Sailing into Alderney

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 101

  • @690Lighthouse
    @690Lighthouse 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I watched your Cows and Yarmouth and now this, it all brings back such good memories, thank you.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      They are wonderful places if you are/were a south coast sailor.. Glad you enjoyed the videos and for good memories

  • @megaluckydog1212
    @megaluckydog1212 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love it all but this style is most helpful in several respects. You show a keen sense of direction. From the beautiful southern shores of Canada.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Well my next direction is west towards the Caribbean... Nearer to Beautiful Canada

    • @megaluckydog1212
      @megaluckydog1212 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SailingGently a sailing cruiser USA east coaster was a little shaken at the thought of

  • @jamesl5149
    @jamesl5149 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    A family at my club spend every summer holiday drying their bilge keeler out on a beach somewhere in Alderney. They seem to love it. Mentioned it to another chap and he said "oh no, Guernsey is far more civilized!" I look forward to visiting one of them later this year

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sounds great James - hope you enjoy the visit... Yes it is all a bit 1970's but thats the charm... Guernsey is more modern and St Peter Port vastly crowded but well worth the visit

  • @Ozworldz
    @Ozworldz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks, very enjoyable, especially the last scene where you're just chilling out with a cocktail, looks like a lovely peaceful spot.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It really is 'living the dream' sometimes

  • @stephenconway4976
    @stephenconway4976 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Informative and blissful in equal measure

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      So pleased you liked the video Stephen

  • @briandbird6339
    @briandbird6339 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great work. I did that passage this summer and was met with 25ish kts SW at Pt Hague - sailing is never dull. One point of interest is that the breakwater was built by the UK ostensibly to make Alderney a "Port of Refuge". In fact it was aimed at keeping an eye on the French, as the building of Cherbourg had spooked the politicians. It was never finished, as the will and the money ran out, it mirrors the similar unfinished work at St Catherine's Jersey. I always enjoy the videos, thanks.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's really interesting Brian... I did wonder if I had got it right! Glad you enjoyed the video

  • @peterostrom6271
    @peterostrom6271 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for yet another great video.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for watching Peter. Glad you enjoyed it

  • @alexmorgan3435
    @alexmorgan3435 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice video with lots of up to date info. A+++.
    I am surprised there are no signs in Bray harbour advertising which channel the taxi service is now on. It might be on their website?
    I have many fond memories of crossing the channel from Portsmouth straight into Alderney in the early mid 1980s. Fortunately was never pushed off course into Cherbourg. It was a fabulous little place back then. The anchorage can be a bit lumpy if the wind is from the NNW. I remember those mooring boys well.
    There used to be a branch of all the high street banks in St. Annes probably little changed from the 1950/60s. Shouldn't imagine that is the case any longer with many banks having now closed branches in major towns on the UK mainland.
    Alderney residents were evacuated prior to occupation by the Germans in WW2 who then built the outer high harbour wall and also set up prisoner of war camps on the island. They built lots of fortifications and pretty much destroyed the town burning anything and everything for fuel. They also made the prisoners of war the had captured and sent to Alderney dig a network of tunnels on the island.
    Leaving Alderney to go down through the Swinge Race to St. Peter on Guernsey is a great short passage if you time it right. The tide in the Swinge is VERY strong.
    Sailing in these waters is perilous if you get the tides wrong. There are many wrecks whose skippers have come a cropper. If you are caught out the only thing you can really do is turn around and go back with the tide and wait it out either back in port or hunker down some where until the tide changes. The tidal drop especially in St. Peter Port on Guernsey and also on St. Helier in Jersey is pretty big so be prepared.
    Great sailing memories of the Channel Islands. Would love to go back.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Glad the video brought back good memories for you Alex,, Clearly you knew the waters well... I used to cruise the islands and down to France a lot 'back in the day' and enjoyed the people and the challenge... I decided not to go into the WW2 events... All war is horrid and Dictators mainly pretty gruesum ... Can't change history only learn from it!

  • @richardsimpson2599
    @richardsimpson2599 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Enjoyed watching, thanks.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoyed it Richard, Thank you for watching

  • @sigascosailing6787
    @sigascosailing6787 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Michael
    And thank you yet again for another brilliant offering …just to say / shout about, I’ve just bought my very first boat.
    A Westerly Tiger 25 currently fully paid up @ Gosport till July 2023 (inclusive in the insanely cheap price I’ve paid)…ready to sail apparently having done Portsmouth to IOW this year, let ya know how it goes this weekend after I see her for the first time after journeying from Yorkshire to acquaint myself 😁👍

    • @sigascosailing6787
      @sigascosailing6787 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      For more info if you are intrigued just check ebay completed listings #buzzing

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Fantastic Sigasco... How exciting. Westerly's are very good boats - hope you have a wonderful time with her..
      Fair winds

    • @sigascosailing6787
      @sigascosailing6787 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you Michael

    • @sigascosailing6787
      @sigascosailing6787 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Btw apologies for the buzzin link don’t know what happened there and would certainly never entertain the spamming malarkey (site unfamiliar to me)

    • @sigascosailing6787
      @sigascosailing6787 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Btw apologies for the buzzin link don’t know what happened there and would certainly never entertain the spamming malarkey (site unfamiliar to me)

  • @darren5472
    @darren5472 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    As I sit on my yacht in the Isles of Scilly this video provides me with my next target and means to get there. Thanks for sharing 👍 😊

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wonderful Darren So pleased you found the video inspiring... The Scilly Isles are a good place to be... I've used them as the jump off point waiting for weather to cross Biscay!

  • @kevgermany
    @kevgermany 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Michael. Sounds like paradise, if you get the tides right.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It is Kev.. But challenging!

  • @davidwhite6440
    @davidwhite6440 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you so much for such a fantastic video. We are hoping to sail to Alderney for the first time this summer, and you have answered all the questions and more that I still had. Bravo Sir.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful David ... I thought it would interest someone... By the way you can't buy wine or beer in the grocery store... Only off licence where cheapest plonk is 10.50 UK pounds!

  • @derekness7900
    @derekness7900 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good video Michael. I bought one of those boat hooks for a trip to Alderney this summer (before I saw the video) handy tool -you need all the help you can get. One point about the first time entering Braye you can get a strong current W to E which then flips round as you get closer and into a counter current-can confuse things a bit when you are lining up. The yellow line on the chart plotter is a godsend for keeping you pointed at the harbour entrance

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Great tip Derek. Thank you... Yes I researched several hookers and that one looked like the best and certainly made life a lot easier.

  • @factanonverba6169
    @factanonverba6169 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you, lovely stuff!

  • @AndyUK-Corrival
    @AndyUK-Corrival 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks Michael. Always enjoy your videos, so informative, like a video pilot. It’s been a while since I sailed to Alderney and it is in my mind to go this year so this was very timely. Cheers. Andy UK

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Great to hear you like the channel Andy... In my youger days my dream was to have a Rival 32... Beautiful boats!

  • @johanmarais9950
    @johanmarais9950 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent once again and very informative - thank you Michael

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks again Johan for watching.. Glad you liked it

  • @chriskiwi2601
    @chriskiwi2601 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always very interesting Michael, many thanks.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoyed it Chris. Thank you for watching.

  • @msf60khz
    @msf60khz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you very much for an interesting and very informative video. I would love to go back to Alderney, where I worked for a few days as a young man in about 1965 getting ITV to the islands. At that time there was no one in the High Street, and we drank in the Campagne until all hours.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing! It is still a bit in the 70's but a refreshing place to be

  • @TheAncientMarinersBlog
    @TheAncientMarinersBlog 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your advice is as erudite as it is priceless. On the basis of your overall observations, I came in from Guernsey on Monday, taking a wide route around the Casquests as the tides were adverse in both the Race and the Swinge. The overfalls around here are absolute haystacks, complete with "holes in the sea" (i.e negative waves)
    Little Crabby Harbour is tidal and very, very tight. Even at £1.65 per litre, there's no way I am going to take my 33 footer in there!
    The moorings and anchorages over on the east side of the bay are very Roly Poly and few boats stay put after the first night. Closer in to the wall it's far more pleasant, but buoys are like hen's teeth and the HM doesn't take kindly to people mooring up on the orange "Locals" moorings. The water taxi is reliable, inexpensive and extremely friendly; although nominally on Channel 73, they clearly monitor the Alderney Coastguard / HM traffic on Ch74, which in practice is all you really need to use whilst here.
    I'm very glad I came, but I won't be back - £20 a night for a rocky horror show mooring on a buoy is surely a bit steep, and although it's certainly quaint, I don't think there is quite enough about Alderney to warrant staying more than a couple of days en route to somewhere more cosmopolitan.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank goodness we all have slightly different tastes and experience different things when we visit places... I really enjoyed my 2 visits this year but did indeed as always found the tidal planning challenging and a bit tedious... Never HW when I wanted it ...tomorrow!!

  • @MrJohnestall
    @MrJohnestall 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi I did exactly the same journey years ago , you have brought back great memories thank you and I really enjoy your videos .

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for watching John... Glad about the good memories!

  • @svattitude4661
    @svattitude4661 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always a great visit to your channel

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for the visit. Thank you for watching

  • @svcrucible8303
    @svcrucible8303 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    That’s a tight fit into that inner harbor. Thanks for the reality check in mooring or anchoring into a marina or harbor single handed. It’s not easy and sometimes takes a few tries to get it right. I single handed my Baltic 43 from Ensenada MX back to home port of SF bay just recently and the trepidation and stress of entering a unknown marina or anchorage is something to experience. Great video

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well done... That's a long passage single handed! Your right it's the unknown and the unexpected that makes it 'exciting'... Im going to practice more with my new 'hooker' toy... Its well made!

  • @andreasbohl3272
    @andreasbohl3272 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    So interesting and helpful for own planning, thanks a lot!

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful Andreas. Thank you for watching

  • @marktaylor484
    @marktaylor484 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent and informative as usual.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you Mark... Glad you liked it!

  • @hemeoncn
    @hemeoncn 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, thanks.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you Clarence. Glad you liked it

  • @MartinPHunter
    @MartinPHunter 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great real information. Thanks

  • @tomriley5790
    @tomriley5790 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for a lovely video! Looks like a great sail and a nice place to visit!

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's a good place to visit as are all the Channel Islands Tom.... Thank you for watching

  • @ooweesaler
    @ooweesaler 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Now that is a good sail, what a lovely spot. We are sailing with a dog so not sure we can drop easily into France (or rather leave for the UK). We have yet to pick up the courage to try the Channel Islands. May be a bit sooner than planned having watched this. 😀

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Really glad it encourages you to visit the Channel Islands.. Lovely cruising ground and some beautiful French ports close by.. My sister has a dog, but no boat and she is battling with the doggy passport thing as well... Not easy!

  • @richardhoughton9139
    @richardhoughton9139 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I really like your videos 🙏

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you like them Richard... Thank you for watching!

  • @Howdy3000
    @Howdy3000 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice. Very informative. Thanks.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      So pleased you liked it Salka

    • @Howdy3000
      @Howdy3000 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      more than liked it -- I loved it! You explain things extremely well, and you have a keen eye for what newcomers might want to know.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Howdy3000 Your very kind Salka but I do remember how daunting it was in the beginning and how much 'mystique ' surrounded sailing...

  • @Lightw81
    @Lightw81 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I did that very trip (Cherbourg to Braye) this year. Then down to Carteret from Braye the next day. Lovely area. We didn't rely on the counter-current. The race was fine even in 20 knots wind as we got the timing spot on (not difficult if you are coming from Braye) - slack but starting to go SW.
    I think the harbour wall dates back to our contretemps with the French.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Actually Nick, I think your right about the wall.. Napoleonic not German war! Germans used concrete! The big tides certainly make longer passages faster - easier if you get it right!

  • @jamesl5149
    @jamesl5149 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Have you had a chance to find out where you went wrong with the passage plan from Cherbourg to Alderney? Those tides are quite something!

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      James I think it's positioning 'how far' off shore... There was less tide against me but I reconned there should have been a knot with me.. Probably a few hundred metres could make all the difference....

  • @brownnoise357
    @brownnoise357 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lovely to see a new video. 👍
    I've been thinking about the not with a Honda Generator options for top up charging your batteries , if you don't want Solar Panels or a Wind Generator. There is a thing called a Fuel Cell with an output of 12v DC amps, of vstious sizes. It uses Methanol Fuel, and seems quite practical in the USA or Canada Anyway, much maybdepend of course on how much Methanol fuel may cost on this side of the Atlantic. I may pick one up as a backup, when over on that side, likely late next year, all being equal. Fair Winds and Calm Anchorages. Bob. 👍🙂

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I was thinking about all that the other day whilst on anchorage.... I'm pretty sure the the solar panel route and wind self steering is for me... BUT... different strokes for different folks... The joy of boating is there are so many options depending on your mechanical skills

    • @brownnoise357
      @brownnoise357 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SailingGently
      A surprising amount of Solar power, can come from 2 to 4 Panels on a Rear Cockpit Arch. Someone with 2 panels, was getting about 500 watts or more in the Bahamas. To get ones that last (on land) a friend in Florida testing them for years, has found Monocrystalline Cells last for over 25 years and still produce power after. The maximum he got out of Polycrystalline ones was 7nyears, with most failing at about 6 years. On my last boat, I opted for then Current production Polycrystalline 9nes to test, to see ifbtheybhad improved at all. You can also get flexible panels to put on Cabin tops and Bimini's, but it Looks like the not so cheap Chinese ones, have a poor protective epoxy coating on them which goes white at around 2 years and slashing power output. If using aluminium framed panels, to protect the aluminium, you can use plastic enamel paint, or a Marine grade hard silicon polish, equivalent to the liquid diamond polish used on cars. The Marine one I used, was in a yellow bottles from a Chandlery , and in a Marine Environment, that was good for 10 years. I applied it to my parents new fascias and soffit boards in 1989, and with an occasional pressure wash, they look like new today. Hope that helps. Bob. 👍

