APPROACHES TO St. PETER PORT
Because of strong tidal currents around the Channel Islands careful study of the Tidal Atlas is recommended. At spring tides high water is approximately 0800/2000 G.M.T. (8.9 range) and at Neaps 0100/1300 (6.6m), slack water is approximately half tide in the Little Russel.
Maximum tidal flow will be experienced at high and low water. Tidal rates vary from 5.25 knots during Springs and 2.25 during Neaps.
THE BIG RUSSEL is 2 miles wide and needs no transits. Its sides are clearly marked. At night use the white sector of Noir Pute Light House as far as the Lower Heads Buoy and then Northward up the Little Russel to St. Peter Port.
RADIO NAVIGATIONAL AIDS
There are DF beacons at Guernsey Airport and Castle Breakwater Light House. Platte Fougere is equipped with Racon and Casquets light house has a Racon T. Weather forecasts from Jersey Radio are broadcast on Channels 25 & 82 and 1726 Khz at 0645, 1245, 1845 and 2245 G.M.T. St. Peter Port Radio listens out on Channels 16, 20 and 62 (link calls only) with Port Control on Channel 12 for commercial traffic only. Visiting yachts will be met by Port Control dorys in the harbour south fairway and can also call on Channels 37 or 80 during office hours (8.30- 13.00 & 14.00- 17.00 Mon - Fri only). Beaucette Marina listens out on Channel 16 and Channel M.
Approaching St Peter Port, be it from the north or the south, is a relatively straightforward process with plenty of day and night-time marks and reasonable protection provided by the off-lying islands.
From the north
From the north, the best route is through the Little Russel. Your first (starboard hand) mark is the Platte Fougère Lighthouse, one mile off Guernsey's north-east tip. Depending on your course and the visibility, either line up the metal tower on Roustel with the squat flat Bréhon Tower (198°) or line up Bréhon with the light on St Martin's Point (208°), some two miles south of St Peter Port.
Once the leading light at the end of St Peter Port's breakwater comes into line with the light on Belvedere, a white tower on the cliff behind Castle Cornet, come onto 220° for a final approach that will leave both Roustel and Bréhon to port and Platte to starboard.
In poor visibility use the Big Russel, which runs between Herm and Sark. It is two miles wide and needs no transits as its sides are clearly marked. At night use the white sector of Noire Pute Lighthouse as far as the Lower Heads Buoy and then turn north-west up the Little Russel to St Peter Port.
From the west
From the west, Guernsey is best approached south about, giving Les Hanois Lighthouse a wide berth before proceeding along the south coast (keeping more than a mile offshore) and rounding for St Martin's Point, keeping Bréhon open to the east to avoid the rocks south of St Martin's Point.
