Word of Warning: I was crossing the Channel in my Targa motor-boat and was using AIS to track nearby ships. Suddenly, a 70,000T ship turned 90 degrees to starboard as it had spotted a trawler, presumably with its gear down, immediately off the end of a TSS segment (sensible, know-all trawler skipper?), and taken evasive action. Being 'motor' it was not a problem to keep clear, but a sailing boat could be easily caught out. BEWARE near ANY trawler mixing it with ocean-going ships.
That's an interesting experience - I always worry a bit about trawlers that are near me... Frequently with autopilot on and the skipper helping haul the nets... Thank you for posting
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the way you depicted all the important planning information on maps, tidal charts, along with a short video of entering the Marina and pictures of the nice to know services. The way you sit on your chair and tell a chronological story of your passage, it is so engaging and interesting. It is fantastic and inspiring for us aspiring new sailors, thank you very much Michael.
Ray that is so kind - thank you... I have always been big on planning - whilst knowing that once you are on your way things change but having a plan to start with - including looking at alternative ports of refuge is part of it... Bravely going where others have been before!!! But with a plan
Thank you for posting these wonderful videos. They're feeding my dreams for when better days come and we can get out sailing again. In 2025 or thereabouts (post retirement), we plan to sail our 10m sloop from the top of Northern Ireland to the Med via Cherbourg - Le Havre - inland waterways and your videos and book are an immense help for our passage planning.
Kerry hello, That sounds just wonderful - I partly did the videos and books because back in the day when I did those trips for the first time it was really difficult to put together the information.. Do you have or can you get Irish passports? Brexit with it's 90/180 day rules has made it all a lot more complex and restrictive.
@@SailingGently yes, we're in the process of applying for Irish passports but there's a massive backlog. Hopefully they'll be through in time for our proposed voyage. For now, I'm just dreaming and passage planing and gathering resources. We both passed our Yachtmaster theory exams recently, as we felt Lockdown was the perfect time to acquire some bits of paper to back up our sailing experience. Plus, we'll need to do at least a Day Skipper practical to get an ICC before we go. Up to now, we haven't needed any qualifications, as apart from the occasional Med charter, we've really only sailed our own boat in Northern UK tidal waters. No one here really cares if you've passed an exam or not!
@@SkibereenWhistler Kerry hi, Sounds like you have it all under control. I too have no qualifications whatsoever. I got my ICC back in the day when you asked your club secretary to sign the form saying you had a boat! Nobody ever ever has asked to see my ICC or Cevni which I do have - they have asked often to see the payment certificate for having your boat on French waterways... Frankly I don't think RYA certificates impress anyone except people with RYA certificates... ICC is a bit of a racket I think - there must be a cheaper/easier way of getting it than doing an RYA course... It is a European certificate which just happens to be issued by the RYA in the UK..
@@SailingGently that made me laugh. It's what we've always believed, but we were worried that the world is closing in these days and didn't want to be caught unprepared. In fact, it was quite fun (in a masochistic sort of way). Many bad habits and shortcuts to unlearn* and be replaced by the "correct" way to do things. We have our CEVNIs, not that I can remember much, but I'm sure it'll come back when we need it. *Temporarily, at least...
@@SkibereenWhistler I have a feeling that if you have the Cevni then for the French Canals that is all you need with the licence of course - the payment to use the canals. I really don't think you are obliged to have an ICC. French people with a sailing boat do not need a certificate but those with a motor boat do....
Absolutely superb vlog, helpful, informative and easy graphics. Recommend this channel to all your boating friends it really deserves many more subscribers! Press that like button too !!!
Skippy One that is so kind of you. I am really pleased you enjoyed Sailing into Cherbourg. It was my first foreign port a lot of years ago and it has a special place in my heart! Thank you
@@SailingGently I did enjoy it although I have been many times like you. I am impressed with your vlog and it is way way below the subscription rate it deserves. Binge watch your other content now too!
@@skippyone2769 I used to sell mainly in the USA my digital videos of cruising round the world but when the VHS/DVD market collapsed my agents went out of business and I decided to put them on a TH-cam channel rather than have them just vanish! It was last March when I got Golden Haze and moved north to Boulogne sur Mer from Spain that I decided to start making vids again. I really enjoyed it - sailing and making little films - The channel took off once I made the one about the French Canal Routes and then I made one about Crossing the Atlantic thinking hardly anyone would be interested but it has outperformed all the others put together. Interesting thought that maybe lots of us would rather be sailing in Caribbean than the med now that Brexit is upon us and we are so restricted.
