Sailing the French Coast & Channel Islands

Begin your holiday onboard Cherokee in St Malo in Northern Brittany.

From the old fortified town, we will probably sail to Granville, another beautiful town. The planning depends on the tide, the sea lock at St. Malo operates at high tide and Granville has a sill, so the harbour does not run dry. A nice puzzle, because we would also like to have the current with us. Otherwise, or the day after, we will sail to Iles des Chausey, the only French Channel island. It has no harbour, but if as long as it is not spring tide, we can anchor in a sheltered location and have a lovely walk. The small archipelago of Iles des Chausey consists of 52 small islands, but at low tide, there are 365. Characteristic and distinctive from the other Channel Islands are the beautiful white beaches, we might even be able to swim here.

We will probably sail to an anchorage around Jersey and the island of Guernsey and Sark are also on the programme. The plan is to spend a day at Guernsey in St. Peter Port for a nice long walk and perhaps visit a lively pub in the evening. We will anchor at the small island of Sark where there will also be time for a walk and off course tea and scones. An extra bonus are the brambles along the road. Another harbour to visit is Carteret on the coast of Normandy, for this port the tide has to be calculated very accurately, but this nice town with sand dunes is worth a visit. We end up in St. Helier on Jersey, where we have dinner at a delicious Pizzeria (the best in the world)!

The tidal difference between low and high water is enormous in this sailing area. Which is one of the charms, strong tidal currents and a great tidal differences of up to 12 metres at spring tide. “Not for the faint hearted”. Because of the huge tides, the landscape changes continuously, a beautiful sight with the numerous extraordinary rock formations.

All voyages for Cherokee

Cherokee

Guest berths: 8 Rig: Cutter

In 2008, Jouke Lemmer purchased Cherokee after spending years sailing with his father’s ship amongst others. Cherokee was built in 2000 by award-winning boat builders J & J Design and a year after buying her, Jouke refitted Cherokee radically, transforming her into a truly comfortable charter vessel, giving her a cutter rig and space for a generator so as to offer his passengers power and hot showers!

She is a fast, 16m vessel with a stunning teak deck and spacious cockpit, and she operates with two crew members (her skipper and the bosun/chef). Cherokee is exceptionally good at what she was built to do – pure sailing. Read more about what to expect with life onboard here.

Jouke sails his ship all over the northern hemisphere, leaving Cherokee’s home port of Rotterdam in May and sailing anywhere from the Hebrides and the Channel Islands, the Faroe Islands and Ireland or even down to the North coast of Spain before making the journey back to Holland in October. Join him and his wonderful ship for the adventure of a lifetime – think exhilarating sailing, bucket list destinations and top-notch hospitality.

Deck plan

It might rain

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• All bedding

What’s not included

• All travel to and from the boat
• Entrance fees
• Parking
• Alcohol

FAQ

• What COVID policies are in place for sailing with Cherokee?

  There are currently no Test & Sail policies in place for the 2022 season. Guests will just need to ensure they are following any international guidelines to travel to the boat.

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and soft/hot drinks) Alcohol is not included.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please let us know when making your booking.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What language is spoken on board?

  Dutch and English.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Cherokee has two twin berth cabins and two double berth cabins for guests.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  Cherokee has two toilet/shower rooms.

• Are bedding & towels provided?

  Yes

• Is there an age limit?

  No!

• Do I need sailing experience?

  Not at all.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes charging facilities are available when the generator is running.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  You can hire Sailing suits for £35 for the week.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

Travel Planning

From: St Malo, France

To: Jersey, Channel Islands

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.