Recent content by AliM

We came back through that lock yesterday. It is free for this year, only, probably. They say they are putting up payment meters for next year. Yachts are still using the big ship lock, but there is some action on mending the old, smaller one, although the Germans we spoke to reckoned that they...

We are the far side of Denmark, having left the Crouch just over a month ago. The winds have been pretty consistently northeast ever since we left - the way we want to go, of course. But it has generally been very warm and sunny. This evening, for example, we have a blue sky, a temperature of...

The matting is better than I remember it from last year - then there was largely bare, wet, slippery, splintered wood platforms. This time the matting was largely present and thick rubber doormat style. They had some rubber edging on some of the platforms too, so that (it is not possible to rig...

It has water-level floating platforms with non-slip matting. You moor up to rings in the platform - rather widely spaced, or you can loop your lines around the chains which tether the platforms. You do need to get off the boat, though, and it's a long way down! I think there are bollards in the...

Well, I will let you know what happens when we come back in August. It would be nice to know if they are intending to repair the old, smaller lock. To give you an idea of the size of the ship lock - before we came through there were four 400ft ships in the one lock. It really isn't set up for...

It might interest anyone coming this way that they seem to have stopped charging yachts for the Kiel Canal. There was a notice in German and English on the waiting pontoon for the Holtenau lock (which is where you pay) to tell you to stick with your boat and not climb any ladders, and that it...

We had copies of the Dutch ones that we picked up last year, but the ones handed out in IJMuiden this year were different - a bit more info required. We just filled in the new one and posted it into the box, as usual . When we have been stopped the Dutch and German police/customs seem so...

There's a series of booklets, stocked in all the chandleries, which give maps and clearances for all the waterways in their region, bridge opening times, facilities at marinas - everything you need to know in a form you can easily understand (although in Dutch). We found it much easier to use...

Yes, we have anchored there a couple of times this season. The depths seemed to be the same as ever. Anchor in the middle a cable or two past the end of the moorings, or further in, and you should be fine. There is still some Pyefleet mud on our anchor, although we are now in Vlieland and have...

We will be there for a lift out on Tuesday, and for about 2 weeks to get jobs done. Come and say hello - any excuse for a break will be welcomed! Look for Alshira - a 31ft deck saloon sitting on her twin keels.

We walked the majority of the towpath along your proposed dinghy trip on Thursday. There are new lock gates on several of the locks, all of which seemed to be in action except Papermill, which is expected to be fully renovated by Easter weekend. There was no weed, (but you would not expect it...

Sorry, it does not look as if we can make it - our visitors won't be here in time.

You can't hide with AIS, can you! We sailed up to Pyefleet on Friday, back down to Yokesfleet yesterday, and back to Bridgemarsh today, anchoring each night The wind was cold, but we had lots of clothes on, and the boat heater deigned to work, keeping us very warm at anchor. It was lovely...

Possibly. We'llhave Gordon's daughter, partner and twin 7 year old boys staying. We need to think about possibilities.

Boz, We will be in N Fambridge for a lift out in the first two weeks of April. Perhaps we can meet you then. Ali