Would it be madness

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Homer J

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I am proposing to sail to Alderney in August but has no EPIRB or AIS. Is this a foolish idea? Any advice appreciated, especially if humorous (preferably not sarcastic).

Also best place to go to for advice on approach routes and getting the tide right.
 
Not madness at all; if you're confident enough in your abilities, just go for it. You don't actually need an EPIRB and certainly not AIS.
 
We do it from Brixham regularly with no AIS or EPIRB. Alderney is our favourite of the Channel Islands, someone described it once as 2000 alcoholics hanging on to a rock.
 
Homer J said:
I am proposing to sail to Alderney in August but has no EPIRB or AIS. Is this a foolish idea? Any advice appreciated, especially if humorous (preferably not sarcastic).

Also best place to go to for advice on approach routes and getting the tide right.
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I heard it alleged once that wee saily boats used to do that passage before boat electronics were invented. It might just be rumour though.
 
True and people have crossed oceans in hollowed out logs years but that doesn't mean it's a good idea now. Anyway not bad, the third reply and despite the request for the avoidance of sarcasm you couldn't resist it.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
I heard it alleged once that wee saily boats used to do that passage before boat electronics were invented. It might just be rumour though.
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We did it in our Sadler 29 but cheated disgracefully by having Decca. And a compass. And a radio. And, er, not much else.

The easiest way to Alderney is via Cherbourg, from where it is an easy trip if you stay 5m north of Cap de la Hague and so avoid being sucked into a black hole by the race.
 
Thanks for that. I'm trying to avoid going to France as we will have the dog with us, so the return journey would get complex.
 
Homer J said:
I am proposing to sail to Alderney in August but has no EPIRB or AIS. Is this a foolish idea?
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No, because...

1) Shipping is not significantly busier than pre AIS days a decade ago, & boats didn't collide with ships then, so won't now.

2) You're not out of range of coastguard via VHF anywhere in that area assuming you're not starting in Svalbard, so an EPIRB is not necessary. Even if you lost your mast & aerial there's likely to be someone in visual range before long.

Is that better?
 
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I can remember sailing cross Channel using a log, depth sounder and a compass. Later added a a radio direction finder, then Decca, both fairly poor by today's standards. GPS added some increase of accuracy and now we have chart plotters.

In the 1970's I was asked to race from Harwich to Ostend on a Trapper 28. Once onboard, I was asked to navigate. There was no log, unswung compass, well out of date charts and a depth sounder. No problem if you have confidence in your own abilities.

So Homer J, there should be no problem in doing it without EPIRB or AIS. Just remember to use the best piece of navigational equipment onboard - the Mark I eyeball.
 
Homer J said:
I was thinking of leaving from Yarmouth
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Then timing is not so critical except you should aim to arrive before the tide runs strongly to the south through the race.

Like many others I have done it (from Poole) with a compass and an echo sounder without any drama, so any additional electronic aids just feed and maybe diminish your insecurity. AIS mainly just gives you electronic confirmation of what you see with your eyes and maybe confirms the action (or inaction) you already planned. EPIRB has minimal advantage over DSC and yu won't need either. GPS so you know where you are real time is the real biggy to have.

Plan properly in the best traditional manner and just go.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
No, because...

1) Shipping is not significantly busier than pre AIS days a decade ago, & boats didn't collide with ships then, so won't now.

2) You're not out of range of coastguard via VHF anywhere in that area assuming you're not starting in Svalbard, so an EPIRB is not necessary. Even if you lost your mast & aerial there's likely to be someone in visual range before long.

Is that better?
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Yes, that's very helpful. Thank you.
 
Tranona said:
Then timing is not so critical except you should aim to arrive before the tide runs strongly to the south through the race.

Like many others I have done it (from Poole) with a compass and an echo sounder without any drama, so any additional electronic aids just feed and maybe diminish your insecurity. AIS mainly just gives you electronic confirmation of what you see with your eyes and maybe confirms the action (or inaction) you already planned. EPIRB has minimal advantage over DSC and yu won't need either. GPS so you know where you are real time is the real biggy to have.

Plan properly in the best traditional manner and just go.
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When you refer to the tide are you suggesting to avoid the maximum south bound flow that is in a favourable direction? Should I be aiming for just after slack water?
 
In short, no it's not madness.

I am neither a luddite nor full of careless bravado, but have successfully crossed the Channel and North Sea numerous times (everywhere from Suffolk/Netherlands to Cornwall/Brittany, and including Alderney). I've never had a EPIRB, and have only had an AIS receiver on the last couple of trips.

I've never been bothered by the lack of EPIRB (though if Santa were running out of ideas. . .). The AIS receiver takes a lot of the stress out of crossing the shipping lanes, etc., but is hardly an essential bit of kit.

Apologies if I've misinterpreted your request, but I'm a little worried that you're asking for advice on where to go for advice on approaches and getting the tides right. I would have thought that anyone with the skills and knowledge desirable before tackling the Channel Islands would (a) be able to work out the fundamentals from looking at the charts; (b) would know where to find more detailed info and advice, and (c) be coming on here for tips/tricks/recommends to refine and supplement that basic and published info.

Apologies for the lack of humour (it's been a long hard day).
 
Homer J said:
I am proposing to sail to Alderney in August but has no EPIRB or AIS. Is this a foolish idea? Any advice appreciated, especially if humorous (preferably not sarcastic).

Also best place to go to for advice on approach routes and getting the tide right.
Click to expand...

Ive been to Alderney a number of times also to the other Channel Islands and parts of NE France without AIS, Epirb or GPS. In the early days we did not have VHF either but we had DECCA when it became available for small boat use.

Good pilotage notes and a tidal stream atlas which shows the local tidal streams are essential to get the approach to Alderney right. Not only to avoid an unexpected trip down the race but for the actual entry into Braye.

A chart (or plotter) is useful but once you know the way you may not need to refer to it :)

Don't forget preparation of a passage plan is a legal obligation under SOLAS V , Regulation 34
 
If you are crossing from the Solent, Alderney via Cherbourg can sometimes be an attractive option.
 
Well if you lived in West Australia you would have to have both VHF and an EPIRB for any voyage beyond 2NM from shore.
However obviously not hit by bureaucracy so much in UK.
If you can stay in contact with VHF then you do have some safety back up. It is not a question of how many have done it successfully without electronics but rather a question of how many have perished and or put life saving services at risk when in open ocean without electronics. That is the philosophy of the requirement in West Oz and many other places. I think you may be seen as irresponsible if you don't have an EPIRB with GPS. olewill
 
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