Trip to Guernsey

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jimmycc

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Im considering a trip to Guernsey the weekend of June 23rd, i have a 19ft speedboat (new). Am i mad to consider such a large trip in a small boat, or is this perfectly feasible. Also as i have never done this before, is anyone else going that way that weekend to act as a chapparone.
 
Hi, such a trip has certainly been done, as with any trip it's all down to preparation. Obviously weather is going to be the main concern, you'll need a good high pressure firmly established for the weekend so you can get back.

I used to have a 19ft boat, and was tempted many times but never actually managed it. With my boat, petrol, range was the main concern, and depending on your engine/fuel tank you may well have to consider this.

Poole or Weymouth are convenient deparure points, St PP is about 105nM from Poole. I would have had to put into Cherbourg to refuel as I only had about 80nM range. I have been told petrol is available at Alderney.

Of course, if you have diesel power, it all might be easier. Now I have a 25ft diesel boat with over 200nM range, I'm hoping to take on this trip this summer.
 
Where are you setting out from?

I don't know if you have seen my thread on going to the Scillies? I asked almost the same question about going to the Scillies instead of the CI.

Very interesting discussion there regarding some of the same issues.

I am considering the Scillies but I have just changed my boat to one with a enclosed driving position and live-on capability. Prior to this one I had a 20ft open-style speed boat and I wanted to go further afield with that but after trying a couple of stay-away trips (Brixham, Fowey, Salcombe) I decided that the boat wasn't really suitable. Simple things like reading charts at speed becomes difficult if not impossible not to mention the risk of loosing things overboard if your driving position is open. I know, I know... I had GPS Chartplotter but I like to have the charts for everywhere I go... GPS can't give you the wide picture and I have tried marking positions on the GPS screen... take it from me - it doesn't work /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I am sure many people do it but for me there was no proper cover or enough space to allow me to take, and use properly, the bits and pieces that I would need to make the trip safely - charts, spares, personal overnight stuff, flares, spare radio, binoculars, passage books, written log, dinghy or liferaft etc.

For me, I feel that for trips out of my local area and especially on a trip into open water (Scillies, CI, across Lyme Bay directly instead around the coast etc) I wanted to have those things aboard and have the covered space available to use them properly and effectively. An uncovered boat simply does not have that. Even with those things the weather would still need to be very settled as enclosed cabin or open, you wouldn't want to be in anything of a sea in a boat that small /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So I decided that if I want to make trips like that then I needed a different boat... one with an enclosed cabin and more space to store and use the stuff I wanted with me. I took delivery yesterday of a Merry Fisher 625. Still an outboard, so not perfect for long trips, but much more suitable providing I plan properly.

If the weather is very settled, you plan meticulously and you do not have any equipment failures then IMO a cross-channel is doable in an open speedboat, particularly in company with a bigger boat, but personally I wouldn't do it.
 
Where are you starting from?
What experience/qualifications do you have?
What navigation equipment do you have on board?
Do you have a liferaft etc?
What route do you plan to take?

IMHO whilst in the right conditions for both the trip and the return trip and with the right experience it can be safe, I would probably advise that the boat is basically too small for the trip and so would advise against the trip.


No doubt many others have done such a trip in such a small boat but unless you really know what you are doing and fully appreciate the sea conditions that can hit you on that trip ....... do not attempt it.
 
We did a similar trip a few years ago in company with a 21ft cuddy.

Its perfectly possible, but planning, training and conditions are essential.

Your problem will be that you have a fixed date in mind.

Make sure your boat is equipped correctly, minimum will be VHF, Flares and a liferaft, inflated dingy, nav equipment and enough fuel for at least 30% longer than you need.

My main concern would be your level of training and experience, on our last trip the smaller cuddy picked up a rope round the prop. Calm heads, lots of tools (and a BIG kitchen knife) and some snorkelling equipment were all needed.

Only go if there is a period of settled weather. Check the conditions at the other end before you set off (Harbour master in Guernsey is very helpfull)

Be prepared to leave the boat there if the weather turns bad. And I would only attempt this if I was in company with another boat.

On balance, if you need to ask the question you probably dont have enough experience. Enjoy the mainland for a while, there are some stunning place to go and we occasionally even get some sun !!

Mark
 
People have crossed the Atlantic in 15 foot rowing boats - but personally, I think Tim is 100% correct.

You would be far better off (and a whole lot safer) enjoying some of the wonderful coastline around the UK with your new boat.

You dont have a "location" in your profile, but since you suggested a trip to Guernsey - I wouldnt mind betting you are either at Weymouth or Plymouth. Either way you have some delightful local trips available to you.
 
take the ferry /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I am not sure what type of boat you have. Loads of people run over to Cherbourg on ribs though. I have done this many times before. You must be offshore capable though so I would have thought that would exclude skiboat types. Also race of Alderney can whip up and become threatening quite quickly.

Basically with the right boat, the right equipment and the necessary skill level then it is really up to you. If in doubt though - don't do it
 
Mad
Foolhardy
Irresponsible
Unwise

all are apt descriptions for your proposed solo trip.

In the last four years we have towed-in one form or another, 5 craft the longest being 22ft from up to 10 miles offshore.

common denominators:-
no flares - no proper lifejackets - no vhf - some no mobile phones- force 3-5 this size craft cannot handle offshore chop and swells safely.

All were come across accidentally!!

Enjoy your new boat - safely- perhaps later try the trip in company.
 
When i said new, i meant the boat was new and therefore hopefully reliable. There would be a four man crew, i am the least experienced of all four, the others are one ex RNLI lifeboat crew, one very experienced sailor, one ex RAF Tornado pilot, so navigation won't be a problem. Oh yes and me the inexperienced boat owner! I have a 19ft Chris Craft speedster, i have crossed the channel many times on a ferry and it just looks so calm, i just keep thinking, I can do that! So if mine is too small, what would your recommended size of boat be.
 
Agree, the trip is perfectly reasonable, but the fixed date is foolhardy. This sort of trip needs to be undertaken when there is a good weather window, not on a fixed date
 
Decent boat with a good hull. Not very high freeboard and IMHO not suitable for an offshore trip.

I don't think size matters !! I would be quite happy to make a similar trip in a well equiped twin engined 6m RIB.

I would be happy (in good settled conditions with all equipment) to make the run in a decent cuddy-Searay, Chapparel etc. They have a higher freeboard and you have room to carry an inflated tender and plenty of spares, tools and safety equipment. But with any single engined boat I would only do it in company.


Mark
 
Where are you based and what trips have you already done??

I would be tempted if I were you to try a few extended trips along the coast to see how you find it. I've done fairly long trips in small boats before, 18ft Bow rider round the Isle of Wight, Solent to Falmouth in a 21ft.

If I'd kept the 21fter I probably would have in time gone accross the channel, but before thinking about it you need to realise what sort of conditions you may meet away from shelter. The boat may well cope, but would you??

At least if you stick to somthing more coastal you have the option to pull into the nearest port, along the southcoast thats never that far away!!
 
I did it in a 20ft 5inch cuddy in 2000. I went in company with landlockedPirate. I would not have done it without backup.

It was a lot of planning and work but a great trip. Nothing like being sat in St Peters Port and everyone asking if I had come from Jersey and highlighting I had come from Poole!

It is doable with planning, but I would want company!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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