The channel crossing represents an important step for us. It is the first major passage we did on our own. Between Guernsey and Falmouth, there are 114 nautical miles which we covered in a good 20 hours.
On a sunny Sunday, we made the last preparations and left St Peter marina on the high tide, which happened in the afternoon that day. The wind forecast was 20-25 knots dominantly from east.
Once we turned the west corner of Guernsey, we could feel the wind picking up. It was time to reduce the sails (reefed main and jib), especially as we were about to cross the Transit Separation Scheme (TSS) over night. Around 9 pm, we could see the big ships lining up on our display, but it would still be one hour before we would reach the first traffic. Sailboats are advised to cross the TSS at right angle to minimize the crossing time and to stay away from the path of these large vessels with little maneuverability.
TSS crossing
In the dark night, protected by the doghouse and using AIS and radar information, Yan did a great job anticipating the risk and sneaking in between these floating giants. At 1 am Silvia took her shift. The bulk of the traffic was behind but she needed to watch out for fishermen and boats traveling outside the TSS.
It was time to correct our course east changing to a broad reach. There was some swell in the channel creating a constant rolling motion. We somehow managed to sleep in-between shifts. Dolphins greeted us on the other side of the channel but while on watch, in the wee hours, there is no wandering around the boat to take videos.
Arrival in Falmouth
We were both awake for the approach to Falmouth at about 10 am. Time to call the customs for the clearance process. Falmouth is a naturally sheltered harbour. Our destination, Falmouth marina, was a little up the river Fal. The tide was rising allowing us to maneuver with the centerboard down. By 1 pm, we were safely docked.
We did it!
Visiting the lovely town of Falmouth
The next day we visited the lovely town of Falmouth, renowned for her long history of seafaring, beaches (a little cold for now) and gardens. The presence of Falmouth University creates a mix of cultures and styles. Benefitting from a micro climate, the area is also famous for its gardens.
What’s next?
In the next days, we will stay well protected in Falmouth during the upcoming blow before continuing our journey towards the Isles of Scilly at the west tip of Great Britain.
3 replies on “We crossed the English Channel”
OMG, good job guys! You must be very proud! Have fun and enjoy Britain’s pubs, English little towns and landscapes!
La bise xx
Cette fois c’est vraiment parti! Bon séjour britannique. Contente que cette prise en main se passe bien.
Bravo 👏 et belle suite !😘
Bravo à tous les deux !!! Enfin partis pour cette belle aventure , bonne continuation et bon vent 🙂