A Personal Guide to The Ports of the Channel
Nicholas Hill
St Peter Port, Guernsey
Peter Port is an attractive town in itself, if a little spoiled by English 'holidaymakers'. The harbour is almost always full in the summer, although people visitors will be squeezed in somewhere - but you will probably find yourself in the middle of quite a large raft. It is also a very useful jumping off point for the French coast and Brittany.
The most important part of your passage plan must be the state of tide on arrival. Currents flow very strongly, and getting it wrong may cost you hours.
It is certainly possible to go from the Needles or Poole in one hop, but it will take you three tides - that is, eighteen hours. Leave at high water, and take the ebb out past the Needles. Aim to go down the Race - i.e., between Alderney and Cap de la Hague. You will encounter the flood tide mid Channel, and with reasonable boat speed (5 knots+) should arrive off Cap de la Hague at high water. Then take the ebb down to Guernsey.
finding it
The harbour is tucked behind the islands of Herm and Jerthou.
From the north, there are two channels, the Little Russel and Big Russel. Both are well marked. The Little Russel takes you straight there; if you use the Big Russel, you have to go round the south of Jerthou. There are leadings lights for the Little Russel.
As you come down from Cap de la Hague or Alderney, you see Herm before you see Guernsey itself.
If you use the Little Russell, beware of cross curents near the top. If you use the Big Russel, you need to go past Herm and Jerthou. There is a S Cardinal mark below the islands, but you can turn towards PeterPort before this.
From the south or east, you merely head for St Martin's point on the SE tip of the island.
Coming from the west, you will see Les Hanois light. You can go either side of the island - the most important consideration is again the tide.
getting in
The breakwater at the harbour entrance has a very obvious lighthouse, but beware of cross currents which may set you off course. Use your GPS or pick a transit to avoid being offset.
Ferries can suddenly appear in the harbour entrance.
hazards
Having dodged the rocks (although the area is well marked), beware the ferries and commercial traffic using the harbour. The High Speed catamarans appear to come from nowhere if you are not looking behind you.
The outer harbour is full of moorings. Small red and green bouys guide you to the waiting pontoon for the inner harbour, or to the pontoons outside.
berthing
The pontoons in the outer harbour have water but no electricity; a harbour taxi can take you ashore if you haven't a dinghy with you. The inner harbour is tidal, and has a cill. There are lights to show when there is sufficient water, plus a tide gauge. In high season there will be harbourmaster dories to regulate traffic in and out, and they will often guide you to a berth. The inner harbour has all the facilities, but can be noisy and a sun trap. Rafting is de rigeur in either. There are, however, some finger pontoons for smaller boats (up to about 35') in the inner harbour.
facilities
Water on all pontoons, electricity in the inner harbour. Good ablutions. Plenty of chandlers. Fuel in the outer harbour (there are often several boats milling around the fuel berth at any one time). Good shopping ashore.
charts and waypoints
Chart 2669: The Channel Isles and Adjacent Coast of France
Chart 3654: Guernsey, Herm and Sark
Google Earth
In the Little Russell: a view of Herm with Jerthou behind.
Move your mouse over the captions below to see the photograph in question
... the fuelling pontoon .. .. the waiting pontoon .. .. the sill at low water ...
All photographs copyright CNH/COH. Please ask if you wish to use them and please acknowledge the source.