Talk me across to Cherbourg

[YAYoHamble]

These recent colregs threads have really ruined my confidence; just as I'm putting together thoughts of my 3rd Solent->Cherbourg run.

My first trip was in the dark both ways. On the way out, it was v.windy with rain and spray thrown in for good measure. We didn't really see much in the way of big ships and the crossing was made on the basis of ignorance being bliss.

the return trip was flat calm and clear. We motored all the way and saw everything. It was horrible. I didn't realise at the time but, of course, all bearings are pretty much steady to start off with and we were convinced that everything was bearing down on us. I'm really not sure how to overcome this.

My second trip was in daylight and, although not as scary as at night, was pretty intimidating. I'd never seen the big stuff at full whack before - impressive.

OK, so summer's nearly here as is my new boat. Ideally, I'd like to do a night crossing but the more time I dwell on it, the less likely it is. I don't have radar but in future will have AIS. So, talk me through it, chaps.

 

[tcm]

hm...

lesson 1 : stand at the side of the road and observe how none of the large cars and trucks hit you. Even thouygh from sa distance,arg it looks as though they are coming straight for you. Now cros the road -and observe how you (and anyone) is a bit moe careful about crossingin front of trucks rather than bicycles or motorbikes. Thats because larger things have dramatically increasing and dominant subtended angle, part of outr survival gear i suppose - we see things bigger than us as more angerous and ooer than things smaller than us. Even though the motorbike could be travelling at twice the speed.

Lesson two, at ther marina. Try doing something a bit scarey, such as havinga full-on hosepipe fight but youaren't allowed to move. See, tons of water, and nae death.

Lesson 3, at sea. With quite a lot of waves, try just turning downwind. See? Nothing much realy. Pah.

Lesson 4, again at sea. Gain confidence perhaps by shouting at the sea. This doesn't replace any planning or safety stuff but maks you feel like not the sort of person who is going to let a bitof spray spoil things. Pah, again.

Lesson 5, backat the marina: go and buy some mega saily gear. You need the full boaty boots, overtrousis the whole lot. There is a factory outlet near Biscester where they sell such stuff dead cheap,worth a trip. You have to be able to face down a lot of sea for quite long time.

Lesson 6, on the way back the marina again. Make sure youhave teabags for nice cups of tea at regular intrvals. It's warm and slight stimulant. More wild and whacky stimulants include proplus pills, plenty of red bull and the like. No harm being a bit wired, i reckon.

Lesson 7, go across the channel again. As each ship comes, just take a bearing and see how that bearing changes. If it doesn't then consider changing speed or direction until it does. Be ready to use the engine to make sure you get behind the chosen ship and in front of the next one - and it is ok to use the engine anyway - the faster you go through the easier and in the limit if you went across at 200mph you could just aim between two ships miles away. Remember crosing the road too-and the ships are doing half the lorry speed and you're still (in a sailing boat) at qucikish road-crossing speed. If you have trouble with so many ships and don't have radar atthe helm, praps get a small drywpe board and wipeable pen to plot them and the bearings. Or better still, get radar at the helm, recommended for the numbr of channel crossings you seem to plan.

Hope this helps and congrats with new boat.

 

[Emjaytoo]

I share your concerns. Next week we are taking our new boat across from Ipswich to Vlissingen, departing Tuesday night around 10.00pm. I've never done a crossing of the north sea at all, let alone in the dark. I do have a delivery skipper who will be "looking over my shoulder" most of the time, but I must say I am apprehensive about the night time bit and the Traffic Separation Zones, even though we should cross them in daylight.

tcm - lots of usefull snippets there - thanks

 

[tcm]

oh yes about the "changing bearing of crossing ship". Now this is a bit odd cos a long way away a boat keeps about the same angle. Also, just as a ship is about to mow you down the bearing could easily be changing nicely, 30, 20, 10 bang. And so it is for ships crossing not-too far away and not too near.

One great gambit that is hardly ever taught to boaties but is taught to airplane pilots is the orbit - literally a spin on the spot. On some boats in moderate winds you can do this with full sail although er the sails might take a bit of a bashing if you make a habit of it. Amazing what imminent nearish misses dissolve into nothingness with just thirty seonds of hanging about.

Some people don't bothr with taking handbearing compass and just line up their eyes with a stanchion to check if the stanchions move. That's an official RYA joke, by the way.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Don't get yourself worked up. Relax and enjoy it. Apply good seamanship and you might even find it fun.

Quite often you can sail across the channel and see only a few ships - sometimes you see lots.

Here's how it goes.

The ships aren't everywhere. They tend to stick to the shortest track between the various separation schemes, so you end up appoaching a procession going one way and then another procession going the other.

Keep a good lookout, and take bearings. Its often not the nearest one that is a danger but the one thats second or third in the line. You already know that the bearing doesn't change very quickly at first, so keep going and watch the bearings of the ships carefully. Half the time or more, I end up doing nothing and sail straight through. Occasionally you get a ship who doesn't seem to see you. If you meet such a ship on a steady bearing from the Port side, turn to Starboard (tack if necessary) and let it go past, then resume your course.

