Unknown unknowns: Longer trips

[PhillM]

OK so I am planning for this and the next few summers. For those who don't know me, Paean is a 24.5 foot Cheverton Caravel. 1961 wooden and pretty much fully refitted. I have hanked on foresail and stack-pack but not single line reefing on the main. I use a tiller pilot and have an engine start and a 110 domestic battery. I can charge the batteries in 2 hours of engine time and carry about 20L in the tank and another 20L diesel in cans. Engine drinks 1l an hour give or take. I have VHF with AIS receive only, a couple of plotter options, all the charts etc as well as an EPIRB, Flares and jacket inc harness and plenty of clip on points.

I sail single handed and have lots of Solent experience. Additionally, last year got to Falmouth and back in a series of long day-sails.

This year I am considering, Solent- Cherbourg - Deauville (sailing in company for a week) then in the 2 - 3 weeks following to CI's and potentially on to La Rochelle, then home to the Solent via Dartmouth.

Following year, I fancy getting past Biscay either in one go or down the French coast. Then who know, Azores ..... or further.

What I don't know is what I don't know. I only have Dayskipper, but have done lots of reading! However, I never crossed the channel in any boat, nor sailed the open ocean.

Cash is restricted, but there is some around if needed to invest in sensible precautions.

I would welcome top tips from the panel please.

 

[GHA]

Get a pressure cooker. Small one

And as much solar as you can fit. Cruising and getting the batteries back to full charge just isn't going to happen using the engine on it's own. Takes forever to get fully charged and they pack up pretty quick if they don't get back to full quite often.

Then to really get the hang of it, it's all down to spending loads and loads of time out there..
IMHO

 

[doug748]

I think you should think about binning the idea of getting to La Rochelle, it's too much for a three week trip. Course it could be done, but you would miss most things out in between which sort of defeats the idea of cruising. The other thing is, if you set your heart on it, anything less seems a bit of a defeat.
You might regret going to Deauville, if you get tied up by bad weather, I would prefer to press on in the general direction of the master plan.

There is loads to do in the Channel Isles and North Brittany coast for a three week trip. If you really want to push it Brest would be a good target, you could easily use up another three weeks in that area if you did but have the time.

Sounds like your boat is well up to the task, if you have an outboard for the tender, as a singlehander I would leave it in the shed.

 

[[3889]]

I think you're up and ready for this as you are, assuming the boat is well maintained . Solent to Falmouth encompasses most of the issues you will encounter as far as La Rochelle and a X-Channel will be easier. Long open water passages to the likes of the Azores are a different matter but there's only one way to find out if you and your boat are up to it. Not many small to medium yachts carry enough fuel to motor all the way to the Azores.
Solar would be good along with a PLB. I have single line reefing and wish I didn't, assuming you're confident working on deck. The RYA courses are a good way to gain skills quickly but personal experience is just as valuable. I'd rather sail with a DS with your experience than a Zero to Hero YM.

 

[steve yates]

I would add solar for sure. 2 hours to charge batteries is good, but it is using 10% of your fuel tank every time.

When looking at crossing biscay or out to the azores, although I have never done either, I would want, (really want) a wind vane set up. Especially if singlehanding.

I think I would put that way above liferafts/epirbs/plotters etc

 

[steve yates]

oh, and lee cloths.

 

[PhillM]

Thanks guys, solar now on the shopping list, although no idea where to mount it as yet.

Windvane _ agreed but may be beyond me for the next couple of years as it looks like £3k to get and fit, which is beyond my budget atm.

 

[LadyInBed]

My thoughts in no special order. As doug says, La Rochelle is to ambitious for a short trip. He suggests Brest, I would suggest Camaret just across the bay, mainly because it is a good jump off point for Biscay.
Get used to spending nights on anchor.
Up your domestic battery capacity, a 140ah is the same footprint as 110. If you can fit two domestics then all the better.
Fit solar, as said.
Fit inner / 2nd forestay as best Biscay crossing is with wind up the chuff and poled out twin headsails causes less rolling than goose winged main. An alternative is a cruising shoot which I think for solo sailing is better than a spinnaker but not as versatile as twin headsails. I guess others will argue that!
If wind vane steering is too expensive then a backup tiller pilot is almost an essential for long distance (3 days) sailing solo.
A tablet and 3/4g mifi is good for keeping in touch / weather gribs. Also wire in a double usb charger socket.
Think about how you are going to top up your water, is your tank water drinkable, if so do you carry a (flat) hose, else it's bottled or better carry water containers. Spanish Marina tap water is perfectly drinkable.
. . . That will do for now

 

[Wansworth]

Sailedfrom LaRochelle to Santander in 3 days in 27 footer,hove to to have a kip on the cabin sole so you can manage without self steering .once n the Spanish coast enjoyable day sailing between harbours,good nav lights essential.

