Solo Channel crossing

[Paul Cannell]

Have a great trip David.

[paul holder]

if that pr-t clarkson did it in a toyboata you should have no troubles .
you are competent ,the rib is good so just watch the weather
dont forget that troopes were brought back from dunkirk in far lesser boats

[Maximus]

Knowing you and the boat I'm sure you will be fine!..Only wish I was coming! Building projects and helping my son with his conditioning for his next M.M.A contest has left the RIB dry of late, hopefully soon to be rectified..
Looking at a Scillie's jaunt soon if your up for it Dave??
Have a great trip!! and don't forget the camera.

[MarkWildey]

I've done quite a few channel crossings on my own and a couple with just me in the boat. Assuming your boat is sound and your happy with the other crew go for it. Assign everyone a task, looking at dials, GPS, objects in the sea etc

Looking round and not being able to see land is both a little daunting and a great feeling.

I love going to Alderney and in reality isn't that far, so unless it's blowing hard, go for it.

Mark

[willk]

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

Looking round and not being able to see land is both a little daunting and a great feeling.

and probably one of the reasons people do it.

Avocet, have a good trip. The advice about delegating duties is sound. On a run that long a coffee break is a welcome respite. Set a watch during this break, stuff sneaks up on you.

[Avocet]

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes.

Passage plan prepared, fuel tanks filled, hand-held equipment checked, camera and phone charged, alarm set for 7.00am ...

This is actually my fourth Channel crossing (second for crew): it is however the first solo one.

All excited and looking forward to lunch on the terrace at the Braye Beach Hotel in the sun with a glass of wine.

Will raise a toast to you all and hope to post pictures tomorrow evening.

David

[Hightower]

Well the best of luck to you David and to your crew in crossing the channel twice in one day.

Bon Voyage!

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Hope you've had some sleep, not been awake thinking about it! Enjoy

[Avocet]

Very pleased to report that we are safely there and back without major incident and really appreciate all the help, support and good wishes from everyone. An excellent day out for me and crew which shows that a bit of prior preparation and research can pay dividends.

It was especially nice to see Malthouse and Mrs M again in Bray and to catch up on news and have a drink with them.

Also particularly liked PeteM's text at lunchtime asking if we had arrived safely and were enjoying our white wine on the terrace in the sun: was able to reply with a photo in the affirmative!

Outward crossing was lumpy in the middle section (prop out of the water with alarming regularity even at quite slow speeds!), return was lumpy to start on the French side but got less so as the crosing progressed. We eventually entered the Swash channel coming into Poole at over forty knots having been down to below twenty-five earlier.

The 'late' departure of 9.30am turned out to be the right call as we learned that Alderney had been thickly fog-bound until about an hour before we arrived there: we saw no fog at all at any point. Sunshine all the way! Both crossings were about 2h 30m each way with little traffic (half a dozen tankers and the same number of yachts on both legs). Interestingly, we were not alone as we could hear Brixham, Portland and Solent coastguards as well as the French coastguard stations on the radio at all points.

Photos will take a little longer to organise but will post in 'Gallery' as soon as.

Thanks again to all for their support and also sorry to have missed Erin (if he made it!).

David

[willk]

oh good!
.
.
.
I can go to bed now and not fret...

[Maximus]

Glad you all had a good trip!looking forward to catching up soon!

[MarkWildey]

Originally Posted by Avocet

Brixham, Portland and Solent coastguards as well as the French coastguard stations on the radio at all points.

David

First off well done and I think you had a great weekend for it. I bet you'll look back and think "that wasn't such a big deal"

I was off Brest a few years back, heading back to the UK, and could hear Brixham which was reassuring.

[Zippy]

Good Work David!!

Have watched this with interest as we are planning our first channel crossing on 25th June. (subject to weather)

As well as being our first channel crossing, it will also be solo, on a friday afternoon / evening.

Whilst SWMBO and i have both done longer trips on bigger boats, furthest we have been in ribs is round the island so it will be a big trip for us.

im hoping for some decent weather to allow my birthday plans to go well but i have to say, i am a little nervous about first channel crossing being a solo trip!!

[Erin]

Twas like a millpond on our return journey