How about making this forum, or one like it at least, a permanant feature?
Along the lines of the ' Ad Hoc On Water Events' with threads expiring after a couple of weeks maybe, but specific to 'Cross Channel'.
IE Stick a message on if you are planning a trip.
Of course, more useful for those with wireless internet access (balckberrys, smartphones etc), especially for the return.
Idea came to me on Sunday when we were coming back from Jersey and could see a fellow MOBO in the distance.