 

[johnalison]

Sailing short-handed is all about how effective the autopilot is. Solent-Cherbourg is an easy enough crossing but for a boat of this size you might be thinking of about fifteen or more hours, which is a long time to be going without a pee. It is entirely doable but safety depends almost entirely on how good your watchkeeping is, so the sailing and navigation need to take care of themselves.

 

[JVL]

Plus 1 to GHA , as for self steering have a look at “ How to sail oceans” on YouTube he has a website with a cheep and cheerful trim tab set up that would work for you ?

John

 

[RupertW]

I wouldn’t worry about wind vane for cross channel - even Biscay will almost certainly be fine but if you are worried a second tillerpilot (with a spare jump lead to batteries) is far cheaper. You then just have to worry about keeping batteries topped up.

I would get a siphon pump for refuelling in nasty weather and at least one more 20l can. On our last Biscay crossing we had no wind for 3 days.

 

[jamie N]

I made a trim tab self steering for my Folkboat without too much difficulty, for about £50, and a few days. Getting the boat trimmed is the critical factor, as it is for 'sheet to tiller' steering.
I've a couple of smallish solar panels fitted which work well enough, but I've replaced all lighting with LED, and am also incredibly mean with power usage.
The only piece of pricey hardware that I'd miss on my boat, is an AIS transponder; sliced bread, canine gonad's etc.etc.....!
On your 1st trip, you'll inevitably gain so much of the experience that will make the following year plans much clearer.
In the end, nothing really matters as long as you keep safe and enjoy it.

 

[steve yates]

Thanks guys, solar now on the shopping list, although no idea where to mount it as yet.

Windvane _ agreed but may be beyond me for the next couple of years as it looks like £3k to get and fit, which is beyond my budget atm.

Check out the Hebridean, it gets good reports

 

[KellysEye]

Jane and I went long distance sailing with a RYA dinghy certificate, you just need to build experience by sailing a longer distance each time you go out.

 

[GHA]

This year I am considering,.

Another thought...... I can be helpful to view plans as more of a guess what might happen rather than something which *must* happen. Makes it easier to bail out when a better idea comes along driven by weather of whatever

Good example here from a single hander - https://youtu.be/HnoG4Lveplk?t=918

 

[Topcat47]

You can have a lot of fun pottering about Northern France. La Rochelle from the UK is a bit ambitious for a first timer IMO.

If you're crossing from between Chichester and Weymouth I'd aim for Cherbourgh it's a nice big port protected by a huge breakwater and there are two entrances, so if you miss one, you can always use the other PROVIDED YOU ARE UPTIDE. So it's good to plan an arrival waypoint upside of the port with a few hours flow. A small boat will struggle against the tides around the Cherbourg Peninsula and the alternative havens (for me anyway) are Alderney (where you will have the Race and the Swinge to contend with) or St Vaast which is controlled by a tidal lock. Both extend the cruise by around 5 hours with tidal assistance so it's not good to arrive tired and the "wrong" side of the port.

Remember the "P"s Perfect planning prevents poor performance. This includes a plan "B" which will depend on both you and your boat. Barfleur and the Race have to be contended with and neither are happy places with wind over tide.

