SHTF while you're on holiday

[Mortblanc]

https://books.google.com/books?id=GJ-Lts...ft&f=false

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I was speaking in jest about the swimming. but it has been done by those young and old.

And if you have a good canoe it only takes 3 hours.

[bigpaul]

(6 August 2015, 22:39)Steve Wrote: There are thousands of boats in coastal harbours that would have no problem at all crossing the channel. If you could get hold of a few gallons of diesel and a compass you'd be in with a good chance.

Remember, small boats made the crossing loaded with soldiers and under attack from the Luftwaffe.

there wasn't the amount and SIZE of shipping then there is now, most of these large tankers and container ships wont even see a small boat in their path and go straight over the top of it.

[Tipi]

The Strait of Dover is the busiest shipping lane in the world and is under full radar surveillance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...rvice-cnis

[Mortblanc]

It is right now.

Not so much SHTF or you could just hop a freight or ferry, making the scenario needless.

[bigpaul]

or do what an illegal did, just walk through the tunnel

[Steve]

(7 August 2015, 13:14)bigpaul Wrote:

(6 August 2015, 22:39)Steve Wrote: There are thousands of boats in coastal harbours that would have no problem at all crossing the channel. If you could get hold of a few gallons of diesel and a compass you'd be in with a good chance.

Remember, small boats made the crossing loaded with soldiers and under attack from the Luftwaffe.

there wasn't the amount and SIZE of shipping then there is now, most of these large tankers and container ships wont even see a small boat in their path and go straight over the top of it.

But you can see them, it's not difficult to stop or turn a small yacht, and even if you couldn't the chances of being hit are small. It's the channel, not the M25.

[Mortblanc]

This is incredibly interesting.

Three pages of posts, 26 in total, with only two people offering any positive ideas or considerations and the rest screaming "that won't work!".

Even though the channel crossing is accomplished by small craft daily.

The formerly referenced link, which was intended to scare us silly I suppose, even stated that vessels under 20 tons, or something like that, did not even need to check in with the authorities.

And if one were attempting to make the crossing to reach home during a SHTF situation, if they were still working the radar, was picked up on radar and a boat sent out to investigate what are they going to do, send you back to France?

[Scythe13]

Swimming the channel is impossible! Here's evidence:

http://cspf.co.uk/swim-the-channel

http://www.channelswimmingassociation.com

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/...sh-channel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_su...l_swimmers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11...annel.html

But let's be honest, with it being that under scrutiny, the obvious choice would be to use the channel to get within sight go the UK, then use a slight detour. In total fairness, I'd steal a kayak or canoe, cross as quickly as possible, on a warm day, while the sea was calm. Once within eye sight of the UK, I'd go more northerly towards London. I'd then opt to stay low profile, or I'd leave the boat and swim the rest of the distance if need be, but that's a last choice. Would be much better to kayak as far up the Thames as possible. Well, at least to the flood gates. When I was there, I would hop to the embassy and seek asylum. At the very least I'd be put up in a house, given £35 a week food, and have English lessons, with the option to become a student and be well educated and ready to build a career.

Simple as that. Steal a kayak, get a life vest, just in case, and be ready to swim.

[Mortblanc]

We are dealing with a risk management situation when it all comes down to it.

Not being a strong swimmer I would not attempt to swim the channel, but if I needed to get across I am sure I could find a boat suitable for the effort.

Reminds me of a famous movie called Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. There was a scene where a posse, intent on hanging them, was hot on their trail and had them cornered on a high cliff over a river. Their only choice was to jump off the cliff several hundred feet into the river below.

Robert Redford announced that he would not jump because he could not swim. Paul Newman replied; "Can't swim?? Hell, the fall is going to kill you!"

You are stuck on foreign shores where you already claim you can not survive due to cultural differences, but you refuse to get in a rowboat and head home for fear of the water!

You are going to die anyway, get in the boat!

[Steve]

Attempting to swim the Channel without a support vessel would be suicide, even if you're fit enough how are you going to navigate ?

A small yacht, say 20ft upwards, would be comfortable and safe. In desperate times a GRP dinghy of around 14ft will do the trip, especially if fitted with an outboard motor. If you can find a yacht in the 35ft range it will likely have an inboard diesel, navigation gear, fridge and cooker. You can happily live on one that size, I know people who do, in fact this would be my favoured BOL as there are many natural harbours around here that can only be reached by boat because of the surrounding cliffs.