Could we race across the English Channel? That boat looks quite Bermudan.
They did it in 1903.
I love the bit at the end of the pictures, "The journey from Boulogne to Folkestone, twenty nine miles was covered in less than one and three quarter hours. On the return journey the wind freshened. As a result, many craft were disabled by heavy seas, and were picked up in all directions, two being towed to Calais, three into Folkestone, and three to Boulogne. Happily no lives were lost."
Happily no lives were lost Perhaps we are a little soft nowadays.
Soft Maybe, during the summer while fettling with a seagull, my wife asked if it could take us to the other Channel Islands for a day trip (about 26 miles of open water). My reply was that people can swim that distance but in reality we would have to go with the tide and if we didn't make it within six hours and the tide turned we would end up going backwards for another six hours and that we'll have to get there on the next tide, all going well! So that simple trip could take 18 hours, non stop, through the shipping lanes and one gear box oil change/top up later (recommended after 10 hours use if I remember right).
Then, we would have to get back, some day trip!!
Soft Maybe, we paid £18 and got the ferry instead
went to sark from greve de lecq with a 12 and a 1/2 foot boat and a 102---about 15 miles in about 3 1/2 hours on the first big spring tide in september---went for ormers----unfortunately told firmly sarks ormer season starts 1st of october----so went on the p-ss by tractor with the sark postman------when seagulls were the only small boat engine in the channel islands changing/checking gear box oil was definately not every 10 hours----more like once a month if that------i did 5000 miles with my 102 before it was stolen-----never a serious problem with it------regards blue
Well 3 of those people are just extra weight & contribute nothing.
Alan's right a Bermuda style lightweight boat that has proven itself in open sea work, & goes very well with only a Seagull is the only option, & you'd have to build that as we don't have them here.
The support boat would have to be big enough to be seen clearly on maritime radar as your crossing one of the busyiest shipping lanes on the planet, so you will have to find a 30 foot boat & crew & fuel that fancy the trip, & is located within a couple of hours of Dover, without them Dover coastguard would stop you & send you home.
2 identical remote fuel Kingfishers that you were 100% confident with, would be the ideal motors, using 1 at a time
Someone would also have to do the research on the tides to determine when the best time for tides & currents, you might have to hang around Dover for a few days to get the right weather window.
It could be a fun sunny Sunday cruise but if the weather changes it could turn into a real nightmare......
I tell you what Niander you organise it & I'll be your copilot & I'll also pay half of the fuel costs for the support boat & yours, I don't think I'll get any change from £100.
Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
Most maritime traffic between the Atlantic Ocean and the North and Baltic Seas passes through the Strait of Dover, rather than taking the longer and more dangerous route around the north of Scotland. The strait is the busiest international seaway in the world, used by over 400 commercial vessels daily. This has made safety a critical issue, with HM Coastguard maintaining a 24-hour watch over the strait and enforcing a strict regime of shipping lanes.
In addition to the intensive east-west traffic, the strait is criss-crossed from north to south by ferries around 100 transits a day, linking Dover to Calais and Boulogne.
If you take the shortest route 21 miles you cross the ferry lane diagonally.
If you need official assistance from the French I belive this is chargable & you don't get a choice, if they think your at risk they come & get you.
John is it manditory to inform Dover coastguard of all your crossing details.
Crossing this stretch of water in a Seagull boat is equivalent to playing chicken on the M25 at 2 in the morning.
Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
[quote]Crossing this stretch of water in a Seagull boat is equivalent to playing chicken on the M25 at 2 in the morning.[/quote]
Charles do you meen a walk across a car park ? it was the last time i was on the M25.
Life is what you make it, and what you make could change your life.
Perhaps we are a little soft nowadays.