@@SailingGently YT has a very large amount of sailing vlogs and cutting through is difficult unless you have first mate with attractions that pop into shot now and then. The serious cruisers tend to follow those already on passage. The likes of SV Delos or Sailing Vagabond. I would advise you take a look at the other competitors to YT and get in early Rumble - Odessy etc who also reward content. Bitchute are getting their act together now too, great to store content incase YT has a meltdown or falls foul of upcoming legal actions ! I am hoping to do the Caribbean hop Dec single-handed ... Your vlog on the Atlantic crossing was very good. I have saved it for reference. Take care hope you grow and get many more subscribers.
James hi, Actually single handing and making the videos of entering and parking is far more difficult than I imagined and has been a steep learning curve - it's only really possible because of digital memory cards that mean I can switch the cameras on and just leave them running - but arriving and getting the sails down, warps and fenders and keeping an eye on the cameras is really challenging.. But if you are finding them useful then it's really worth while - thank you
Love the calm common sense as well as the knowledge. So clearly and generously given. My 'voyages' have so far been limited to pootling about off the coast of Long Island in nothing larger than 30 foot, wondering what I'm doing. (Quite likely everyone else on the water is wondering what I'm doing too.) But I love it, and love to hear this kind of stuff. And learn from it. You're a wonderful communicator.
David hello, I never got to Long Island - nearly did and planned to but just ran out of time - everything about it sounds lovely and the boat that taught me to sail was a 30 footer with a long keel - like you I am more or less self taught and its the way to go I think... Bet you half of all the others out there are no more experienced at it or better at it than you. That's the wonderful thing about boats - you never stop learning and if your like me - never stop making mistakes! Have a wonderful summer
@@SailingGently Thanks! Yes Long Island is very beautiful, especially from a boat. You must come! (I'm a Brit with permanent residence in the US, so my American sailing friends like to tell me that the whole point of the discombobulating reverse buoyage protocol (red right returning) was all a ploy to confuse the Brits. Very plausible. Certainly works on me.
This was actually one of the better videos on sailing to Cherbourg. Parts of it remind me of visiting it for the first time with my dad after a force 6 headwind for 14hrs on a old quarter tonner aged 8, holds very fond memories
@@SailingGently Yes, a dream of mine to sail in retirement all of the great British Isles, Baltics, and the Atlantic. It is a real previlege to benefit from the kind and generous sharings from a sailor as as you. Thank you is not enough.
@@josephlai9759 Going cruising is a wonderful life style... I just love being in a boat.. I am sure you will realise your dream... just have to want it enough!
I‘ve been there in January 2020. It was cold. And it was Pandemic-Panic-Mode. But so nice to see it again on your video - I gladly follow your videos from the med. I will be there in 2-3 years …
Rote good morning, Yes it is cold in winter - I live just down the coast in Boulogne and it's horrid weather which is why the Med is so attractive. Hope you enjoy it down there
Thank you so much Michael for your effort and information. I plan to sail down from Blankenberge to Gibraltar this summer and already bought your book Gentle sailing route to the Mediterranean 🙏👍
Hi, Thank you for viewing the video and buying the book - hope it's helpful. Such a nice trip to do - a wonderful way to spend a summer or even two Fair winds
Enjoying your style of presentation and the information given. I have sailed and raced across the channel many times, mostly as crew and now with my on boat things are a little different. St Vasst is one of my favourite ports and further East Deauville and on the West Coast St a Malo. Let’s hope the CI opens up soon as that is another great cruising ground. Andy UK
Andy hello, Glad you liked the videos - yes St Vaast is lovely and I always enjoy Cherbourg which is a great stepping stone to northern Brittany.. Hopefully the CIs will soon open up and go on the green list - and the same for France.. It's lovely having your own boat isn't it. So much more fun that being crew - I am pleased for you Michael
Thanks Michael. I like this format. I think it's really useful to see what the approach to places looks like from the skipper's perspective. I find that the chart rarely gives a good idea of what to expect - I can never quite picture what it is actually going to look like. The aerial photos are a bit better, but nothing beats seeing the view from the helm. Very valid points about using the tide atlas and doing the vectors, and not just tracking a waypoint. I actually prefer the Michael Reeve-Fowkes atlases over the Admiralty ones as they give an immediate way to interpolate the tidal rate from a table based on high water Cherbourg (not Dover!). But I am very old-school as you can also get this straight from Navionics.
