Timing options for a Dover to Calais crossing by sail

[LiftyK]

I'm looking to cross the channel when the tides are at 80% coefficient and HW Dover will be 1pm. Cruising speed goal is 5 knots.

Brian Nevin's North Sea pilot book proposes two options.

• Either depart HW Dover +3.5 (HW Calais +3)
. NE tide starts HW Dover -1.5, SW tide starts HW Dover +4.5. Aim directly for CA2 buoy W of Calais.
• Or depart HW Dover -5.5
. Start by motoring against tide towards SW Goodwin then aim for buoy CA2.
• Both routes cross the traffic separation scheme at right angles and take an estimated 5 hours, over 23-24 nm.

The first option is said to arrive at Calais with a long wait until the lock and bridge open.
The second option is said to benefit from slack tide slack on arrival but possible rush to enter Calais Marina in time.

Meanwhile my friends's pilot book says to arrive at HW Calais.

Do you have any best practice and experience to share please?

 

[LiftyK]

Let me answer my own question.

On the crosssing from Dover to Calais we folllowed the advice of the almanac and had an unpleasant crossing. While the timing may have made best use of the tide it was in a wind against tide situation. I will not be doing that again.

On the crossing from Calais to Dover, we first checked that we’d avoid wind over tide and then arranged to take the last of the east to west ebb and approached Dover from slightly west as the tide started to flood. This plan worked well and we crossed in around four and a half hours.

 

[dolabriform]

Let me answer my own question.

On the crosssing from Dover to Calais we folllowed the advice of the almanac and had an unpleasant crossing. While the timing may have made best use of the tide it was in a wind against tide situation. I will not be doing that again.

On the crossing from Calais to Dover, we first checked that we’d avoid wind over tide and then arranged to take the last of the east to west ebb and approached Dover from slightly west as the tide started to flood. This plan worked well and we crossed in around four and a half hours.

I’ve only just seen this thread, and surprised that you didn’t get any replies.

What wind strength and direction did you have? What size and type of boat?

We crossed from Calais to Dover last month with F5 on the beam, wind with tide, but after a few days of very strong winds and it was rather bumpy.

 

[LiftyK]

I’ve only just seen this thread, and surprised that you didn’t get any replies.

What wind strength and direction did you have? What size and type of boat?

We crossed from Calais to Dover last month with F5 on the beam, wind with tide, but after a few days of very strong winds and it was rather bumpy.

Thank you for your comments. On our lumpy outbound crossing:
- Wind SW4-5
- 8.4 metre / 27' sailing boat, lightweight
- There had been a lot of swell previously and it had not died down

As mentioned, my error was to not take into account wind against tide. I feel that arriving in Dover or Calais any time is not a problem. In Calais there are plentiful waiting buoys and I'm quite happy to wait on one until the next bridge opening. In Dover, as I found upon my first arrival, even if the flood tide is howling past the western entrance, staying close to the breakwater it is easy to turn in and then get sucked in by the tide into the calm inner water, manoeuvring with my modest 9HP Yanmar 1GM10 engine.