Sailing the English channel :)

Ellie Smelly :P · #1 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011

Heyy

im 14 from england and i mainly sail dinghies on a nice shelterd lake

however i am planning to add some excitement and sail the english channel in memory of operation dynamo and to raise some money for charity

one slight problem though.. i have no idea what i need to do... if anyone can help me -eg. the essentials,, experience needed,, that kind of stuff- then it would me much appreciated

thanks

xx

Minnewaska · #2 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011

Your Mother is not going to like this..... I'm trying to think of how many times I've said that to my kids.

What are you going to sail, how much experience do you have, will you have crew and have you ever sailed throughout the night before?

Minnewaska · #3 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011

I just reread the sheltered lake part. I think you really want to get some open ocean experience my friend. It is very very different.

TQA · #4 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011

I have been a liveaboard for 10 years crossed oceans and one of the scariest thing I have done was crossing the English Channel.

Tie your ankles together with about a foot of slack, now imagine crossing a motorway.

It is BUSY out there and the big boys can't slow down in a hurry or change course in a hurry.

What sort of boat were you thinking of using for the crossing? If it is a 12 to 14 foot dinghy a support boat might be a sensible safety option.

It is clearly possible to do it even in something like a Oppie but the rope between your ankles gets shorter.

Ellie Smelly :P · #5 (**permalink**) 09-18-2011

errm... well... a topper probably

hehe might go for an oppie XD just for the lol's

and havent mentioned it to my mum yet,, only my dad because he'll say yes

i have sailed on the sea before and i know its a little harded than earlswood lakes :0 might do a couple of practice sails to the isle of white etc

Ulladh · #6 (**permalink**) 09-18-2011

At 14 you will learn and react faster than most of the old farts on this site including myself.

Get more experience, maybe crew with someone more experienced, on open water; Solent, Bristol Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea,... then go for it.

tdw · #7 (**permalink**) 09-18-2011

Whats the book about an Australian living in England who sails a dinghy down river and then across the channel ?

Could be some useful info in there. I'll try and hunt it up.

edit - this is it ...

http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/u...e-jack-de-crow