Paul thank you for the post.... When I started the new version of the channel I intended to do both France and UK channel ports but Covid and quarantine finished that. I am disappointed so far in the shots I am getting.. All this WA lens stuff does not work for seascapes but I knew I would need several cameras so thought these with no zoom would be OK but...f Also I grossly underestimated the single hand problem of setting them going and making the approach, fenders and warps both sides (6 with the midships cleat line) and the inevitable stress of entering a place that is either new to me or I have not seen in a lot of decades... makes looking after the boat more important than getting the shot! I think most folks have forgotten about the tidal atlas... To my horror mine is dated 1973 which says something about when I last used it!! I have a phone app called TIDES NEAR ME which is excellent - it does exactly what it says and more.... no more secondary ports... I am curious to see how these little pilot videos go down.. If they are useful to folks or not,,, The canals and the route to med have done better than I expected but I suspect I probably need to get the entire set of pilotage ones out there before I will really know... Thank you for bothering to post... Michael
Just off to google Michael Reeve-Fowkes atlases but what surprised me is Tides near me app gives all tidal data to ports everywhere as far as I can see... Certainly Channel ports - brilliant app
Another terrific video Michael, like your others, it's inspiring and I can't wait to find a boat! Perhaps you could share your thoughts on that with us please?
@@SailingGently then I shall wait for your excellent advice! I have spent this evening looking at boats, including the Contessa 32, Bavaria 32-36 and hundreds more.. I am an experienced motor boater and an inexperienced sailor.
Amazing, clear content - will be useful for the eventual trip across the channel. Do you have any experience/advice sailing down the east coast of England? Will be using a northern port to start from.
Brooky hi, I have to confess I have only sailed on the northern east coast once from Hull and that was non stop to London. Been into Titchmarsh and Burnham on Crouch a few times both of which which are really nice. I used to sail to the Netherlands from around there but that's the extent of my East Coast knowledge. Sorry not to be more helpful - wish you well for your cross channel!
Thank you Bernie, I am thinking of doing the harbours from Boulogne through Belgium into the Netherlands and ending up in the Isslemere nest summer... Such a beautiful area
I'm desperate to do this trip in my 22 footer this year, was great to see you did it in the same! Can you call the marina up in English? Even if I used my 20yr old GCSE grade B to request a berth I'm afraid I'd never l understand the reply...
Well done - you will enjoy the passage - the marina staff all speak excellent English and literally hundreds of Brits visit every year! Everybody working in the port speaks some English... It is a port of entry so you may be sent to the customs house to clear in but the Marian Office will tell you all... Language is not an issue for Brits in Cherbourg! writing about it brings back excellent memories of my first passage in my 22 ft Galion - took a long time but I really had no motor and the winds were light - Safe landfalls - Michael Just watched your excellent video... If you can take lots of extra fuel for the outboard... Very often a lot of motoring required on that passage
@@SailingGently Great, thanks for the reply - your comment like your videos gives us great confidence and inspiration! Keep them coming :) Thanks for checking out mine.
Here's an update: We did it, made it to Cherbourg on mid summers day, then went onto sail to Alderney too. Thank you again for the advise - language wasn't a problem and it was great fun trying to use what little French I do have with the locals! Your fantastic video was really really helpful and a great source confidence 👍🏻 I've made a video of my trip if you or anyone is interested... Check it out. Thank you Mr Sailing Gently.
@@SailingGently 5% discount, and a nice smile from the young lady. Last time I sailed in there it was throwing it down in the dark. I was steering a 55ft boat with a fairly novice crew. I could barely see a thing through my glasses and the man on the foredeck was calling “left a bit, right a bit, slowly, STOP!”. We arrived safely with a great sigh of relief from me. We went on to Guernsey and thence to Poole. We did Guernsey exit to the Poole chain ferry in about 9 hours. That was a fantastic reach, I did have to explain to the crew that not much of sailing is like that!
@@billgiles3261 Bill hi. it is a pretty lumpy entrance and I used to have the glasses problem - almost blind in heavy rain but I've had the cataracts done... sounds like you had a great sail - The northern French coast is beautiful but sometimes challenging to say the least
@@billgiles3261 Most of that coast got bashed up in WW2.I think Bill.. My home port of Boulogne was decimated by 200 bombers soon after Dday - with only a very few Germans in situ ... So sad as it's all 1950 architecture - the old town up the hill is fine!
