The Channel Islands
A small archipelago of seven inhabited British dependency Islands located in the English Channel off the Normandy coast of France, the Channel Islands are not only steeped in history, they also offer fantastic sailing grounds and beautiful sightseeing. With a unique feel that effectively blends both British and French cultures, stepping ashore on the Channel Islands often feels as though you’re a thousand miles from home!
Recommended charter duration – 7 days+
From Mylor, we usually set sail due east on day one, spending the first night in or around Plymouth, or perhaps Salcombe to enable a more southerly route to the islands, often with St. Peter Port in Guernsey being our first landing point. The advantage of taking this initial route east is to significantly reduce the distance required to travel across the English Channel and, in the mid-summer months, allows for a journey that is predominantly completed during daylight hours, cutting through the busy shipping traffic at an effective angle. Care will need to be taken to time the strong tidal streams appropriately but once inside St. Peter Port harbour, guests will immediately see the charm of the island and its friendly residents. Guernsey offers some fantastic sight-seeing but for those keen to venture a little further, Sark, Alderney and Herm offer an interesting experience with some fantastic country walks with a relaxed pace of life. Jersey is the largest and most populated of the islands with a bustling capital, St Helier and range of quality marinas to choose from.
For those wanting to sail to the Channel Islands but not wanting to miss out on some time in France, the islands represent an ideal opportunity to combine a manageable continuation of their holiday to Normandy, with Tréguier and Lézardrieux being popular towns to land for an extended trip abroad.
