A few of us here in Cambridgeshire are meeting to discuss a possible channel crossing sometime during the spring or summer involving X's and M's. My experience level is devoted to the waters in and around the Orwell so far.
Understood is the need for a very favorable and stable weather window, use of a life raft, and staying out of shipping lanes. I am not convinced that this is a great idea, but am open minded.
Any further advice would be very welcome.
Thanks!
David
Logan's Run 25M
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David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
Macs are rated category C: "INSHORE: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to, and including, wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 2 m may be experienced."
That said, I sailed 80 miles around the Isle of Wight non stop in a little over 12 hours and in heavy weather gusting force 5+ so a 25 mile trip across the Channel shouldn't pose a problem for a well founded Mac provided you plan and take the necessary precautions, as you outlined.
Are you crossing the channel or heading for Belgium?
Take plenty of fuel. (There is an old saying that you use 1/3 on the way out saving 2/3rds for the return trip.) Also, make sure the crew have the correct gear, plenty of food and drink, take flares and do practice evacuating into the life raft before you go.. It is not women and children first but the strongest and fittest person goes first so he/she can help the others.
Some fit, healthy and experienced crew are advisable to complement the beginners; and on a first trip it is a good idea to travel in convoy accompanied by someone who has done it before.
If you are nervous try and find out if any East Coast or South Coast Yacht clubs are planning a rally and ask to join in.
And another thing I dragged up from the depths of my mind are certificates of competence and evidence that VAT has been paid on your boat. Different and complicated rules apply when sailing in EU waters.
Good Luck, Safe Sailing and enjoy!
Simon Armitage
Sowenna (26M)
There are articles about former trips in old issues of the newsletter, which might prove useful. I don't know which issues I'm afraid but they are all online. Unfortunately we don't have a cross-issue search facility (if anyone can remember the issue numbers, that would be handy).
I believe previous crossings have departed from Rye, there are launch facilities and a sheltered though tidal harbour.
My personal suggestions (as someone who hasn't actually done it!) would be:
Plan for more than one destination, should wind or tide shift your course unduly.
Take enough fuel to motor all the way, and ensure you can refuel before returning. You should know your consumption and range at various speeds (the faster you go the less far you can go on a tank-full).
Invest in an EPIRB and/or PLBs (ideally one PLB for every crew member). The only flares that are genuinely useful are orange smoke.
Check and service your lifejackets!
Other essentials - chart plotter (even if only on a tablet), good binoculars, hand bearing compass (for checking potential collision courses), everything anyone else has suggested.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Rick,
Great suggestions! I will check past issues as you mentioned. I have most of the kit you suggested. Thanks so Much!
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
Just to help you out Rick, David, the issue number 70 (July 2010) has the article regarding the Channel crossing from Rye to Boulogne in 2008. The Mac undertaking the crossing is now my boat, "Hogwash", and the skipper was Andy Bates, a previous member of the MOA committee. I guess the boat was quite up together back in 2008, although the crossing was not without one or two mishaps. I haven't ventured out much in it since buying it in 2014 because it was in need of a lot of TLC, to put it mildly. Hopefully in the coming year it will see a lot more action.
If you can't find the issue and the article, I would be happy to scan in the relevant pages and send them to you; PM me your email address if I can be of assistance.
Regards
John Richards
John,
Thanks so much for the information. I will check out that issue today, and let you know if I need any assistance.good luck on getting your Mac up to snuff.
David
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
I was planning a trip to Gravelines this year from Ramsgate in my Yarmouth23, would love to join a Mac convoy.
I used to live in Dover and sailed to France many times. It is either easy or very difficult dependant on the following:
1) weather - you really need a good weather window in a Magregor
2) tides - plan the passage carefully taking into account the tide flows
3) waves- just because the weather is good today does not mean that the waves are not difficult mid channel
4)big ship traffic - the straights are a pinch point and there will be a lot of big boats following the traffic separation lanes which you have to cross. This can be very intimidating if you are not used to it. My suggestions are 1) use the motor to cross the lanes at right angles as quickly as you can 2) do not expect them to give way to you no matter what the collision regulations say. They will have seen you but it is not practical for them to manoeuvre for every small boat. Alter course early to make your intentions clear. If a ship is crossing and on a constant bearing I would alter course about two miles away from them and steer for their stern and pop round behind them by about 250 meters 3) have someone on board whose job it is to continually monitor the bearings of the traffic with a hand held compass or compass binoculars and report to the skipper any constant bearings. Remember to look behind for the ferries and hovercraft. They move quickly.
5)make sure that you have someone who really knows how to use the VHF properly. Imagine if you had a man overboard in the traffic lanes. You need to tell the big ships what has happened and what your intentions are quickly
6) plan for an engine failure at the worst possible place, I would take an auxiliary engine mounted and ready to go
7) I would not bother with a life raft, the best life raft is your boat
8)do not put too much reliance on being in convoy. The need to manoeuvre to avoid big ships will break up the convoy. If any skipper is not competent / confident alone they should not go
9) you might not be able to leave France when you plan to because of weather or mechanical failure. Plan the contingency strategy. Many people have got into trouble trying to get back in bad weather because they had work the following day
All that being said it is really pretty easy. Sail out to the separation scheme, motor over the scheme quickly and sail to France on the other side. We used to sail all the way but that adds complexity to the challenge and I would not recommend it first time.