@@SailingGently We are newish to sailing and still learning, In 2-4 years we want to do the canals, This is what I brought our southerly 28 for. Is it worth the Extra mile to the midi canal? Also coming down from Wales what's the best place to cross the channel if going the midi? Thanks alot Darren.
@@darrenstephenson1260 Darren hello, Have a look at the Gentle Route to the Med video. For the Midi you need to cross to Cherbourg, Channel Island, Brittany and cross 3 tide races on the way.. Personally I would go via Le Havre or Calais or... because there are also draft issues with the Midi - often in summer less than posted and the bottom is rock not mud.. Coming from Wales I suppose you could head for the channel islands then on - personally I would head for Cherbourg then into the Seine at Le Havre and Rouen - Not quite as pretty as the Midi but a truly lovely passage through France...
Yes, you can anchor in the harbour outside the breakwater into the marina. Well sheltered and good holding. Normally there are 3 or 4 visiting yachts on the hook there and there is a free dinghy dock in the marina beside the fuel berth close to the marina office
@@SailingGently thanks for quick answer. Do you know the lowest depth of the water? It’s not common for us Danes with tidal water. Thank you for your very informative video.
@@nethebudolfsenmegetkreativ8017 Chart datum behind the breakwater is between 1.5 and 2.4 metres. But that is only applicable at low water on very big spring tides - At all other times there will be more depth at low water... The Tidal Range varies with Spring tides and neap tides which only have a small range - so the highest water is less than springs and the lowest much more than springs - there are tide tables available on the internet... If you are anchoring around low water you need to allow extra chain to allow for when the tide comes in..BUT anchoring behind the marina breakwater in Cherbourg is very straightforward and easy...
Top tips. Cherbourg is always a delight and very easy and welcoming. The navigational aspects of this channel crossing can't be over emphasised. 60 miles @ 5kts is 12 hours which is, more or less, one tide. Point the bow at Cherbourg and just go. The, often under emphasised, bonus with this plan is that you will be crossing the traffic separation scheme on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. I'm sure I read something in the COLREGS once about this being the correct way to do things. Read that again, your heading needs to be at right angles to the shipping lane, not your track.
Hi Fig, Your right - it's a lovely destination and a fairly straight forward bit of navigation for the first time across the English Channel. Thank you for posting.
Preferred the ending here where you ask use to subscribe but don't say "doesnt matter" if we dont. Maybe go back to that, or say "thats okay too"? Anyways, fair winds!
I've stopped asking people to subscribe because I think if they find the videos interesting they will anyway and if they don't then my asking will probably not persuade them to!
VERY GOOD INFO...THANKS 👍👍👍
Alan hello - Its a good port but huge - Hope it helps your visits
Word of Warning: I was crossing the Channel in my Targa motor-boat and was using AIS to track nearby ships. Suddenly, a 70,000T ship turned 90 degrees to starboard as it had spotted a trawler, presumably with its gear down, immediately off the end of a TSS segment (sensible, know-all trawler skipper?), and taken evasive action. Being 'motor' it was not a problem to keep clear, but a sailing boat could be easily caught out. BEWARE near ANY trawler mixing it with ocean-going ships.
That's an interesting experience - I always worry a bit about trawlers that are near me... Frequently with autopilot on and the skipper helping haul the nets... Thank you for posting
Another great SG video.
Glad you enjoyed it Jean Luc
Great explanations. Very genuine and interesting. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful Foster - I was not sure how interesting these pilotage videos would be so it's good to get your feedback - thank you
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the way you depicted all the important planning information on maps, tidal charts, along with a short video of entering the Marina and pictures of the nice to know services. The way you sit on your chair and tell a chronological story of your passage, it is so engaging and interesting. It is fantastic and inspiring for us aspiring new sailors, thank you very much Michael.
Ray that is so kind - thank you... I have always been big on planning - whilst knowing that once you are on your way things change but having a plan to start with - including looking at alternative ports of refuge is part of it... Bravely going where others have been before!!! But with a plan
I fully agree Ray👍
Brilliant thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it - lovely place to sail to - great memories
My first visit in a couple of weeks, so this was really useful to view. Many thanks :-)
So pleased John. The first time is always the hardest and most daunting.
Have a great sail south and enjoy Cherbourg
Great, more please!!
So pleased found it useful - Just have to wait for France to come out of Lockdown!
good video, informative! look forward to more! :)
Glad you found it useful - I hope to make more like this in the summer - covid permitting
Thank you for posting these wonderful videos. They're feeding my dreams for when better days come and we can get out sailing again. In 2025 or thereabouts (post retirement), we plan to sail our 10m sloop from the top of Northern Ireland to the Med via Cherbourg - Le Havre - inland waterways and your videos and book are an immense help for our passage planning.
