19 June 2016 Crossing the English Channel
5.30 am, 19th June 2016 all awake and ready to set-off.
After a few weeks waiting along the Medway for a 3-day-good-weather window that would allow us to cross the English Channel, safely without being caught by surprise with a sudden change of weather, Hamish got a 'competent' crew together, Hoawel, Ramin, Ligia and myself and we're off.
We've 'set sail' from Ramsgate, down to Dover and then across to Calais. When we got to Dover we were approached by a coastal guard boat, with machine guns pointed at us, asking to identify ourselves and how many onboard. Hamish in control, all good, we're set to go!
We have a android app that traces all big tankers along the way, speed and how far, a map with the location of all the buoys, we need to follow, a compass, and a radar reflector on the roof to make ourselves visible to big ships, 1 person driving, 1 with a eye on the app and maps, 2 on the lookout.
It took us 8 hours to make it to France. The sea was calm, half-meter high waves, a bit of rain, but relaxed so Hamish decided to take a nap. When we were getting closer to France, the visibility was not great and we lost track of the buoys so we decided to follow the Ferrys and one of them got confused, stopped to contact us by radio to ask who we were, and if we were ok. A bit confusing and 20 min later a French lifeboat approached us, ready to save us. Realizing we were just a pleasure boat they started to take pictures waving friendly at us. Bienvenue to France! We made it!
Crew got in touch with Calais asking permission to enter the port. They asked us to wait for the next ferry and then we can get in. Next ferry comes trough, we follow, no stops, all gates opening, no one asks for passports or check the boat. And we're in the French inland waterways system.
The window shrunk to a 1-day-good-weather-window in the meanwhile, but Hamish got tired of waiting and off we went.
Roof reflector & Compass
A French Lifeboat came to check on us upon our arrival to France
La France
After a few weeks waiting along the Medway for a 3-day-good-weather window that would allow us to cross the English Channel, safely without being caught by surprise with a sudden change of weather, Hamish got a 'competent' crew together, Hoawel, Ramin, Ligia and myself and we're off.
We've 'set sail' from Ramsgate, down to Dover and then across to Calais. When we got to Dover we were approached by a coastal guard boat, with machine guns pointed at us, asking to identify ourselves and how many onboard. Hamish in control, all good, we're set to go!
We have a android app that traces all big tankers along the way, speed and how far, a map with the location of all the buoys, we need to follow, a compass, and a radar reflector on the roof to make ourselves visible to big ships, 1 person driving, 1 with a eye on the app and maps, 2 on the lookout.
It took us 8 hours to make it to France. The sea was calm, half-meter high waves, a bit of rain, but relaxed so Hamish decided to take a nap. When we were getting closer to France, the visibility was not great and we lost track of the buoys so we decided to follow the Ferrys and one of them got confused, stopped to contact us by radio to ask who we were, and if we were ok. A bit confusing and 20 min later a French lifeboat approached us, ready to save us. Realizing we were just a pleasure boat they started to take pictures waving friendly at us. Bienvenue to France! We made it!
Crew got in touch with Calais asking permission to enter the port. They asked us to wait for the next ferry and then we can get in. Next ferry comes trough, we follow, no stops, all gates opening, no one asks for passports or check the boat. And we're in the French inland waterways system.
The window shrunk to a 1-day-good-weather-window in the meanwhile, but Hamish got tired of waiting and off we went.
Roof reflector & Compass
We're off!
We are the blue spot in the middle of the English Channel.
The triangles are all the big cargo ships around us
The Captain having a nap
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