Product Description

Now in its 5th Edition, this classic guide has been thoroughly revised. Tom Cunliffe has rewritten much of the text to expand his assessment of ports and harbours and in his inimitable way describes more thoroughly the facilities to be found. More ground level shots have been included and many of the aerials updated. The Shell Channel Pilot now includes tidal streams for Alderney and has been extended to cover the French Island of Ouessant (Ushant).

The bible for the English Channel and a proper companion both on board and in the armchair at home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #234818 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 356 pages

Customer Reviews

The channel cruiser's bible - don't leave port without it.
Tom Cunliffe has brought together all the cruising sailor needs to know about any harbour worth visiting on the South coast of England or North Coast of France.

Working logically from Ramsgate to the Isles of Scilly, and then from Dunkerque to L'Aber-Wrac'h, the book shows the principal headlands, navigational obstacles and port facilities for over 100 channel ports, quickly identifying those which are tidally sensitive.

Photographs of harbour entrances, many taken from the air at low water springs show the dangers in a way not always apparent from the chart, whilst reproductions of the harbour charts show most of what is important to make an entrance or exit, day or night.

Every sailor knows how hard navigational transits are to spot until somebody with experience points them out. The book includes photographs highlighting prominent buildings, clearing lines, and those hard to spot marks and buoys.

Once in harbour, the book provides ample information on visitors moorings, and you are then guided to the local facilities, with telephone numbers. Also included is information on getting further afield by public transport if required.

Having used the book personally on many a voyage, you get a real feeling of confidence as it is written in the style of how someone did yesterday what you are trying to do today.

As well as tidal stream information for most parts of the English Channel, the Pilot also includes a wealth of other information relating to navigation in the area, including important information on traffic seperation schemes.

The hard back cover and bulky 300 pages mean that you cannot pop it in your pocket in case it comes in handy, but in my view it should be an essential part of any yacht's library.

A must for a saloon bookshelf
It is easy to end up spending a fortune on many pilots for the channel but this one covers a vast area - so basically you only need to get one. It has very useful info for all the channel ports and many anchorages. You will find useful info about facilities ashore too.

A treasure trove for the cruising sailor
This pilot delivers on a number of important bases. It is both a detailed guide to safe cruising along the coast of southwest England (presumably the same applies to the French coast, but we haven't sailed there with this pilot to hand), and a humorous tour guide to the facilities, culture and attractions onshore.
We kept the guide at our side during our summer cruise in the West Country. The sailing advice and practical tips covering sea and land made it compulsory reading. Selecting the best marina in Plymouth (given the current weather, but also the mooring cost and helpfulness of marina staff) and encouragement to explore the Tamar were two notable wins for the guide that more than justified its price. However it kept on delivering information that added massively to the enjoyment of the trip (despite challenging weather!)
Thoroughly recommended, this volume will be an essential part of our planning for channel cruises for years to come.