Kerry hello,
That sounds just wonderful - I partly did the videos and books because back in the day when I did those trips for the first time it was really difficult to put together the information.. Do you have or can you get Irish passports? Brexit with it's 90/180 day rules has made it all a lot more complex and restrictive.
@@SailingGently yes, we're in the process of applying for Irish passports but there's a massive backlog. Hopefully they'll be through in time for our proposed voyage. For now, I'm just dreaming and passage planing and gathering resources. We both passed our Yachtmaster theory exams recently, as we felt Lockdown was the perfect time to acquire some bits of paper to back up our sailing experience. Plus, we'll need to do at least a Day Skipper practical to get an ICC before we go. Up to now, we haven't needed any qualifications, as apart from the occasional Med charter, we've really only sailed our own boat in Northern UK tidal waters. No one here really cares if you've passed an exam or not!
@@SkibereenWhistler Kerry hi, Sounds like you have it all under control. I too have no qualifications whatsoever. I got my ICC back in the day when you asked your club secretary to sign the form saying you had a boat! Nobody ever ever has asked to see my ICC or Cevni which I do have - they have asked often to see the payment certificate for having your boat on French waterways... Frankly I don't think RYA certificates impress anyone except people with RYA certificates...
ICC is a bit of a racket I think - there must be a cheaper/easier way of getting it than doing an RYA course... It is a European certificate which just happens to be issued by the RYA in the UK..
@@SailingGently that made me laugh. It's what we've always believed, but we were worried that the world is closing in these days and didn't want to be caught unprepared. In fact, it was quite fun (in a masochistic sort of way). Many bad habits and shortcuts to unlearn* and be replaced by the "correct" way to do things. We have our CEVNIs, not that I can remember much, but I'm sure it'll come back when we need it.
*Temporarily, at least...
@@SkibereenWhistler
I have a feeling that if you have the Cevni then for the French Canals that is all you need with the licence of course - the payment to use the canals. I really don't think you are obliged to have an ICC. French people with a sailing boat do not need a certificate but those with a motor boat do....
Absolutely superb vlog, helpful, informative and easy graphics.
Recommend this channel to all your boating friends it really deserves many more subscribers!
Press that like button too !!!
Skippy One that is so kind of you. I am really pleased you enjoyed Sailing into Cherbourg. It was my first foreign port a lot of years ago and it has a special place in my heart! Thank you
@@SailingGently I did enjoy it although I have been many times like you.
I am impressed with your vlog and it is way way below the subscription rate it deserves.
Binge watch your other content now too!
@@skippyone2769 I used to sell mainly in the USA my digital videos of cruising round the world but when the VHS/DVD market collapsed my agents went out of business and I decided to put them on a TH-cam channel rather than have them just vanish!
It was last March when I got Golden Haze and moved north to Boulogne sur Mer from Spain that I decided to start making vids again. I really enjoyed it - sailing and making little films - The channel took off once I made the one about the French Canal Routes and then I made one about Crossing the Atlantic thinking hardly anyone would be interested but it has outperformed all the others put together. Interesting thought that maybe lots of us would rather be sailing in Caribbean than the med now that Brexit is upon us and we are so restricted.
@@SailingGently YT has a very large amount of sailing vlogs and cutting through is difficult unless you have first mate with attractions that pop into shot now and then. The serious cruisers tend to follow those already on passage. The likes of SV Delos or Sailing Vagabond.
I would advise you take a look at the other competitors to YT and get in early Rumble - Odessy etc who also reward content.
Bitchute are getting their act together now too, great to store content incase YT has a meltdown or falls foul of upcoming legal actions !
I am hoping to do the Caribbean hop Dec single-handed ... Your vlog on the Atlantic crossing was very good. I have saved it for reference.
Take care hope you grow and get many more subscribers.
@@skippyone2769 Thank you Skippy One - Fair winds
Hey massive thanks we used this and sailed to France today for the first time. Very useful.
Well done... Exciting adventure isn't it! Glad the video was useful!!
I really am enjoying this series,very useful and enjoyable.
Thank you!
Thank you Peter. I am so pleased you find them useful. Makes it worth while!
Thanks for this. It's incredibly useful to see exactly what to expect on arrival. Most guides skim over this stuff!
