Getting through the English Channel

[Blacklight]

Through many efforts going between England and France heading for the Atlantic, I have discovered quite to my and my crew's dismay that the area is FULL of mines and we usually end up strapping on our water wings very fast (The ones with little duckies on them. The duckies help us float better). Is there a mostly safe way to cross through that area where the chance of hitting a mine is less ? I hate having to constantly go all the way around north of Great Britain and then into the Atlantic. It takes forever to get to some mission areas that way and the trip eats up fuel like mad.