The Shell Channel Pilot

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The channel cruiser's bible - don't leave port without it. - Rated
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.