Cruising the English Channel
By CA Channel Section
Introduction
This page provides a summarised introduction to cruising the English Channel (Fr: La Manche) in a yacht or motor cruiser; CA members have access to a wide range of more detailed information and member reports.
The Channel is home to a large cruising community on the English and French coasts as well as the Channel Islands. The Channel also attracts visitors, especially over the summer period, from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium often sailing a “Channel Circuit” as well as visitors from further afield visiting or in transit.
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Getting there
Many British sailors are based on the English South coast while many French sailors are based on the French North coast so are already here; but the Channel is also a cruising destination for many sailors from further afield.
Those cruising from the East coast of the UK you will need to cross the Thames estuary and around North Foreland being alert to sand banks and wind farms. From Belgium, the Netherlands and further east there are similarly sand banks and wind farms as well as Traffic Separation schemes.
Those cruising from the West will either be coming around Lands End (perhaps stopping off at the Isles of Scilly) or the around Finistère (perhaps stopping off at Ushant).
When to Go
Cruising takes place in the Channel year round but in sheltered waters like the Solent. The Channel can be impacted by depressions at any time of year but temperatures in the winter can be too low for comfort and depressions can be deeper meaning stronger winds. Most cruising takes place from late spring to early autumn.
Cruising The Channel
The view from Dartmouth to Kingswear
The Channel is approximately 300 Miles in length and just 18 Miles wide at its narrowest point. But the actual length of coastline is so much greater and contains over 100 ports plus many more marinas. The CA’s CAptain’s Mate App references over 300 locations (ports, marinas, anchorages etc.) within the Channel with information and member reports.
It is one of the most popular sailing destinations and offers a great variety of beautiful cruising areas including sheltered and extensive rivers; rugged and wild coastlines; major city ports; small seaside resorts; quiet anchorages; and popular sheltered areas such as the Solent, busy with ships, cruising boats and yacht racing.
The large number of ports and their proximity makes it easy to day-sail the whole length of the coastlines.
For CA members our local Honorary Local Representatives are available for local assistance and advice.
Anchorage in the Channel to Ploumanach
Weather & Navigation
The climate is mild due to the Gulf Stream though fine summer weather may be punctuated by the passage of Atlantic depressions.
With such a busy area for shipping as well as cruising, navigation is easy because of the excellent aids to navigation from lighthouses down to buoys. Official weather forecasts are available from the UK Met Office, and the French Met Service. There are also many other forecast providers as well a GRIB services. Coastguard services (from the UK, France and Channel Islands) are also an excellent source of the latest information including weather.
The tidal range can be significant (up to 12m near St Malo) and tidal streams fast (7 knots or more) especially around headlands where overfalls should be avoided.
Regulations/Checking In & Out
Cruising between the different legal jurisdictions of the UK, France (part of the EU and Schengen area) and the Channel Islands necessitates following national regulations especially checking out of the country you are leaving and checking in on arrival. It also requires rights to travel for non-nationals such as visas (and in future ETIAS) for the EU (and depending on entry point, EES processes) and ETA for the UK.
The UK has no ports of entry so the process is usually completed online using the Pleasure Craft Report system (sPCR).
For France there are thirteen ports of entry (Fr: Point de Passage Frontalier – PPF) on the Channel coast though with differing levels of convenience for those cruising. In addition a National Protocol of Cooperation has established a process for checking in and out at other smaller ports. For the latest information on 'protocol' ports and processes see this news story .
The Channel Islands have few ports and checking in and out is possible at most.
The CA provides members with detailed information and updates on these processes.
Services
The popularity of sailing on both the UK, French and Channel Island coasts means that services for cruising yachts and motor boats are common. There are many marinas, chandleries, and maintenance companies able to provide a full range of services and products for just about any requirement. The CA’s CAptain’s Mate App helps find these often with member recommendations.