James hi, Actually single handing and making the videos of entering and parking is far more difficult than I imagined and has been a steep learning curve - it's only really possible because of digital memory cards that mean I can switch the cameras on and just leave them running - but arriving and getting the sails down, warps and fenders and keeping an eye on the cameras is really challenging.. But if you are finding them useful then it's really worth while - thank you
Love the calm common sense as well as the knowledge. So clearly and generously given. My 'voyages' have so far been limited to pootling about off the coast of Long Island in nothing larger than 30 foot, wondering what I'm doing. (Quite likely everyone else on the water is wondering what I'm doing too.) But I love it, and love to hear this kind of stuff. And learn from it. You're a wonderful communicator.
David hello,
I never got to Long Island - nearly did and planned to but just ran out of time - everything about it sounds lovely and the boat that taught me to sail was a 30 footer with a long keel - like you I am more or less self taught and its the way to go I think... Bet you half of all the others out there are no more experienced at it or better at it than you. That's the wonderful thing about boats - you never stop learning and if your like me - never stop making mistakes!
Have a wonderful summer
@@SailingGently Thanks! Yes Long Island is very beautiful, especially from a boat. You must come! (I'm a Brit with permanent residence in the US, so my American sailing friends like to tell me that the whole point of the discombobulating reverse buoyage protocol (red right returning) was all a ploy to confuse the Brits. Very plausible. Certainly works on me.
This was actually one of the better videos on sailing to Cherbourg. Parts of it remind me of visiting it for the first time with my dad after a force 6 headwind for 14hrs on a old quarter tonner aged 8, holds very fond memories
Martyn hi,
Thank you for that - You started young - bet it was hard work but a great achievement - Yes the early sailing days are very memorable
Thank you so much for sharing your invaluable experience and advice. It certainly adds confidence to any viewers planning the same passage.
Joseph I am so pleased that you found this helpful... Hope you enjoy sailing there
@@SailingGently Yes, a dream of mine to sail in retirement all of the great British Isles, Baltics, and the Atlantic. It is a real previlege to benefit from the kind and generous sharings from a sailor as as you. Thank you is not enough.
@@josephlai9759 Going cruising is a wonderful life style... I just love being in a boat.. I am sure you will realise your dream... just have to want it enough!
I‘ve been there in January 2020. It was cold. And it was Pandemic-Panic-Mode. But so nice to see it again on your video - I gladly follow your videos from the med. I will be there in 2-3 years …
Rote good morning, Yes it is cold in winter - I live just down the coast in Boulogne and it's horrid weather which is why the Med is so attractive. Hope you enjoy it down there
Hi again really enjoy this video reminds me of the 1st channel crossing i did Thank you for bringing back memories , j
Gad you liked it John... Yes good memories!
Another great episode. Thanks.
Thank you Sgt Bond for watching...and helping me build this channel
@@SailingGently I try to comment, it's help to build your channel. Cheers.
That was a really useful video, thank you.
So pleased you like it Richard
Thank you so much Michael for your effort and information. I plan to sail down from Blankenberge to Gibraltar this summer and already bought your book Gentle sailing route to the Mediterranean 🙏👍
Hi, Thank you for viewing the video and buying the book - hope it's helpful. Such a nice trip to do - a wonderful way to spend a summer or even two
Fair winds
Enjoying your style of presentation and the information given. I have sailed and raced across the channel many times, mostly as crew and now with my on boat things are a little different. St Vasst is one of my favourite ports and further East Deauville and on the West Coast St a Malo. Let’s hope the CI opens up soon as that is another great cruising ground. Andy UK
Andy hello,
Glad you liked the videos - yes St Vaast is lovely and I always enjoy Cherbourg which is a great stepping stone to northern Brittany.. Hopefully the CIs will soon open up and go on the green list - and the same for France.. It's lovely having your own boat isn't it. So much more fun that being crew - I am pleased for you
Michael
this was lovely! Well done friends. Fair winds
Thank you both... I really enjoy your channel - Sailing Avocet - Hope you can splash soon
Safe landfalls
Michael
@@SailingGently weve been in the water since May :)
@@sailingavocet You have so many great videos I have not caught up with the latest!
Fair winds
Thanks Michael. I like this format. I think it's really useful to see what the approach to places looks like from the skipper's perspective. I find that the chart rarely gives a good idea of what to expect - I can never quite picture what it is actually going to look like. The aerial photos are a bit better, but nothing beats seeing the view from the helm.
