Torquay to Jersey on S23

scottyolo · 2 May 2024

Thanks everyone very helpful replies. Yes my feeling is the boat will be okay, as a few have said, it can cope with more than I can, so its about managing the timing, picking decent weather windows and planning for all eventualities.

Regarding fuel the boat burns around 40l/hr at 20knots, so I think I have a total of 125 nautical mile range, so safe cruising around 100nm, so plan was to stop in Guernsey for fuel just to be safe, as that is around 65nm from my marina

scottyolo · 2 May 2024

Engine wise, the boat used to be called Naughty-Cal, ive heard from a few marina members it is quite famous on forums as its done over 2500hrs. But its been well maintained, and i continue to maintain it with twice yearly service so i am confident we can get there and back without issues, and ive got a 3D tender and Yamaha 2.5hp for back up, through, might be better swimming if it all goes wrong! haha

madabouttheboat · 2 May 2024

I did the Channel Islands a couple of times in a 24ft Bayliner and that was starting out from Essex. Pick the right weather, make sure the mechanicals are in good shape, carry a decent set of spares and off you go.

colhel · 2 May 2024

I think I'd have a bigger safety margin with respect to planning a 100nm passage with 125nm available fuel.
Guernsey does look within range though.

Momac · 2 May 2024

I would have thought 40litres/hr a bit high but could be the case in unfriendly sea conditions with 30litres/hr achievable on reasonably smooth water .
And more like 23 to 25 kts the most economical speed rather than 20 kts.
I believe the fuel tank capacity is 220litres?

Daydream believer · 2 May 2024

How will everyone's backs fair after 5 hours of pounding? Are the seats well padded?

Scubadoo · 2 May 2024

scottyolo said:
Thanks everyone very helpful replies. Yes my feeling is the boat will be okay, as a few have said, it can cope with more than I can, so its about managing the timing, picking decent weather windows and planning for all eventualities.

Regarding fuel the boat burns around 40l/hr at 20knots, so I think I have a total of 125 nautical mile range, so safe cruising around 100nm, so plan was to stop in Guernsey for fuel just to be safe, as that is around 65nm from my marina

I think there is a discrepancy with your fuel burn figures, at 20knots it should be around 22l/hr and a range approx. 175+nm (222 litre fuel tank). This will of course vary due to sea conditions and tides etc.

scottyolo · 2 May 2024

Momac said:
I would have thought 40litres/hr a bit high but could be the case in unfriendly sea conditions with 30litres/hr achievable on reasonably smooth water .
And more like 23 to 25 kts the most economical speed rather than 20 kts.
I believe the fuel tank capacity is 220litres?

Yes that's right. I calculated it as worst case scenario but agree probably lot more available but still may get to Guernsey first to be on safe side

Shifty · 2 May 2024

Had you thought maybe to overnight In Alderney then you can be sure to hit the race with perfect timing and hopefully conditions, plus the added bonus of a great Indian meal at Nellie Grays.

Richard.C · 2 May 2024

Plan it well and pick your weather window, it will be a great adventure.

My passage plan from Torquay would not take me down the Alderney race so no need to worry about that. However I would probably stop over night in Guernsey and split the journey, Guernsey is a lovely place to visit. Weather permitting you should make St Peter Port in 3.5 hours.

SC35 · 2 May 2024

I’ve done that a few times in an S28 with twin KAD32.

In an S23 … yes, it will be possible, but whether you enjoy the experience or not will depend on where your fun boundary is.

Getting pounded by a mid-channel 1.5m swell for hours on end would be the wrong side of my fun boundary.

Going across in perfect conditions in convoy would be a lot better.

Daydream believer · 3 May 2024

SC35 said:
Going across in perfect conditions in convoy would be a lot better.

Would that not mean getting pounded at their optimum speed, rather than yours, which could make the trip less comfortable?

But there again, one might ask how long is one actually going to be mid channel. According to Richard C in post #30 the whole journey is only going to be 3.5 hours
How long will the trip sensibly take from exiting Torquay. Or more importantly how log will the return journey take. Because that is the one that will be dictated by time of departure, rather than the outward one which will be down to weather.

oldgit · 3 May 2024

Daydream believer said:
Would that not mean getting pounded at their optimum speed, rather than yours, which could make the trip less comfortable?
But there again, one might ask how long is one actually going to be mid channel. According to Richard C in post #30 the whole journey is only going to be 3.5 hours
How long will the trip sensibly take from exiting Torquay. Or more importantly how log will the return journey take. Because that is the one that will be dictated by time of departure, rather than the outward one which will be down to weather.

The Skipper.
Experience, thousands of hours or 50. ?

Would I undertake that trip with a couple of reliable and experienced crew who know the score and could look after themselves . Possibly.
Would I want to undertake the trip with any other sort of crew who would be replying on me for their safety ....if the **** hit the fan .............No.
Assume the valise with the liferaft will be kept in the forecabin ?
Back up nav system ?
No mention so far of spares to take, filters, impellers tools etc.
Have you ever changed the impeller on the engine, more importantly could you change it or the fuel filters mid channel ?
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Aardee · 3 May 2024

The only advice I can add is to make sure you have a Plan B for getting home either by plane or ferry if the weather cuts up rough, you can always leave the boat there and fetch it later when things improve.

scottyolo · 3 May 2024

Thanks for replies, I am not too concerned about it being uncomfortable, i can put up with the weather if it turns a bit. I've got a lot of emergency stuff on the boat (tender, aux engine, flares, plb, experience etc) plus the boat has been recently serviced and this season already ive had 50hrs without issue, so think just comes down to picking right window from what i am hearing and having a plan B.

scottyolo · 3 May 2024

oldgit said:
The Skipper.
Experience, thousands of hours or 50. ?

Would I undertake that trip with a couple of reliable and experienced crew who know the score and could look after themselves . Possibly.
Would I want to undertake the trip with any other sort of crew who would be replying on me for their safety ....if the **** hit the fan .............No.
Assume the valise with the liferaft will be kept in the forecabin ?
Back up nav system ?
No mention so far of spares to take, filters, impellers tools etc.
Have you ever changed the impeller on the engine, more importantly could you change it or the fuel filters mid channel ?
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

hi yes ive got lot of spares on boat and can change anything that goes whilst out in the channel. Only thing I dont have is a liferaft but do have a small 3D tender on davits, which I know isnt as effective

stelican · 3 May 2024

One of the most important items if undertaking that sort of offshore trip is a lift-raft which probably could be rented.As the saying goes "If you've got it you probably won't need it"

SC35 · 3 May 2024

stelican said:
One of the most important items if undertaking that sort of offshore trip is a lift-raft which probably could be rented.As the saying goes "If you've got it you probably won't need it"

When we did MBM cruises in company, an inflated tender was an acceptable alternative.

stelican · 3 May 2024

You were in a flotilla!
Not the best of advice.

SC35 · 3 May 2024

stelican said:
You were in a flotilla!
Not the best of advice.

Every activity involves some acceptance of risk.

If I was crossing the Atlantic, I would definitely want a life raft, in case I ended up bobbing around in the Ocean for a few days.

Although they are not the same thing, I would still say that an inflated tender is an acceptable alternative for a solo channel crossing in moderate weather conditions, if the crew can fit in it safely.

There are plenty of reports of life rafts failing to inflate, going down with the boat, or drifting off over the horizon, un-tethered.

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