Tidal Strategy - Arriving/Depaerting St P Port

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JohnMilsom

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Hi,

I'd be intersted in people's views on the best tidal strategy to use in arriving and departing from St Peter Port, when sailing from/to Dartmouth.

On the way out to Guernsey I usually aim to approach Hanois LH at about 3 hours after Dover HW (HW St Helier -0430), with the SW tide turning South (making sure I round the SW tip of Guernsey without a fight). We then pick up an E push along the south coast and a N push after St Martin's Point an up toward the Little Russel. This usually times us comfortably for entry to the visitors Marina with plenty of contingency time.

I have to admit to being less clear about the ideal time for setting off when coming home (SPP - Dartmouth). We always take the route up the Little Russel , past Roustel tower and Platte Fougere. The tidal atlas I have shows the stream running up the L Russel from about 5 hours after Dover HW (HW St Helier -0230) and I think in the past I have set off just after this time to get a good push off.

I am wary though that leaving 4ish hours after Dover HW means facing a strong E stream early on in the passage, pushing us towards the entrance to the Casquets TSS, which need to be accounted for by heading further west, and this may increase the overall passage time. Also, leaving at this time sometimes means encountering some pretty fierce overfalls around NE Guernsey!

I'd be really interested in people's thoughts, experiences, and/or advice; particularly on departure strategy for the trip home to Dartmouth.

My vice is a 1996 Beneteau 321 (in case this is interest/use!).

John.
 
Heading out on that passage home, I'd look to using the Doyle Passage which runs NW'ish from the PHM/SHM bouys indicating the approach line-up for Beaucette Marina. It's in Reed's....

That very handy short passage saves typically half-an-hour and takes one out a couple of miles further west than the northern exit from the Little Russell - very handy if seeking to keep clear of the west end of the nearby Off Casquets TSS, as one should.

Of course, one needs decent visibility. It is 'pilotage', but at that stage of tide, the 'sticky-up' granite bits should all be plain to see.....

:)
 
Thanks

Thanks for this tip, looks doable in the pilotage books.

What time relative to HW do would be ideal to leave, both via Doyle's and/or round the outside of Platte Fougere?
 
I don't usually bother too much about the tide in the Little Russel. The passages either side of Alderney are much more significant and if you get those right the Russel pretty much drops into place. I helps of course that I have the speed to overcome moderate amounts of tide. Enter the Alderney Race around HW Dover and you'll zip straight through to StPP. On a passage from the English coast it is much more tricky to get it right as you can't predict when you are going to arrive until you are well into the passage (unless you're motoring). If you get it drastically wrong you can always wait for the next tide in Alderney.
 
To leave SPP heading North is simple.

On your 1st stay watch the sill in the marina when its too low to leave the tide is heading N in the Little Russel Channel.

On 2nd stay get out of marina while you still can and tie up on outside pontoons then leave when you can see the sill.
 
Cloud Reflections

I'd have to look up the stuff on tidal streams etc, but one Top Tip we found by accident a few times, is that the whole Start Point peninsular is often mirrored in the clouds above, visible from say 20 miles away right down to the Salcombe & Dartmouth inlets, remarkably accurately; a thermal / convection effect.

Very handy when the GPS batteries pack up, but I wouldn't set off relying on this !
 
John

I can't fault your calcs/observations. They match up with what I can see from peering at Reeds. Interestingly, they do seem to be at odds with Sailfree's comments, but that is another matter.

My normal route to/from Guernsey would be via the Alderney Race or the Swinge en route back to the Solent, so I have never considered your dilemma before. However, later this year I will be going from Guernsey to Weymouth, so I too will have to face the same issues you are considering, albeit with my ultimate destination some way east of where you are headed.

That being the case, why don't you head off back the way you came, along the south coast of Guernsey and turn right after Les Hanois? You would do that on the ebb with the tide carrying you west towards your destination and well away from the Casquets TSS.

Oh, and thanks to Lady Campanula for the useful tip, now stored in the brain for future retrieval.
 
Sailtime - I guess I can't be that wrong because I have always spent my last night in SPP on the pontoons in the pool in order to get out before the sill is covered.

Seajet - I have never noticed that mirage type effect, eyes usually trained on the horizon looking for Start, followed by Berry Head

Angele - I have thought of headiong South, and I will have a look at the tides again. I don't think that most people take this approach though. Hope you have a good trip later this year though!
 
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