If the ship is coming from Starboard, be careful about turning to Starboard (it might still be the best thing to do) but you are decreasing the range very quickly as you are turning towards the ship.

Stop worrying. Its not that bad and many thousands of people sail across the channel every year without any problems.

You've got lots of advice now - I don't type as fast as other people!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Another important thing to remember is that you are already in an exclusive club after crossing previously, and take confidence from that.... so so many Solent based boats never ever venture past the needles, let alone across the channel....

And it does get easier everytime.... you seem to develop a sixth sense (which doesn't preclude checking properly as described above I hasten to add!) for which boats are going to cause you to need to make a course/speed alteration, or rather I suspect you learn whereabouts to be looking..... common newbie mistake is to see a ship 45 degrees off the bow and worry about it..... and its usually long gone before you get anywhere near....

Stop worrying.... start enjoying the unique pleasures of a foreign landfall.... and by the time you've done 20, you'll be the one advising others!

PS.... i've done many many crossings where i've not seen a ship at all..... so it often is much busier in the imagination than the reality....

 

[Robin]

[ QUOTE ]
The ships aren't everywhere. They tend to stick to the shortest track between the various separation schemes, so you end up appoaching a procession going one way and then another procession going the other.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just to add to the excellent advice of others. The ships tend as John says to follow the straight lines between TSSs, they also seem to favour staying on the outer edges of the imaginary 'lanes'. There are some to watch where they peel off or join from other ports like from Le Havre on the French side or the Solent on the UK side. Also look for the ferries crossing, some cross obliquely too as they go from east Solent to/from the Channel Islands.

Don't get panicked into altering course left right centre and backwards or calling all and sundry on the VHF at long range, most situations usually resolve themselves as you get closer and you will be in a very nimble vessel by comparison and can duck and dive if you need. You will already have some practice of ship and ferry dodging in the Solent probably anyway, out there is not really much different given good visibility. IMO night is easier than day too.

Enjoy!

 

[Talbot]

One option which may be the best way to relieve these fears:

get an AIS engine and attach to a laptop. get www.shipplotter.com software for the AIS, and also connect in a gps feed. The AIS will then show you the majority of ships in your area, and will also work out CPA and timings for you and sound an alert for any entering specified time/distance parameters.

Using this to identify shipping (thus recognising those not using AIS) will enable you to understand ship aspect versus CPA and give you the confidence in your own abilities.

 

[AliM]

EmJayToo - the North Sea is easier, because the ships are spread out more. You are unlikely to have more than 3 or 4 to keep track of at any one time and usually there's nothing in sight at all. Make sure you cross when visibility is ok, and you'll probably not get within a couple of miles of anything at all.

 

[FAITIRA]

The unpredictable manouvers of fishing boats, especially at night when nav lights are indistiguishable against deck lights, are often than large vessels more of a problem.

 

[Sailfree]

Its very dangerous - driving to the Marina - so please take care!

Keep the risks in perspective. Yes the Ouzo has also influenced me.

I have always asked passengers to buy a pack of 10- mini flares to keep in their pocket and to wear a lifejacket.

Most times its just me and SWMBO crossing the channel. I do have a handheld VHF but its a charter boat and could be low on charge or recently dropped /faulty so I have now bought my own submersible handheld VHF (Entel as reviewed and recommended by YM). I will now have the helm/watchkeeper to always have it in their pocket except when sunbathing!!

 

[YAYoHamble]

[ QUOTE ]
Its very dangerous - driving to the Marina - so please take care!

[/ QUOTE ]

Having just started driving, 4 years after having been smashed up by a blind bat with a car, I am (pain)fully aware of where the real risks in modern life lie!

Thanks for the tips.

Still nervous! I spent a while with a pen and paper trying to work out just what information about course, distance and speed you can extract from watching a single red or green light in the dark. Not much really. Think I'll revise the colregs tonight.

 

[tome]

Night time can bring extra anxieties if youre not really used to it, even if eventually you'll find it easier. The channel at night has a rhythm, but it takes a while to be comfortable with it as it changes with the tides. I know from taking novice crew that some will find the dark hours most difficult

Much better IMO to make a 5am departure so you do it all in daylight. Coming back is so much easier (usually) with a following wind and the boat feeling so under control that you might decide to do it overnight?

Either way, there is plenty of good advice on here about the shipping lanes

 

[KREW2]

I have only done one night passage, Sark to Weymouth 1991, as conditions were near perfect it was great. The only thing that confused me was picking up the loom of Portland Bill lighthouse at about 0200 ish. It was hard to get my head round that we still had 5/6 hours sailing to go Weymouth.

 

[A_7]

Just go for it. You will be fine. Hundreds get across each year without incident.

 

[tome]

Yes gret advice all round A_7 imagine that

 

[BlueSkyNick]

when you have done it a few times, you will wonder what all the fuss was about. As long as you keep your wits about you, and make clear course alterations if you choose to do so, you will be fine.

With regard to talking to you across to Cherbourg, I am sure SWMBO could mange it, but I dont think I could talk for that long myself. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif