Alderney Forum Cruise 22/24th July 2011

[Gazjen]

I have been ask to start to organise the Alderney cruise for later this year and thought it would be best to start a new thread

Nothing is set in stone as to what to do where to go etc I'm just after Ideas on what everyone is thinking

Notes from the previous post

Sat Morning cruise over around 3 hours at 20 MPH look round, Food, Beer, etc etc Sun Gather thoughts look round, cruise back

POW camp sounds interesting as does the Vat free chandlery

I'm not a navigator so I'll leave that to a willing volunteer to sort tides, passage plans etc etc can we have pretty pictures like in the IOW thread please

As for accommodation if we are going to have multiple dates for this, we can't really book a hotel/B&B so camping is the only real economical option.

Also if we set a date in stone and the weather is not suitable are we going to have a contingency plan for a weekend around the Solent? of course this will still result in losing your money for the hotel reservation but at least we still get a weekend on/near the water

So first of all we need a list of attendees I think, who's taking there boat and who would like to crew to get an Idea of numbers

I for one would like passage as crew, obviously sharing the cost plus a few beers and boring stories

It was mentioned that VHF for all and at least one boat with radar. I assume we all have VHF but does anyone have Radar?

I've probably forgotten lots of detail but I/we can keep adding to it as we go along

[jokaboat]

Nice one Gaz.

I have 1 boat and three on board. I could fit one more in if necessary.

Not got radar but willing to invest in a radar reflector if there is one suitable for a small boat. Have all the other stuff like radios, flares, first aid kit etc.

I would favour travelling over one day, stop overnight and then back the following day but wil go with the concencus on that. I have a 40 gallon tank giving a range of 150 miles with a safe reserve of 25%.

I don't think radar is an essential provided that we pick the weather carefully.

[Gazjen]

Great could I "bagsey" that spare place please (I'm not 12 honest)

[betty boop]

one for crew,

camping favoured option unless we can gat a G/tee'd weather predition or can turn up & pay rather than reserve.

if crew number are greater than boats I could be swayed into taking bowrider Betty + 3 crew to spilt cost but cant remember if we decided thats a bad idea or not.

[Channel Ribs]

I don't think radar is an essential provided that we pick the weather carefully.

I would tend to agree that radar is not essential, of course if one of the group has it then that would be great.

A good radar reflector for all boats crossing the Channel is a good idea, sometimes you can cross and have no shipping to contend with and other times it can be like crossing the M25! A well setup fixed VHF is also important in my view, you can feel very isolated (even in company) mid-channel.

By good reflector I mean something like the Echomax units, and not the plastic tube with aluminium disks.

Like radar if one of the boats has AIS then great.

As for camping, if you bring you own gear then I do not think there is any need to book - just turn up and pitch. We can talk to the site nearer the time for you.

Edit: I shall knock up a tide table for July and post it here shortly. Access to the harbour is not tide dependent, though the sea state is! The campsite is next to a bay so you can drop off gear direct from the boat if you fancy.

Probably stating the obvious, but I am quite happy to organise walking tours, a look round German fortifications etc etc. Just let me know.

[Channel Ribs]

And bosh, here you go:

http://www.alderneymarine.com/info/julytides.pdf

Ref the opening post, if you are tempted by the lure of electronics at 20% less than UK chandlers, make sure you contact us before you come over so we can get what you need.

Edit: High water on Friday the 22nd is at midday (British Summer Time), a couple of hours after that is what passes for slack water round these parts which would make a great time to approach the island.

[Ed]

I think we need to decide the journey there. By my rough calculations from around Southampton Via Needles to Alderney is 90 miles ish. Like Joka said you need a decent reserve, so plan for 110-120 miles at least, so that tides/wind etc do not leave you short.

I think firstly the thing to see is can we all do that?

This also means that the Journey could take 4.5hrs min @ 20mph. As the crow flies from Alderney to the Needles is nearly 70 miles according to google earth alone.

Oh and one other thing weather permitting I was happy to go there one day, stay over play around/adventure the next and leave on the third...

Never been to any of the Ch. Isles before, May as well make the most of it

[paul cannell]

Self serve fuel is available at Yarmouth, nice & quick & not to far to the Fairway SWM.

[dpb101]

Hi,
Count me in though I am not sure what crew I will have.
Probably will have spare room.
Safe range of 100 miles.
Would probably sleep on board.
Would look at joining main flotilla about 15 miles on your route from Needles to save going Poole/Needles/Alderney.

[Cap'n Jack]

Nice title Gaz and thanks for being the Cruise Commodore.

I've locked the other topics so that this is the main source of contact.

Glad to hear you are coming dpb.

[ian h]

I will go with the majority on weather its a day trip or overnight.
Will have room for a couple more on board as just myself and 21 year old son.

Will prob sleep on boat if its overnight

[Gazjen]

I think it would work better over two days if not three as Ed suggested, I may have work issues though if we are travelling over on the Friday and I would of thought I won't be the only one.

What do people think of a contingency? I've never really explored down there land or sea. (apart from the boat show )

[tim griffin]

Should be a good turnout .
Tim

[jokaboat]

What do people think of a contingency? I've never really explored down there land or sea. (apart from the boat show )

If it's awful then I suppose we'd scratch completely, If bad in the channel but not too bad in the Solent we could just have an outing to Yarmouth or Ryde, or even go shopping in Portsmouth (only kidding). Quite a lot of choice really.

I'd be happy with the Sat / Sun version. A bit small for all of us to sleep on board but I'm sure we could find a b&b or somewhere to sling a tent.

[Matt13]

I will have 1 definate with me but I may have another 2 people coming along, I wont know if I will have space for anyone else until nearer the day. Im happy to go with the consensus regarding one night or two, but we will probably B&B it. Really looking forward to this!