Not a sailor (apart from a 'competent crewman' course in my youth), but really enjoy his programs and his wealth of knowledge, delivered with friendly banter like a true tv proffessional.
Big flashback to my childhood ! I remember when I was 16 or 17 , in the late 70 on a 24 footer sailboat from Cherbourg to the isle of Wright no battery no engine just a flashlight! boy that was fun ! And tide and wind was a big factor ! Thank you Tom . Pierre H
I was going to try this technique in my heady and reckless days in my early twenties. I was living in Poole Harbour (Cobb's Quay) on my 35 ft ex-RNLI lifeboat (The Alma 1913 from Southampton converted with two Thornycroft diesel engines). With friends on other liveaboard boats we had made vague plans to 'sail' across to Cherbourg together. I had no experience myself of navigating and very little boating. When, after some time no-one followed this up, I rashly decided to go it alone. This was, in hindsight, rather foolish as I had no radio, had not swung my compass, had an ongoing leak in one propeller shaft (stopped regularly by pumping grease into it) and only had one evening's reading of navigation. 'Fortunately (for me) a force 14 gale blew up which stopped me and I never tried it again. I could have ended up in the middle of the Atlantic if I had got it wrong!
I'm so pleased there's no appreciable tide in our waters (Western Sweden). No tidal currents to worry about and no need to time your arrival at a harbor.
Hi Tom , I sailed the channel many times , I lived in Herne bay I had a 24 sailfish she was a great boat , Im in Australia now and yes the sailing is fantastic , Just a short , My Grandad in WW2 died on the forts in the channel , as far as we could find out seaman Willis was the only person to die on the forts on Active service , I would love to see a video of the forts if you are ever in the area . cheers , Robert NSW Australia
Very interesting as I was just planning my first crossing so very timely to see this. Given your timing, when did you arrive at the Needles Channel? Just before LW to ride the flood up the Western Solent? Your books says the waters are worst just after LW though. Or did you go via N channel?
After you’ve done it a few times, the game is to set the autopilot’s course as you exit Cherbourg (or as you leave the Needles behind), not touch it for 10-12 hours, and see if you end up right on the button at the other side (assuming you don’t have to change for any big ships mid-Channel). You soon find that the accuracy of the tide atlas is the limiting factor.... In fact, the course you set is, for most sailing boats, within one to three degrees of the straight line course to the destination.
Handy how they line up, isn't it. We used to do that in the early days of 5knot boats. It does depend on what speed you make overall. Tides are faster on the French side, so if you make a 10-hour passage, and leave the Needles at, as it were, Hour Zero, the formula won't be so good. It's easy enough to whistle through a net vector plan and once you're on the way, you haven't much else to do anyway! Tom
Beautifully explained but, oh, I'm so happy that, after our initial two Channel crossings, we only had the Med to contend with - tides? UGH! (Comfortable sounding engine and, by the way, who was at the helm?)
Hi Tom, this is a very old post of yours. I've just subscribed to your videos. Just a question. I hear you mentioning in an other video that you are a Yacht Master examiner. But wondering if you teach practicals for the exams too.
Hi Sam Thanks for subscribing. I do private one-to-one tuition onboard a client's yacht. Check out my website www.tomcunliffe.com and email me if you want to take it further. All best Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Dear Tom, thanks for taking the time to reply to my query regarding taking classes from you. I did go to your site and had a read. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to take matters further as I'm out of the UK, involved in a civil dispute overseas. I shall remember to contact you on my return to the UK. Thanks once again.
![ЛЕБЕДЕВ у ДУДЯ: муху не обманешь 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E74h5fvVrqs/mqdefault.jpg)
This guy is an absolute treasure
He's a God-damn national treasure! I'd pay him to just read to me.
"We are all brothers and sisters because we are all children of the Tide."
-Tom Cunliffe
“IT’S A GRAND THING!”
Not a sailor (apart from a 'competent crewman' course in my youth), but really enjoy his programs and his wealth of knowledge, delivered with friendly banter like a true tv proffessional.
On a par with Attenborough in my view regarding articulation and interest.
Sir - you are too kind.
I could not agree more. I have just subscribed and I am hooked.
Agreed. Fine oratory and terrific turn of phrase. Thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. 👍👍
Definitely. The Attenborough of the Sea's
Agreed. It's high time (tide ? 🙄 😄) he got that Knighthood too. 👍🏼 🇬🇧 😉
Big flashback to my childhood ! I remember when I was 16 or 17 , in the late 70 on a 24 footer sailboat from Cherbourg to the isle of Wright no battery no engine just a flashlight! boy that was fun ! And tide and wind was a big factor ! Thank you Tom . Pierre H
Morning Pierre. I'm pleased it brought back some memories. Sounds like you had an interesting sail! Tom
"we're all children of the tide." Absolutely....Brillant story telling.
