Recent content by Gargleblaster

'There is no religion when a man (person) is hungry for a good curry'. Rudyard Kipling

I have only checked in or out at Den Helder. I find it really easy. Just inform the Marina Staff and they arrange for the Douanes to visit you and complete all the paperwoork. I have then sailed through Germany and Denmark without further checking. I was riding out a gale at Lauwersoog once and...

Sounds very Bill Tilman. I am currently reading Libby Purvis's 'Adventures under Sail' which is an accumulation of Bill's sailing writings rather than his mountain climbing.

New video by John Langrick The Black Shed at Paglesham was weakened by Isha and destroyed by Jocelyn. It is believed that many of the timbers came from HMS Beagle when she was broken up at Paglesham after having be employed by HM Customs at the Branklet to stop smugglers coming through the...

It could have been a more important battle if the Duke of York had followed through when the Dutch Admiral van Wassenaer Obdam was killed and the rest of the Dutch fleet withdrew from the battle. If they had destroyed more ships there may have been no 3rd Dutch war. It was also a fairly...

As tillergirl is mentioning the forum is slow. I thought a bit of historical trivia might be in order. The Battle of Lowestoft has been mentioned as the least important and least remembered of all naval battles. I wonder how many forum members would be able to name who was fighting the Royal...

There is a bit of a hole just to the west of the Reculver Towers. I have often anchored there in a SW for the night to have a sleep. thought about going into Herne Bay, but know the Reculver Towers offer a peaceful night.

I went through there in 2015 from the Baltic side to Thyboron. Unfortunately it is quite shallow in places and my draft being 1.8 metres made the entrance to some places impossible. One marina I couldn't enter as I was stuck at the entrance and had to reverse out. Was made very welcome at the...

Just to add to Havengore information. The Roach Sailing Association has done some work on the buoys at the Broomway. The information can be found in their September 2023 newletter/ It is the last article. http://www.roachriver.org.uk/rsa/newsletter/2023_sep.pdf

Looking at the ECR 1956 1st edition provided by Jan Harber, some years ago I tried to anchor at Stone heaps one windy night for a sleep after crossing the North Sea single handed. The little anchor symbol was on my then GArmin chartplotter. I was dragging my anchor within 5 minutes, fortunately...

Have you thought about traditional sails? The above ia a Melanesian Laketoi rather than a Polynesian Proa but very similar. I was fortuante enough to sail on a Laketoi near Kerema in Papua New Guinea many years ago.

There seem to be a lot of Horse Sands on the East Coast. I have spent an unpleasant night on the one in the Swale. And easily so far avoided the one in the Crouch. As I have avoided the one in the Deben on the two occassions I have managed the entrance - always seem to have an offshore wind.

I'd agree with johnalison. The bit where you really want the tide with you is South Foreland to Dungeness and if possible from North Foreland to Dungeness. Tide is strong also at Beachy Head and you can either go further south to reduce it. but if you go close in and the tide is adverse it is...

I met a big motorboat from West Mersea last year in borkum who reported they used 16 litres an hour crossing the North Sea. I shuddered when I use about 2 litres an hour in my rival and 1 litre an hour in my Invicta, and of course I was driven across the North Sea by a strong SW wind. But on...

I also anchor in the Downs for a sleep single handed on passage. I have had many comfortable nights just north of Deal Pier just opposite the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. I also anchor north of Dungeness about half a mile to a mile in. If there is a NE blowing I anchor just to the south of Rye...