New Sailor

[EEZABLADE32]

Hi,
thinking of buying a small cabin cruiser and would like to cross channel. As a sheer novice is it easy to pick up sailing techniques. Would obviousy sail inland first.

[Buenchico]

You definitely need some proper training:
http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/motorcruising/Pages/default.aspx

[Milvus]

Crossing the channel is a remarkably dangerous task if you don't know what you are doing. Large freighters do not slow or alter course for beginners. Look for classes to give you inshore (coastal) and off-shore training, you also need navigation and radio training. However none of this is legally required

[Buenchico]

As an example, you need to be able to read a chart like this one:
http://www.channelswimming.com/Doverst.gif
Further, you need to have an understanding of the effects of the wind and tides upon how you steer. (You can't just head in the direction you want to go; you need to do some vector calculations to factor in the powers of nature). You also need to understand radio procedures so that, for example, you know the difference between 'Mayday', 'Mayday Relay' 'Pan Pan' and 'Pan Pan Medico', together with knowing when to call into harbour control stations and when to speak to the coastguard authorities (together, of course, with knowing how to determine the correct frequencies for each type of call).

[murraymints]

Channel crossing is for people who know what they are doing, stick to poodling up and down the coastline 'till you have had some instruction and experience..

[Zacs-Master]

Well, for a start a cabin cruiser is not a sailing boat, so.....

[EEZABLADE32]

Thx all for the great replies.