Very valid points about using the tide atlas and doing the vectors, and not just tracking a waypoint. I actually prefer the Michael Reeve-Fowkes atlases over the Admiralty ones as they give an immediate way to interpolate the tidal rate from a table based on high water Cherbourg (not Dover!). But I am very old-school as you can also get this straight from Navionics.
Paul thank you for the post.... When I started the new version of the channel I intended to do both France and UK channel ports but Covid and quarantine finished that.
I am disappointed so far in the shots I am getting.. All this WA lens stuff does not work for seascapes but I knew I would need several cameras so thought these with no zoom would be OK but...f
Also I grossly underestimated the single hand problem of setting them going and making the approach, fenders and warps both sides (6 with the midships cleat line) and the inevitable stress of entering a place that is either new to me or I have not seen in a lot of decades... makes looking after the boat more important than getting the shot!
I think most folks have forgotten about the tidal atlas... To my horror mine is dated 1973 which says something about when I last used it!!
I have a phone app called TIDES NEAR ME which is excellent - it does exactly what it says and more.... no more secondary ports...
I am curious to see how these little pilot videos go down.. If they are useful to folks or not,,, The canals and the route to med have done better than I expected but I suspect I probably need to get the entire set of pilotage ones out there before I will really know...
Thank you for bothering to post...
Michael
Just off to google Michael Reeve-Fowkes atlases but what surprised me is Tides near me app gives all tidal data to ports everywhere as far as I can see... Certainly Channel ports - brilliant app
Do you cover beating a return .....ways to minimise the winds and tides plus heavy weather ?
Not exactly David - I did a planning one about how to work the tides whilst I was storm bound in Fecamp .. th-cam.com/video/SL3yteEu2Yk/w-d-xo.html
Another terrific video Michael, like your others, it's inspiring and I can't wait to find a boat! Perhaps you could share your thoughts on that with us please?
How odd - just started on a video about boat buying - will take a couple of weeks!
@@SailingGently then I shall wait for your excellent advice! I have spent this evening looking at boats, including the Contessa 32, Bavaria 32-36 and hundreds more.. I am an experienced motor boater and an inexperienced sailor.
Last time I sailed into Cherbourg was in 1961! Guess it's changed somewhat since then...Are you allowed to anchor in the outer harbour?
Not the outer harbour Nick but I saw yachts anchored behind the breakwater wall that divides the marina area from the Inner harbour..
Really Really helpful - thank you (please can you do Fecamp and Le Harve)
So glad you like it... Le Havre will publish tomorrow and Fecamp the following Saturday... Working on St Vaast at the moment.
@@SailingGently WOW WOW WOW!! That is fantastic. We look forward to them. Fair Winds
Amazing, clear content - will be useful for the eventual trip across the channel. Do you have any experience/advice sailing down the east coast of England? Will be using a northern port to start from.
Brooky hi, I have to confess I have only sailed on the northern east coast once from Hull and that was non stop to London. Been into Titchmarsh and Burnham on Crouch a few times both of which which are really nice. I used to sail to the Netherlands from around there but that's the extent of my East Coast knowledge. Sorry not to be more helpful - wish you well for your cross channel!
Nice and informative!
Thank you Bernie,
I am thinking of doing the harbours from Boulogne through Belgium into the Netherlands and ending up in the Isslemere nest summer... Such a beautiful area
I'm desperate to do this trip in my 22 footer this year, was great to see you did it in the same! Can you call the marina up in English? Even if I used my 20yr old GCSE grade B to request a berth I'm afraid I'd never l understand the reply...
Well done - you will enjoy the passage - the marina staff all speak excellent English and literally hundreds of Brits visit every year! Everybody working in the port speaks some English... It is a port of entry so you may be sent to the customs house to clear in but the Marian Office will tell you all... Language is not an issue for Brits in Cherbourg! writing about it brings back excellent memories of my first passage in my 22 ft Galion - took a long time but I really had no motor and the winds were light - Safe landfalls - Michael
Just watched your excellent video... If you can take lots of extra fuel for the outboard... Very often a lot of motoring required on that passage
@@SailingGently Great, thanks for the reply - your comment like your videos gives us great confidence and inspiration! Keep them coming :) Thanks for checking out mine.
Here's an update: We did it, made it to Cherbourg on mid summers day, then went onto sail to Alderney too. Thank you again for the advise - language wasn't a problem and it was great fun trying to use what little French I do have with the locals!
Your fantastic video was really really helpful and a great source confidence 👍🏻 I've made a video of my trip if you or anyone is interested... Check it out. Thank you Mr Sailing Gently.