You can anchor close in to Cherbourg and wait for a fair tide, how close and where depends on your boat.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Your boat is well set up and I wouldn't personally bother with a spare tiller pilot yet unless you think your present one is unreliable. Mine lasted 30 years without trouble till I connected it back to front due to wiring error in new boat. You can mostly get moderate self steering by setting sails right and tieing tiller and you only need time to go to the heads or put stove on. I know it goes against the grain but you can always hove too for 10 minutes to eat on long passages - and it beats having stew land in your lap in rolling weather. The longest single passage to La Rochelle will be cross channel and that's one you will have to stay awake and fully on watch for. Think of extra fuel can on deck if need be, and auto pump fuel siphon as hard to pour fuel in rolling boat. An ipad or similar with GPS will be a great comfort approaching strange harbour and only needs to be turned on the approaches, but waterproof case is advisable.

The biggest change will be being finally outsight of land knowing you are committed. As others have said aim up tide of any essential harbours just in case tides or winds make your course not as expected. I like a staysail so I can have twin headsails downwind but as a single hander you might prefer to minimise foredeck work. Still carrying it doesn't mean you need to use it

All the islands you pass are worth visiting, enjoy as many as you can.

If you do head finally to the Azores then get windvane or spare tiller pilot plus additional battery. Indeed think of extra battery anyway. Enjoy yourself.

 

[Stemar]

A tip for open water: Have a timer you can set to go off every ten minutes. You can do what you like until it goes off - read, catnap, rustle up some grub then, when it goes off, have a good 360 degree look round. If nothing's in sight, in good visibility, you've got another ten minutes before anything's likely to get close enough to need your attention. In dubious visibility, make it every 5 minutes or less.

Provided you read the weather right, the biggest hazard going across to Cherbourg is boredom, so take a good book (I like my Kindle, less bulky than a paperback & over 500 books on it), but not so good you miss the alarm!

Unless your Caravel's a much quicker boat under sail than my Snapdragon 24, you'll probably want to motorsail, it's a good way to get your average up on long passages without burning too much fuel.

Think about how you're going to refill the tank under way - easy enough probably on a calm sea, but you may need to do it when it's wet and bumpy.

Big +1 for solar. My knowledge is a bit out of date, but I fitted a pair of 20w panels on a frame forward of the sprayhood over the hatch garage on the basis that a small shadow over one panel will cut the output from that panel, but the other one will still give full whack. A dual battery controller allows you to decide how you want to charge the batteries; I have mine set to charge the engine one first, on the basis that losing the domestics is a pain, but not being able to start the engine could be dangerous. It normally takes a few minutes to top it up, then it's full on charging the domestics. 40w won't keep on top of your needs under way, but it will probably double or more your autonomy.

Finally, just do it! Don't have a must get there attitude, but a must have fun one. Plan your passage for as far as you think you can get in the time you want to be out there, but build in possible stops on the way and don't be afraid to use them - you don't want to be approaching a difficult Brittany port tired, cold, hungry and in the dark!

 

[zoidberg]

Good set of 'progressive plans' and lots of advice above. Thousands of others have sailed to France, down along France, and beyond..... step by step. So can you.

You will need something you didn't mention - good anchoring tackle. What might be adequate for Newtown Creek 'won't cut the mustard' in most of the scores of good anchorages you will pass, especially as you have a long keel. You really will need two hooks and rode.....

There are many French harbours and creeks 'on t'other side' where the ability to dry out is necessary - Roscoff Old Town, Rotheneuf/St Malo and Longis Bay/Alderney are examples - and which will save you money by avoiding marinas. You might consider fitting 'legs', which should be cheap and easy on your boat.

You will need reliable nav lights, and I'd encourage you to retro-fit LED bulbs in everything. I'd also encourage you to fit another battery. A couple of small, quite cheap PV panels can be rigged up 'demountable' and connected via Belkin sockets.... or a long trailing cable and crocodile clips..... to keep those batteries recharged. The French mini-650 racers - especially those with little money - are adept at rigging up such gear very cheaply. A web search will show some good ideas. I also carry 'emergency nav lights' that clip on. There's a reason.....

A plastic box with essential engine maintenance spares that you know you will need - and which you will struggle to find in France.....

A plastic box with bosunry/rigging and sail repair items that you know you will need.... etc.

A plastic box with hand tools you know you will need.... etc.

You could, of course, come down to Plymouth in early June, and do the Baltimore Jester Challenge. There will be many others just like you, with similar small boats for company, and you'll pick up lots of confidence and good ideas. And you'll end up hunting for a s/h windvane steering gear.... as everyone else does.