SAILING THE SHIPPING FORECAST

Celebrating 100 years of the BBC Shipping Forecast, Jane Russell takes us on a series of coastal cruises through the forecast sea areas, exploring some of the special places on offer in each of them

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PLYMOUTH

Westwards from Berry Head, and pointing its toes out into the Atlantic, the Plymouth sea area stretches beyond Land’s End almost to the Isles of Scilly. It extends southwards to Tregastel and along the North Brittany coast to just south of l’Aber Ildut, continuing westwards offshore to well beyond Ouessant. These coastlines are first choice summer holiday destinations for countless crews. Most of the big names in West Country sailing locations are within the area; Dartmouth, Salcombe, the River Yealm, Fowey, the River Fal and Helford, as well as Plymouth itself. On the French coast, Morlaix and l’Aber Wrac’h have long been favourite havens amidst the rocks and shoals of this more challenging section of coastline.

These are all places where the temptation to linger may prove greater than the urge to move on, which can be a very good thing when the prevailing westerlies strengthen and the westerly swell rolls in. In those conditions, these are exposed, rocky, unforgiving coastlines and being tucked away up a cosy river holds considerable appeal.

On the English coast, tides run more strongly around the headlands, sometimes creating overfalls, with potentially dangerous races off the Lizard and Start Point. The tidal flows into and out of the rivers can also be accelerated at narrow pinch points. Tides also run strongly along the French coast where squeezed into channels or over shallows.

Passages should take account of the Land’s End and Ouessant TSSs and the shipping heading between them and the Casquets TSS further up Channel. N or NE 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Good.