Thanks to you both!
Children of the tide great expression!
I was going to try this technique in my heady and reckless days in my early twenties. I was living in Poole Harbour (Cobb's Quay) on my 35 ft ex-RNLI lifeboat (The Alma 1913 from Southampton converted with two Thornycroft diesel engines). With friends on other liveaboard boats we had made vague plans to 'sail' across to Cherbourg together. I had no experience myself of navigating and very little boating. When, after some time no-one followed this up, I rashly decided to go it alone. This was, in hindsight, rather foolish as I had no radio, had not swung my compass, had an ongoing leak in one propeller shaft (stopped regularly by pumping grease into it) and only had one evening's reading of navigation. 'Fortunately (for me) a force 14 gale blew up which stopped me and I never tried it again. I could have ended up in the middle of the Atlantic if I had got it wrong!
It's amazing what we all did when we were in our twenties. I could tell a tale or two about that too! Tom
A pleasure to listen
Brilliant tom, I'm still green at the moment with sailing but learning from your great videos.
I've been sailing for more than 30 years and I'm still learning and Tom has a wealth of information.
Wonderful advice, lovely descriptions, Tom should have a TV series
Hi Nick. I've done a couple or so. You can catch them on the UA-cam 'Boatyard' Channel. Always available for more though!. Tom
I'm so pleased there's no appreciable tide in our waters (Western Sweden). No tidal currents to worry about and no need to time your arrival at a harbor.
Hi. It always tickles me when I'm in Sweden that nobody leaves early. There's a very civilised departure around 1000! Tom
Great video Tom. You should have a TV series!
I'd love to. Just waiting for the call! Tom
Tom. You are a diamond!
I lived on my boat in Brighton Marina and I’ve lost count of the channel crossings I did. Mainly over to Fecamp. Ah those were the days.
It's a grand thing... they are all brothers and sisters because we are all children of the tides... Amen!
What a fantastic story teller
A grand thing indeed!
As a non sailor, you are teaching me a thing or two here.
Hi Tom , I sailed the channel many times , I lived in Herne bay I had a 24 sailfish she was a great boat , Im in Australia now and yes the sailing is fantastic , Just a short , My Grandad in WW2 died on the forts in the channel , as far as we could find out seaman Willis was the only person to die on the forts on Active service ,
I would love to see a video of the forts if you are ever in the area .
cheers ,
Robert
NSW
Australia
I like the way he builds on the romance of sailing.
Absolute legend!
Tom,
Could you let me know what PC chartplotter set up you have, and do you run it via a external GPS antenna or a sat-phone? Thanks.
Very interesting as I was just planning my first crossing so very timely to see this. Given your timing, when did you arrive at the Needles Channel? Just before LW to ride the flood up the Western Solent? Your books says the waters are worst just after LW though. Or did you go via N channel?
In English Channel Tide is the king .Well said .
After you’ve done it a few times, the game is to set the autopilot’s course as you exit Cherbourg (or as you leave the Needles behind), not touch it for 10-12 hours, and see if you end up right on the button at the other side (assuming you don’t have to change for any big ships mid-Channel). You soon find that the accuracy of the tide atlas is the limiting factor....
In fact, the course you set is, for most sailing boats, within one to three degrees of the straight line course to the destination.
Handy how they line up, isn't it. We used to do that in the early days of 5knot boats. It does depend on what speed you make overall. Tides are faster on the French side, so if you make a 10-hour passage, and leave the Needles at, as it were, Hour Zero, the formula won't be so good. It's easy enough to whistle through a net vector plan and once you're on the way, you haven't much else to do anyway! Tom
Legend
We are all Children of the Tide...........
Beautifully explained but, oh, I'm so happy that, after our initial two Channel crossings, we only had the Med to contend with - tides? UGH! (Comfortable sounding engine and, by the way, who was at the helm?)
Some of us have to be at work Monday morning😹
Here we are always at the tides command.
Hi Tom, this is a very old post of yours. I've just subscribed to your videos. Just a question. I hear you mentioning in an other video that you are a Yacht Master examiner. But wondering if you teach practicals for the exams too.
Hi Sam Thanks for subscribing. I do private one-to-one tuition onboard a client's yacht. Check out my website www.tomcunliffe.com and email me if you want to take it further. All best Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Dear Tom, thanks for taking the time to reply to my query regarding taking classes from you. I did go to your site and had a read. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to take matters further as I'm out of the UK, involved in a civil dispute overseas.
I shall remember to contact you on my return to the UK. Thanks once again.
Tom hasnt got to be back to deliver the milk.🐳🐳🐳