Crossing the English Channel

English Channel Crossing – one way!

Join us for the iconic crossing of the English Channel, on a Pogo44! An awesome fast cruising yacht.

One way from Cowes (Solent, UK) – across English Channel - Alderney – finishing in Cherbourg

Including a visit to the quirky Channel Islmand of Alderney.

Easy to travel back Cherbourg to Zürich by train / TGV.

I’ll skipper the boat, only ZISC members on board. No experience needed, but if you haven’t done much sailing let’s have a chat about what to expect. 

Sign up here or send me a message. 

The Plan

Sun 12^th July    Join boat in Cowes (Isle of Wight, UK) Sunday evening 

Mon 13^th         Sailing in the Solent / coastal sail

Tue 14^th           Overnight into Alderney. Explore Alderney

Wed 15^th         Alderney to Cherbourg. Explore Cherbourg and dinner in town

Thu 16^th           Leave boat Thursday morning 09:00 (or Wed evening if you prefer)

The passage / destination 

After sailing across the Channel we’ll arrive into the quirky Channel Island of Alderney, explore the island before making the 25 mile trip east to Cherbourg. Alderney is a fantastic mix of French and British. Its own independent country, not actually part of the UK.

The passages have complex night navigation in buoyed channels in the Solent, sailing out past the Needles at night, overfalls, tidal gates, crossing the Channel and one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, tidal heights of 9metres, currents of up to 9knots in the Alderney race. This trip has it all!

Ideal trip for 

• mile building
• night sailing experience
• doing the passage planning, or assist if you’ve not done it before. 
• learn about managing night watch systems (and do them)
• practicing tidal navigation
• how to cross one of the busiest shipping channels, at night.
• Miles count for the Swiss Hochseeschein and for RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster. The passages count towards the 60NM passages required for RYA Yachtmaster and the required night hours 
• Also a chance to skipper one of the passages

The route is very weather dependent (we will only cross channel in 'reasonable' conditions), so we will discuss with the crew the preferred plan B. Lots of good options for long passages along coast of UK.

The boat

An awesome Pogo44 

Year: 2024

Name: Tostaky

Cabins: 4  

Cost

Eur400 per person for boat charter (food, marina fees, fuel on top)

Getting there and away

Getting to Cowes: possible to fly to Gatwick, Heathrow or Southampton. At time of writing ZRH-LGW is CHF110.

From Cherbourg to Zurich: Train via Paris. TGV Paris to Zurich is good option. Or fly from Paris.