France or other Channel Islands.

.....

JERSEY

LOW WATER ST PP.
RETURN: 2 HOURS BEFORE HIGH WATER (ST HELIER) - TO GET IN ACROSS THE SILL.
(Best 1 hour after HW)

 

[LadyInBed]

Out onto waiting pontoon or top up fuel (cheaper than St H)
Leave LW St PP
Tide will try to set you East once clear of Little Russel, so head a bit to the South.
Once past Corbiere watch out if Condor passes, its wash is considerable!
Port has control lights, no entry if ferry is arriving or leaving.

 

[James_Calvert]

We once left HW StPP +1:45 and anchored off Sark until LW+0:30 en route to St Helier. Just a thought.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks for the replies all, Angele seems closest to our scenario of getting there HW+3 so looks like we'll be fine. We'll report back so that everyone else knows if there really are dragons at the wrong time of day

 

[ditchcrawler]

Most Pilots say leave at LW St P.Port or shortly thereafter.Leaving say 1.5/2 hours before low water will get you there early or about opening time for the lock gates at St Helier depending on your speed.
If you get to St Helier HW+3 you may find the gates shut depending upon range of tide.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you get to St Helier HW+3 you may find the gates shut depending upon range of tide.

The waiting pontoon at St H is not the worst place to spend some time and has been known to become quite sociable!

 

[LadyInBed]

The waiting pontoon at St H is not the worst place to spend some time and has been known to become quite sociable!

It has to be, as there are no ladders to get ashore!
Also the duty free shop just above the waiting pontoon is actually cheap, unlike the rip off shops that say duty free.

 

[Angele]

Well, Dave. Did you make it?

 

[lustyd]

Well, Dave. Did you make it?

Sorry I thought I replied earlier - pesky free wifi! We did indeed make it. The journey took a couple of hours extra but no problems at all. We didn't even see the charted overfalls. Almost no boats followed the proper timings and loads went when we did. Cracking day on the water too

 

[Angele]

:encouragement:

 

[Seajet]

LustyD,

well I don't know if you're single guys but I can happily aver that St Helier is a target-rich environment for the hetero male !