Alpha22
regular
Reged: 22/09/2003
Posts: 95
Loc: East Midlands
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I had a Sea Scout leader that used to take kids accross the channel in an ex RN whaler, with little more than a torch, a flask, a chart in a poly bag and a silva compass (Hiking type, not nautical.)
Last reports are he is still alive and boating.
It is a mirricle he never killed anyone.
D.
Last weekend was shopping darling........ so this weekend is boating. (Duck!)
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MustangTom
regular
Reged: 15/07/2002
Posts: 2359
Loc: Faversham,Kent
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I normally cross on a compass bearing only !
I must have crossed the chanel 10-20 times , I do carry a gps but mainly use a compass, I have got spoiled having an old radar on my boat but apart from looking at the coastline and checking on distance to boats bigger then me I can not see the point unless fogy ?
Tom
Ps boating is about doing it not having it (The Kit)
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CharlesM
regular
Reged: 09/03/2004
Posts: 410
Loc: UK
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Sounds great.
Really a pity this country has become so care-bear that adventures such as this cannot happen anymore.
In my childhood during a scouting trip we did a simulated rescue on a railway bridge. When the train came we all jumped onto the concrete pillars and waited while the train passed a few feet above our heads before continuing the exercise.
Try that nowadays and those scout leaders will be sued before the train is passed... If I had kids I certainly would wish they could experiance life like I did as a kid. Now schools won't even take have sports days because its 'too competative'!!
aarghhh!!
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Marsupial
regular
Reged: 05/07/2004
Posts: 580
Loc: South and East UK
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I find that generaly if you leave england with england at the back of the boat eventually france will appear at the front. wots a compass?
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robp
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 1205
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Or Spain, or Portugal, or Africa, or Canaries! Nice to dream...
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Marsupial
regular
Reged: 05/07/2004
Posts: 580
Loc: South and East UK
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Ahh yes, the butter route now that's true navigation, all you need is the sun and a pound of butter.
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Jimi
regular
Reged: 19/12/2001
Posts: 16084
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If you leave from Liverpool it wont!
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Marsupial
regular
Reged: 05/07/2004
Posts: 580
Loc: South and East UK
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No from liverpool it wont but then the task is to cross the channel not the atlantic. The butter route from say Southampton or Brighton would I think be a great adventure.
Many years ago (40) about 10 yachts "cruised" to france, about 36 hours later some of them arrived on a sandy shore that could have been france, about seven or eight boats emerged from a fog over a period of a hour or so, remarkably all "lost" on same bearing. Confronted with poor vis and not sure where they were they rafted up to compare notes, because few boats had VHF. they disscussed important things like which sand dune did they recognise and which way did they think calais was. It was around then that they realised that no one had a chart!
Before that I was "taught" to sail, well more a demonstration really, by a outfit called the Royal Navy, they took us out into the solent in a gaff rigged whaler, no charts, no compass, (or if they had one it was hidden) just mark one eyeballs. Spent 2 weeks doing that, often we couldn't see land but then the guy on helm seemed to be able to find it again with no trouble. I was impressed but I was only 9!
Later in life I was luckyt enought to be "taught" navigation by a super tanker navigation officer, who explained how he kept the ship safe, he would get the crew to plot fixes on the chart and then spread one of his huge hands on it in the general vicinity of the cocked hat and say, gentlemen lets assume we are somewhere near here, what is our most risky position - assuming that assumption is correct?
Yes of course I use GPS and before that DECCA but I have never forgotten that lesson - when there is doubt always assume you are in the worst possible place, out of all the posssible places and work up a plan from there.
SO how basic for a channel crossing? Compass, Chart ,Tidetables, and breton plotters I suppose, with electronics in reserve, if you have them.
If its an organised event I fear that there will have to be a balance between what would be interesting as opposed to what may be considered (by some) as reckless.
In the end the weather on the day will decide.
Cheers
David
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sailorman
regular
Reged: 21/05/2003
Posts: 10713
Loc: East Coast
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done that got 2 Holland or was it Belgium
Anyhow they used Euros
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Guapa
regular
Reged: 24/09/2003
Posts: 4959
Loc: UK East Coast
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You're a real "devil-may-care" adventurer, aren't you?
What bit of the continent are you aiming for next time? If they use kroner you're too far North!
All the best
William
Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.
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