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Post by heatherina on Jan 27, 2018 22:32:33 GMT
Hello all,
We are planning a summer trip over to the Normandy coast and the Channel Island and would love to hear any advice - places to visit, Marinas, things to look out for, etc We are based in Falmouth and have to be in Poole around the 20th of July for an event, after that we are thinking of heading across to Cherbourg then visiting the Channels Islands. Head back to the Dartmouth/Plymouth from the Channel Islands. Also wondering how Customs and Immigration will work for us. I am a UK citizen, Heather, my wife, is a Canadian with unlimited leave to remain in the UK, just wondering. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Ian and Heather
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Post by vasko on Jan 27, 2018 23:27:17 GMT
Channel crossing can be from nightmare to best experience in life My personal suggestion make sure you have proper weather forecast from at least 3 sources - zyGrib, Meteo Marine Marine, BBC - and do not start if max gusts ( gusts - not wind!) over 20kts , also do not start in midnight - make sure that you have seen the sky and sniff the air before starting - forecasts can be hugely misleading! - worst crossing that I have done was with forecast for max 15kts - started in midnight and the result was devastating - 45kts wind , rain and the sky and the sea was over us at 8am far from safe shore - in some point I decided that I do not care am I alive of dead... and in all this huge ships that needed to me monitored on the radar... and now never again I'm starting whiteout seeing the sky and sniff the air myself. re: navigation just head straight - about 12h - keep at minimum 5kts no mater with sales or engine... love Trouville-Deauville area...
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Post by vasko on Jan 27, 2018 23:33:03 GMT
btw: I have "The Shell Channel Pilot: South Coast of England, North Coast of France, Channel Islands Hardcover" 6th Edition is "as new condition" - your for £12 + shipping from London if you want it
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Post by MalcolmP on Jan 28, 2018 9:08:30 GMT
I am sure you will have a great trip. If the tide suits you could go direct to Alderney and miss out Cherbourg, unless you particularly want to go, I would give it a miss, much nicer to go to St Malo and Granville. Alderney is the most different of the channel islands well worth a look, nice village and lost of WWII ruined fortifications. Braye harbour can be a bit rolly if the wind is from the north, but has pretty tough moorings and a water taxi.
The tides and races of course, need some respect/caution, particularly the Swinge, especially near springs, but so long as you work the tides and plan ahead should not to be a major concern
St Peter Port on Guernsey is rightly a honey pot, but you should enjoy your visit. gets hectic in the school holidays, but you might be at least in the first wave. needs a sense of patience waiting for the tide flap on the waiting pontoons.
On Sark, Derrible Bay is stunning and in settled weather or northerly winds a great anchorage. Make sure you walk up the road to Liitle Sark, the causeway bridge, built by prisoners is stunning.
Jersey seems relatively big compared with the rest, but good Marinas at St Helier. If you like something different take the bus to see the Lalique glass church, pretty unique.
If I recollect, three years ago there are customs forms available on the pontoons, and a post box for them, all pretty low key. I think if you clear in at Alderney that covers you for Guernsey as well, but another form for Jersey. In the almanacs they talk about flying the Q flag, but no-one seemed to when we have visited.
Have a great trip and enjoy the planning in the meanwhile - that's what winter evenings are for ;-)
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Post by npmr on Jan 28, 2018 17:33:36 GMT
In 2013 we did the same trip in our '33i'. From Falmouth our home port.
We did Cherbourg from Yarmouth (I.O.W) in 12 hours. After Cherbourg (which we quite liked) we went to Alderney, which with the tide was nice and fast. Our planned stay here was cut short, as the forecast changed to strong northerlies, so we cleared out, in quite thick fog! and got to St Peter Port in about 4 hours, where we waited for 4 days for the wind to ease.
Next stop Jersey. Alright if you like busy town-centre places but lots to do. From there we went to St Malo, always worthwhile. Locked right in to town and then nice walks. Bit busy at times.
Next was St Cast le Guildo, which had just opened in its new format I think. Not much there but nice seaside town and feels a bit like Morgat, (down the W. Coast of Brittany), to us.
We had one of the most exciting sails from there back to Guernsey; felt like the boat was planing (obviously not, but stunning speed) - big winds and seas but really comfortable.
Then after a few days. we went to Dartmouth (71 miles) in a flat calm, virtually motoring all the way. Took about 24 hours. This was before we learnt you need to push the engine harder! It's a modern engine!
From leaving Falmouth to getting back, we were away from 20th May until 11th July.
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Post by alenka on Jan 28, 2018 23:55:42 GMT
Coming down from Guernsey to St Helier (Jersey) be very aware of the many shoals and submerged rocks. Many boats, both large and small, have come to grief around Corbier Lighthouse.
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raythesailor
Junior Member
Posts: 12
Jeanneau Model: Jen 45.2,
Yacht Name: Josephine
Country: British
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Post by raythesailor on Apr 11, 2018 14:41:31 GMT
Channel crossing can be from nightmare to best experience in life My personal suggestion make sure you have proper weather forecast from at least 3 sources - zyGrib, Meteo Marine Marine, BBC - and do not start if max gusts ( gusts - not wind!) over 20kts , also do not start in midnight - make sure that you have seen the sky and sniff the air before starting - forecasts can be hugely misleading! - worst crossing that I have done was with forecast for max 15kts - started in midnight and the result was devastating - 45kts wind , rain and the sky and the sea was over us at 8am far from safe shore - in some point I decided that I do not care am I alive of dead... and in all this huge ships that needed to me monitored on the radar... and now never again I'm starting whiteout seeing the sky and sniff the air myself. re: navigation just head straight - about 12h - keep at minimum 5kts no mater with sales or engine... love Trouville-Deauville area... well like many others before me I could write a book on this subject. You are about to visit an amazing and fascinating cruising area. Apart the obvious most important factor weather the THREE MOST IMPORTANT factors are TIDE, TIDE and TIDE. This may involve you telling your crew that we need to leave at some un godly hour as say 0500 etc. You will be surprised to see as you rise many other boats doing the same ! Playing and using the tides is one of the most satisfying seamanship skills you will ever experience. Do not even contemplate sailing against the current in this area, and when going down the Alderney Race and the Little Russel keep an eye on your Speed over the ground and be totally aware of where you are at all times as it happens very fast. I have sailed in many parts of the world but learnt my sailing in this area. SAIL HERE YOU CAN SAIL ANYWHERE.
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jeva
New Member
Posts: 1
Jeanneau Model: Merry Fisher 795
Yacht Name: Dreamer 2
Home Port: St. Sampson's
Country: Guernsey
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Post by jeva on Jun 17, 2018 16:09:27 GMT
Hello all,
We are planning a summer trip over to the Normandy coast and the Channel Island and would love to hear any advice - places to visit, Marinas, things to look out for, etc We are based in Falmouth and have to be in Poole around the 20th of July for an event, after that we are thinking of heading across to Cherbourg then visiting the Channels Islands. Head back to the Dartmouth/Plymouth from the Channel Islands. Also wondering how Customs and Immigration will work for us. I am a UK citizen, Heather, my wife, is a Canadian with unlimited leave to remain in the UK, just wondering. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Ian and Heather Hey Ian and Heather Are you still heading to the CI? I live in Guernsey and have experience of (motor) boating around all the islands (though Alderney is just as a passenger so far, although I hope to change that next month!)
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