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for that... I am installing 2 x 65w on my bimini in the coming weeks - Polycrystalline but at such a low price I think 6 years will be fine... Just want them to power the anchor light... Thanks for the advice Bob

  • @srg0075
    @srg0075 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Do you know if the mooring bouys are free or if there's a charge to use them at this wonderful anchorage?

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Oh yes! There is a charge of around £30 a night if I remember correctly

  • @johncampbell4107
    @johncampbell4107 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    4 is pretty good, when I did it single handed at 1am it took more than twice that

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      My sympathy John... Really hard being in two places at once!

  • @julianhancock7552
    @julianhancock7552 ปีที่แล้ว

    Much enjoy your videos, almost as good as being out there sailing! Am interested to know whether if one buys a sailing yacht registered in the EU, and moor it there….whether that avoids a lot of the hassle of taking a UK registered boat to the Med?
    Am a Brit dermatologist, out in BC , Canada the past thirty years, time to retire back to UK…have a “ pied a rivière” in Oxford, but am thinking a boat in the Med for Autumn through to Spring could be pleasant….any advice? Thanks!

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  ปีที่แล้ว

      The problem with that idea Julian is that the boat has to conform to the rules and regs of the country the boat is registered, most of which are far more stringent than UK rules.
      For example in Spain in order to sail your Spanish flagged boat you would need to get Spanish sailing qualifications which involve exams all in Spanish with no translator allowed.
      French have extensive equipment rules and regs and taxes...
      Much better is to buy your boat out there from any nation and re-flag it to Part 1 or perhaps SSR UK registration if your UK address is valid for this. I don't know about Canadian reg..
      best
      Michael

  • @chrisswinnerton1729
    @chrisswinnerton1729 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you so much for this video, very interesting and informative. I really like the way you explain everything in a way thats easy to understand. Having just done my DS theory and waiting to do my practical, I was just wondering how you ended up being pushed too far East and having to pop into Cherbourg overnight. Did your CTS not work out or were the conditions different to what you expected maybe? Just genuinely interested. Thanks again 🙂

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoyed it Chris... All down to the wind... forecast 15 knots North Westerly backing Northly... Reality 20+ Westerly becoming 20+ south westerly - on the nose for Alderney... I could only make 3 knots max under power into Alderney with an 03.00 ETA... Or just give up and head due south - close hauled - for Cherbourg and a cold beer! If at first you don't succeed.... Give up!

    • @chrisswinnerton1729
      @chrisswinnerton1729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SailingGently Ahh OK...I see now. Fighting nature is futile 🙂. I'd rather be sipping chilled wine in Cherbourg too. Thannks for the reply. Look forward to watching more of your videos.

  • @TheAncientMarinersBlog
    @TheAncientMarinersBlog 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    what size engine do you have on the boat?

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a 3 cylinder 18hp Volvo... Bit underpowered and the folding prop doesn't help but she sails like a 'witch'

    • @TheAncientMarinersBlog
      @TheAncientMarinersBlog 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SailingGently many thanks. I have a 35hp Beta, but I am a bilge keel Westerly and I sail like a skip...

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheAncientMarinersBlog Nothing is perfect but Westerlys are good boats,,, IMO

  • @andrewkenny4633
    @andrewkenny4633 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I am surprised that you don't ware a life jacket and safety harness and a personal Eperb I do a lot of single handed sailing and always ware them enjoy your posts

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoy the videos Andrew.... My boat is set up to control everything from the cockpit but in heavy weather I use a safety harness

  • @billgiles3261
    @billgiles3261 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Did you not experience any customs/immigration issues? Both French and British.

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      No. Just filled put the form in Alderney and put it in the box. 2nd visit a couple of weeks later I didn't bother.. then left for Cherbourg.. did check in and out of UK via Yachtline

  • @almaknack9543
    @almaknack9543 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    WALL- VICTORIANS !!!

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Of course. Thank you. I should have done more research!

  • @hattietyrone7046
    @hattietyrone7046 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    🄿🅁🄾🄼🄾🅂🄼 😍

    • @SailingGently
      @SailingGently  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      But not sure what it means Hattie... but thank you for watching so I put a thumbs up...