The case for moving Dover.

[shmoo]

We just got back from our second attempt at a summer cruise. We broke our journey back from Shoreham (as far as we got!) to Woodbridge at Dover. We have been in there four times now in the last 12 months and it’s always blowy and wavy just round the harbour.

This time we climbed up to the top of the White Cliffs behind the port and had a great view across the Straits. Sure enough there were confused seas and white caps more-or-less coinciding with the radius of the harbour limits on the chart.

The forecast always has a special get-out clause "F 3 to 4 except for the Straits of Dover where it will be force 8".

Still, the port control folks are stars and very patient when, having asked you to call again at 200m, you call at 800m because 200 seems recklessly close in 30kt of wind and 3kt of tide when the entrance is getting narrower by the minute.

Can't they just move it round the corner to Deal?

 

[Evadne]

Aah, that reminds me of when I brought Evadne around to the Solent from Maylandsea. The harbour staff sound just as helpful, and the weather just as awful. The leg from Ramsgate to Rye turned into a dash into Dover, I've never liked forecasts with the word "imminent" in them, it never refers to nice weather. When we left the next morning we beat down as far as Folkestone in half a day, then ran back to Dover in half an hour. Or so the bar-room version goes.

 

[jimi]

Need a bloody big case to fit it all in , I'd go for a few containers myself and send it by sea.

 

[benjenbav]

Didn't someone suggest that in a tv advert a few years ago?

I seem to remember a classic jag (XK?) overheating and a beautiful lady passenger removing a silk stocking for a temporary fanbelt and then driving away whilst in the background a crooner sang "Mooove Dover, Move Dover, darling"




I'll get my coat.

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]

The leg from Ramsgate to Rye turned into a dash into Dover,


[/ QUOTE ]

If you had only pushed on past Folkstone you would have been in sun, balmy winds and clear seas lapping on white beaches. Its just bad around Dover.

 

[thalassa]

I would vote for it. Over the years, I've collected a good choice of grim weather photos of Dover.
This is from July 2006 (not doctored by photoshop), looking towards the Western entrance:

Notice : Sunny above , sunny 500 mtrs towards Folkestone, sunny 500 mtrs towards Deal, but rain and fog in Dover, with all street lights ablaze...

 

[Sybarite]

Why not just move Britain south and then you wouldn't need to do crossings.

John

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Oo la la..

c'est n pas possible......

C'est un diplomatique idee difficile... et la produit de la homme folie...

 

[CPD]

I will never forget the entry into Dover in Pipedreams delivery trip to the east coast. Terrifying doesnt even begin to describe it. Dark, raining, wet, miserable, knackered crew. The current running across the west entrance just had to be seen. Fond memories. But yes, absolutely, move it. Too scared to have been back since /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]

Dark, raining, wet, miserable, knackered crew. The current running across the west entrance


[/ QUOTE ]

Of course, entry into the western entrance at night has the added frisson of being half blinded every seven and a half seconds by the stubby but very intense pier-head light.

 

[alldownwind]

The Trouble With Dover is that the wind always seems to step up at least one force as it funnels through the Strait, and the tide is accelerated as it is pushed around the outside of the harbour walls. Wind over tide outside can be fearsome. And yet a couple of miles away in each direction you could be on a different planet.

 

[MoodySabre]

Another vote to move Dover. My only arrival was in flat calm. Departure the next day delay by fog "Don't leave unless you have radar sir" and then it was horrendously rough outside the eastern entrance.

Makes Ramsgate seem quite nice. Difficult I know.

 

[bendyone]

Last weekend was typical Dover wet while over in Calais warm and sunny all weekend. Came back on Sunday night to thunder storms over Dover.

 

[flaming]

Once went into Dover in a 25 foot cat in the dark with no lights. (Lights failed on a delivery trip, which is why we stopped in case anyone's curious!)
Was an interesting experience.

 

[FullCircle]

It doesnt need moving, it needs swivelling round 90 degrees, then there wouldnt be tides crossing the entrance, they would just help you in.

 

[lenseman]

Weather was bad at Dover at 14:00 on the 9 July this year.
Was doing a delivery Chichester to Ipswich in a 22 footer and was closing on Dover when all hell let loose with a violent electric storm (5 seconds between flash and sound pressure wave).

About 15 yachts converged on the western and Dover Pilot had to tow one Dutchman as their engine had failed right at the western entrance. In all about 15 yachts sought safe haven that afternoon mostly Dutch and a few French. All had two reefs in their main sails.

They held the Sea Cat ferry on her berth for about 20 minutes to allow all the yachts to enter safely, the weather and sea state was so bad. Thunderstorm stayed around Dover all day until late into the evening.

Left the following day at 0545 and the weather was brilliant with a F2/3 SWerly all the way across the Thames estuary.