Conditions in the English Channel

[ncp]

A friend is swimming tonight across; I'm following progress on marinetraffic.com with her escort boat. It's about 4.8km offshore and heading the correct direction. She was supposed to leave a 3AM local time.

Anyone know what the conditions are like? Water temp? Winds?

Thanks!
(or point me towards a good website)

[Smithyyy]

Well this weather station on the shore near Dover says nice light wind from the NNW so pushing her gently on her way in relatively flat water (breeze being offshore) for the first part at least (assuming she's going from UK to France?)

Capel Cliffs Nr Dover, Kent weather

Out at sea, the Sandettie light vessel near the Dover Straits

Met Office: Latest marine observations Sandettie table

has more wind at 15 knots but still a Northerly. Sea temp 17.5 degrees C, waves 0.3m (59 degrees F and one foot if it helps!)

Forecast is for the wind to stay northerly and ease slightly as the day goes on

Good luck to her!

[ncp]

Thanks

Tracking of her escort boat "Masterpiece". Conditions sound favorable!

[Daniel]

Looking out of the window not bad conditions for a crossing

[willk]

There appear to be at least four support vessels in the same area mid channel (icons in pink) doing around 1-2kts. Is this how swim/novelty crossings are managed - send them off together? I was wondering, as it's obviously a very busy stretch of water for heavy shipping, with strict traffic regs. Anyone care to explain how the whole permission/management thing works?

NCP - I hope your friend is successful

[ncp]

This was the last location I saw:




From what I've heard, she's in. I haven't seen pictures yet!

What's up with her line? Is that all due to currents and wind? (She started at 3A local time)

[Maximus]

And The Best of British to Her!

[tonto]

Originally Posted by ncp

This was the last location I saw:

Attachment 84764


From what I've heard, she's in. I haven't seen pictures yet!

What's up with her line? Is that all due to currents and wind? (She started at 3A local time)

The current just after she started looks to have taken her to the North east, and then to SW later in the day.
I have not done the swim, but would guess they are pretty well planned with the tides, so that the resultant track looks similar to that.
The shortest distance would be by swimiing heading in a direction of about 135, and letting the tidal current take you where it wants, as it can be up to 5 knots at times, although I suspect not today.
No point in trying to swim against it, you just end up swimming a longer distance.

[ncp]

So, always point towards shore and don't worry about getting pushed NE or SW?

[tonto]

Originally Posted by ncp

So, always point towards shore and don't worry about getting pushed NE or SW?

Yep, thats it, keep the same direction towards the opposite side, and you will get there as swiming the shortest distance forwards.

[martini]

Originally Posted by ncp

So, always point towards shore and don't worry about getting pushed NE or SW?

Depends, if you're going to encounter equal amounts of both tides they will cancel each other out. Basic passage planning all covered in the day skipper!

Just got home from guarding a swimmer from Guernsey to Jersey, failed to finish unfortunately. Trying to calculate the best heading allowing for tides kept me busy for most of the night! (Started at 1am)