Having
completed all our preparations we weighed up the pros and cons.
and decided that it would be in our best and safest interests to
have the boat transported from Newport to Dover by road. The
Dover Marina staff were most helpful. The boat was unloaded by
crane and we were directed to a berth where we were to stay,
awaiting a favourable weather report. We unloaded all the
provisions and other accessories from the car, and I observed
with some alarm as our white (???) line slowly disappeared below
the surface. I was so concerned that I unloaded the two spare 5
gallon drums of red diesel that I had intended should help us
through France. We had been waiting for nearly a week when there
appeared to be a break in the weather. A force 2/3 /slight/ good,
was forecast for that afternoon. We conferred with the owner of
the boat permanently berthed next to us, and he re-assured us
that a crossing would be easy under those conditions, and urged
us to move off right away. We took another look at the sea from
the end of the jetty and it certainly appeared to be ok. so we
cast off from the berth and motored the short distance to the
visitors berth to await the opening of the lock gates. As I
approached the pontoon I tried to go astern but in my state of
anxiety I failed to engage gear. To my terrible embarrassment I
rammed the pontoon with a terrible crunch. I glanced sheepishly
up at where I expected the marina staff to be watching my
performance and to my relief saw that the pontoon was void of
frowning faces. I then turned to see if our ex neighbour had seen
my lack of seamanship only to see him very busy warping his
"other" boat into our now empty berth. On reflection I
suppose I should have read a hidden meaning into his actions
especially since we had become very aware during the previous
days that he would have preferred it if we had not been on that
particular berth.
When
the gates opened we were joined by two or three other boats on
the outer pontoon, waiting for clearance to leave harbour. I must
confess to feeling a little relieved to think that we would be
having company across the channel. We finally left the pontoon
and were led out by the port launch. We made our way to the
harbour entrance, where we immediately hit the turbulence across
the entrance. Babs was very disturbed but I was prepared since I
had read about this particular problem. " Its all right I
re-assured her its only the cross current". I had no major
fears about the crossing since I knew that the boat was capable
of sufficient speed to get us across in about an hour.( in fact
it took us about 2hrs. with the extra weight we were carrying).
All the way points were plotted on my dinghy DECCA and also on my
very sophisticated RS4500B. Things were going reasonably well and
we were keeping on course . I had heard about the mid channel
chop but I was unprepared for the rough time we were to have for
the next half an hour. Babs was frantic but managed to contain
her fear by closely watching our progress on the DECCA. we were
in no real danger but the boat did need some careful handling. We
had one close encounter with a large container ship, but not
really since we did cross paths about a half a mile distant. We
finally hit the last approach marker buoy dead on and turned to
port to make our approach to Calais. After about five minutes I
looked behind me and horrors !!! there about three hundred yards
off coming up fast was an enormous ferry. I turned sharply to
starboard out of his way, since there was another Ferry bearing
down on us on our port side . We followed on and called up Calais
to ask permission to enter port and was asked for my position. I
responded that I was " right behind the ferry" entry
was approved but as we entered the main entrance we were most
disappointed to see the lock gates being closed for the night.
I'me sure that the lock keeper must have heard my request to
enter port. " ONE WONDERS." We spent the night on one
of several swinging mooring and in the early hours came on deck
to await the first opening of the lock gates. There were three
other boats also waiting. But not those that we saw at Dover . We
had made the crossing alone.
When
the gates opened and even though we were well prepared, the other
three boats beat us to the gate, and quickly bagged the only
available spaces on the pontoons. So I elected not to compete and
chose to moor up against the harbour wall opposite the marina
pontoons. We spent the day in Calais and had a walk across to see
the very first lock that we had ever had to enter and we were not
impressed by the rusty capstans and old worn wire ropes that
appeared to be in some what of an organized tangle. We called at
the local office of the Vois Navigables de France to pay for and collect our Vignette. Then we paid
our "dues" at the Harbour Master's office (We didn't
want to be added to the list of British non payers posted on the
notice board ) and we were visited later in the day by a
uniformed gentleman who was most polite , but who insisted on
completing a large questionnaire. He declined our offer of a
beverage and bid us a polite good day. It was later that day that
we were witness to the most disgraceful case of bad manners
and bigotry, when a "well dressed Gentleman" at the
wheel of the most beautiful blue 50ft. yacht flying a defaced
Blue Ensign entered the harbour, following several other boats
all of whom were observing the speed limit whilst looking for a
berth. He powered through the whole lot of them causing all of
them to scatter to take evading action. He promptly turned hard
to starboard turning about and forced his way along side a berth
clearly marked "NO MOORING" He obviously felt that he
was someone special having special privileges, but in truth only
succeeded in creating a bad impression all round. I felt
embarrassed that I was British
I would mention at this
time that not once during our two trips through the Dutch, Belgium, or French canals nor in the Med has any-one ever
asked for my "I.C.C." although I would recommend any traveller to obtain one from the R.Y.A.
To continue please click
here for some observations on our preparations.
