Whimps or boat choice

[DAKA]

Cant help but notice a lot of cross channel cruises have been abandoned this weekend.

Ive had a quick look and note that the tide turns @0900 sat to flow SW with a nice back wind NE to take you all the way @ 17-20 knots, alright a little slower than one hopes for but with a tide push France is 3 1/2 hours and STPeterport 4 1/2 .

Several years ago I would have been happy to set off in a 1980 designed 30foot Cornich
(I hadnt planned to cross the channel this weekend but also feel the weather isnt family friendlily)

So whats gone wrong then ?

Is it the cost of fuel has meant we are less used to sea passages.

Is it slab sided boats riding like bath tubs

Is it modern engines/outdrives being so unreliable the trust has gone

or is it just in the old days
@ £10 hour we were happy to get wet and bruised but enjoy it once there

now
@£65 hour we demand a sunshine cruise in complete comfort.


ps
I know there are spelling fauxpars , but it will not let me edit or delete and repost.

 

[Wavey]

Things that spring to mind some of which you've already mentioned....

Weather - Naff (cold/wet) for Sunday and Monday
Red diesel issue
Cost of fuel

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

now
@£65 hour we demand a sunshine cruise in complete comfort.
.

I think you've got it in one there. Why pay £65/hour to be bashed about, freezing cold and wet. Boating is supposed to be pleasurable not some kind of sado masochistic torture. I know yotties seem to believe that it's no fun unless it hurts but we don't have to think the same

 

[Third mate]

So whats gone wrong then ?


Is it modern engines/outdrives being so unreliable the trust has gone

Interesting part of quote as there appear to be numerous horror stories regarding reliability of marine diesel's/outdrives. Or is this a case of 'bad news travels fast' ????

 

[AdeOlly]

Things that spring to mind some of which you've already mentioned....

Weather - Naff (cold/wet) for Sunday and Monday
Red diesel issue
Cost of fuel

We are away all next week on the boat but had not planned a Cross Channel jaunt, more of a trip west. However we have been re-considering where we will go, and I think you're spot on with the first and last. We have a young family and even though the boat can take the conditions for tomorrow, and so can I, I would not out them through 4.5 hrs of a lumpy channel crossing to spend two cold and potentially wet days in St PP, with the risk of a lumpier crossing coming back, and blow £3-400 on fuel for the privilege. For us it's supposed to be a pleasure and fun, not an endurance test. And for the same reasons I think it's doubtful we'll be hopping across Lyme Bay later this week....

I managed to scare the kids once last year catching St Albans head in a very, very grumpy mood, and I'm still paying the price... every trip I get asked "You will turn around if it's bumpy won't you Daddy"... for me this is probably the key driver of will we/won't we.....


No Red diesel issue with CI or France, only a small risk with those pesky Belgies.

 

[Moody]

I'll quote SWMBO.

This is something we're supposed to be doing for pleasure, not endurance.

Nuff said

Neil

 

[vas]

sorry if I'll sound a bit jfm, but putting aside diesel price, I feel that the solution to ALL your other probs is to

just move down to the med

ppl here wont even get their craft in the water (and I'm talking about 35-45ft mobos and yachts) unless as few clearly state "I can go swimming, what's the point else?" according to the marina owner, they'll be all in the water by mid June many back out by mid October.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Down here at Parlstone Bay Marina we had a channel islands cruise in company booked for the weekend.

12 boats from a couple of Cranchi Turchese 24s to a Botnia Targa 44.
The weather itself isn't dangerous, but it is for pleasure and not pain.
With a couple of very inexperienced cruisers coming we didn't want to put boaters off forever.

Wet and cold with a stiff breeze up the jacksie... not my kind of fun.

 

[gjgm]

The weather itself isn't dangerous, but it is for pleasure and not pain.
With a couple of very inexperienced cruisers coming we didn't want to put boaters off forever.

Wet and cold with a stiff breeze up the jacksie... not my kind of fun.

That is one of the compromises of a cruise though.. you sort of need to cater down to the least experienced/most nervous, for the reasons you give.
I was going to CIs this w.e, but having spent three weeks last summer holiday being bashed about with SWMBO collapsed on the cockpit floor, we cant really see the point in starting this holiday where we left off last year- with a sunk yacht mayday off the Needles as we arrived back, now I think about it.
Sunday maybe, for Torbay, but there arent any berths there that are free they tell me, and Dart is full of boat rallies too.
And it looks like its raining...
It's just a **** w,e Daka...

 

[OAF]

Cant help but notice a lot of cross channel cruises have been abandoned this weekend.

Ive had a quick look and note that the tide turns @0900 sat to flow SW with a nice back wind NE to take you all the way @ 17-20 knots, alright a little slower than one hopes for but with a tide push France is 3 1/2 hours and STPeterport 4 1/2 .

Several years ago I would have been happy to set off in a 1980 designed 30foot Cornich
(I hadnt planned to cross the channel this weekend but also feel the weather isnt family friendlily)

So whats gone wrong then ?

Is it the cost of fuel has meant we are less used to sea passages.

Is it slab sided boats riding like bath tubs

Is it modern engines/outdrives being so unreliable the trust has gone

or is it just in the old days
@ £10 hour we were happy to get wet and bruised but enjoy it once there

now
@£65 hour we demand a sunshine cruise in complete comfort.


ps
I know there are spelling fauxpars , but it will not let me edit or delete and repost.

I reckon the cost has a lot to do with it, when spending a chunk on fuel people are going to be more decerning with their choice of where to cruise, you want to get the most for your money, for some it might be one big trip of the year, or rather than blow their budget on a poor crossing, several smaller trips in better weather might be in order?

If fuel isn't a worry then taking a chance would be my opinion,as long as its safe!

Last weekend hardly anyone went ut boating because of the wind, the sun was glorious but it was windy, I took the plunge, it was safe, I went over to Weymouth, the trip wasn't the best, following wind etc etc but what an amazing return trip, flat calm, no wind, simply stunning, how many people were kicking them selves they weren't out on he water then?

With the weather so unpredictable surely you have to do it when the opportunity arises?