Recent content by Ali-alshira

We do as others have said. Loo paper - we have dealt with various blockages (not fun) and now have a bag for used paper (we use dog poo bags). Most northern European countries have strict holding tank rules and no discharge within a few miles offland. So far, we have found virtually no working...

It used to be a good place to be. Friendly, helpful staff, clean, but a bit basic, facilities. Then Biff retired and it was bought by a certain local pub owner. A lot of the regulars ( including us) left. I don't know how it is doing now. Yes, you will only stay afloat at certain positions on...

We sailed past yesterday afternoon, and the crane was just extracting the last pile from the Crossrail pier. Later, when we were anchored in the Roach, we saw the tug and crane heading out to sea along the Crouch. Then when we sailed past this morning, it was hard to work out where that big quay...

Tomohawk the battle of Maldon certainly took place. There is a Saxon poem about it, of which a long fragment still exists - wikipedia will give you a dcent translation. It probably was on a different site than the one claimed by English Heritage, which is by the causeway from Northey island...

Late August in the Netherlands is a great time, once the Dutch schools have gone back, then most of the Dutch boats are not clogging up the locks etc. The Dutch schools have staggered holidays, so it can be hard to work out when the summer holidays finish. However, there is one weekend that it's...

I wrote to Fife council about Anstruther mooring fees, and got a very nice reply saying they were reviewing the fees for next year, and were also considing renovating the facilities. It would be good to know if anything changes! More comments about east coast passages... It is not possible to...

We usually time it to get to the Spitway at or near LW, so you get favourable tide in both rivers. It's more important to get the flood in the Crouch, though, because it's a longer slog if you have to stem the tide, so your timing should be fine. The Spitway channel is very wide and flat, so...

Last year, in Middelfart in Denmark, we stumbled on a bizarre ceremony, where they commemorate the porpoise hunting which took place up to about a hundred years ago. Porpoises are still quite common there, but they used to be hunted for their oil. They were herded, using lots of small boats...

We have also seen porpoises in the Blackwater and Colne quite often, but only once in the Crouch. We saw dolphins when crossing the North Sea just once (out of 30-odd crossings) somewhere off Lowestoft. Of course, on our still-current Scottish trip this year, we saw dolphins quite frequently...

Yes, i have been using that site a lot, but obviously forgot to check before going into Anstruther. I have just sent a letter to the guy in Fife council who sets the charges. It's not just that they charge a huge initial day's fee, but the facilities are the worst we have had on this trip (or...

We sailed up from the Crouch to the Caledonian Canal, and Scottish West coast, in May and are now on our way back. We had a similar aim to you, but have had to include some longer days, as others have said. On the way up, we stopped at Walton backwaters, Lowestoft, Wells, anchored behind Spurn...

Colin Stracey at premier Sailing based at North Fambridge. He's excellent and a really nice guy too. Premiersailing.co.uk

We haven't been there for a while, but I remember fingers and alongside, and the convention is just to go on and find yourself a berth. If you go to DenHelder, then you are often greeted by a Harbourmaster who will help you with lines, so that's a good option too. IJMuiden has fingers or...

We reckon on about 24 hours plus or minus a bit from Shotley to Ijmuiden. Look out for the new windfarms, De Ruyter gas platform and the TSS off IJmuiden. All are easy, but bear in mind that the tide may take you closer to one of them than you intended! Sometimes you hear other yachts (or even...

The most convenient charts are the NV ones, which cover The North Sea coast in several A3 booklets. (We have a mixture of charts from several sources which either overlap,or miss small but important areas between them!) There is a Brian Navin pilot boat that covers Denmark and Germany, and...