Ask for your RYA discount, they are very helpful at the marina.
Bill I didn't know about that - how interesting - nice people at Cherbourg Marina
@@SailingGently 5% discount, and a nice smile from the young lady. Last time I sailed in there it was throwing it down in the dark. I was steering a 55ft boat with a fairly novice crew. I could barely see a thing through my glasses and the man on the foredeck was calling “left a bit, right a bit, slowly, STOP!”. We arrived safely with a great sigh of relief from me. We went on to Guernsey and thence to Poole. We did Guernsey exit to the Poole chain ferry in about 9 hours. That was a fantastic reach, I did have to explain to the crew that not much of sailing is like that!
@@billgiles3261 Bill hi. it is a pretty lumpy entrance and I used to have the glasses problem - almost blind in heavy rain but I've had the cataracts done... sounds like you had a great sail - The northern French coast is beautiful but sometimes challenging to say the least
@@SailingGently the entrance to the East with the ruined fort must have been a bit uncomfortable under a barrage of whatever knocked it about.
@@billgiles3261 Most of that coast got bashed up in WW2.I think Bill.. My home port of Boulogne was decimated by 200 bombers soon after Dday - with only a very few Germans in situ ... So sad as it's all 1950 architecture - the old town up the hill is fine!
Fantastic! Just what I have been looking for, no drama, tits or arse, a real site about the information needed at last, Thanks for you time.
Thank you Darren,. So glad you found it useful - I enjoyed making it and remembering what it was like for me the first time - very challenging!
@@SailingGently We are newish to sailing and still learning, In 2-4 years we want to do the canals, This is what I brought our southerly 28 for. Is it worth the Extra mile to the midi canal?
Also coming down from Wales what's the best place to cross the channel if going the midi?
Thanks alot Darren.
@@darrenstephenson1260 Darren hello, Have a look at the Gentle Route to the Med video. For the Midi you need to cross to Cherbourg, Channel Island, Brittany and cross 3 tide races on the way.. Personally I would go via Le Havre or Calais or... because there are also draft issues with the Midi - often in summer less than posted and the bottom is rock not mud..
Coming from Wales I suppose you could head for the channel islands then on - personally I would head for Cherbourg then into the Seine at Le Havre and Rouen - Not quite as pretty as the Midi but a truly lovely passage through France...
@@SailingGently Thanks for your feed back, I will look into your literature closer to the date.
@@darrenstephenson1260Darren hi,
I didn't mean for you to buy the book rather have a look at this video
th-cam.com/video/mvon83AGmpk/w-d-xo.html
Do youknow if there are plages to anchor nemt Cherbourg?
Yes, you can anchor in the harbour outside the breakwater into the marina. Well sheltered and good holding. Normally there are 3 or 4 visiting yachts on the hook there and there is a free dinghy dock in the marina beside the fuel berth close to the marina office
@@SailingGently thanks for quick answer. Do you know the lowest depth of the water? It’s not common for us Danes with tidal water. Thank you for your very informative video.
@@nethebudolfsenmegetkreativ8017 Chart datum behind the breakwater is between 1.5 and 2.4 metres. But that is only applicable at low water on very big spring tides -
At all other times there will be more depth at low water... The Tidal Range varies with Spring tides and neap tides which only have a small range - so the highest water is less than springs and the lowest much more than springs - there are tide tables available on the internet... If you are anchoring around low water you need to allow extra chain to allow for when the tide comes in..BUT anchoring behind the marina breakwater in Cherbourg is very straightforward and easy...
Top tips. Cherbourg is always a delight and very easy and welcoming.
The navigational aspects of this channel crossing can't be over emphasised. 60 miles @ 5kts is 12 hours which is, more or less, one tide. Point the bow at Cherbourg and just go. The, often under emphasised, bonus with this plan is that you will be crossing the traffic separation scheme on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. I'm sure I read something in the COLREGS once about this being the correct way to do things. Read that again, your heading needs to be at right angles to the shipping lane, not your track.
Hi Fig,
Your right - it's a lovely destination and a fairly straight forward bit of navigation for the first time across the English Channel. Thank you for posting.
Preferred the ending here where you ask use to subscribe but don't say "doesnt matter" if we dont. Maybe go back to that, or say "thats okay too"? Anyways, fair winds!
I've stopped asking people to subscribe because I think if they find the videos interesting they will anyway and if they don't then my asking will probably not persuade them to!