1st N Sea Crossing

[jonathansinclair@me.com]

I am contemplating a first crossing to Oostende from Harwich with my wife this coming Sunday for the first time. We have done very little sailing at night and would like to arrive during daylight hours if possible. We are thinking about leaving Harwich at HW -2 and aim to arrive at HW at Oostende. I see that Brian Navin's North Sea Passage Pilot recommends arriving at Oostende -6. My plan B would be to sail to Ramsgate / overnight there and leave the next morning for Dunkerque instead in order to avoid the night sail.

Any comments or advice would be highly appreciated. (Is plan B in fact much more difficult for a first time N Sea crossing)?

Rgs

 

[johnalison]

It may depend on what speed you intend to go at. We generally do 6kn and can do the trip from Blankenberg in 12-13 hours and Ostend would be about the same. If I were keen to avoid a night sail I might leave Harwich at 5-6 am and would be unlucky to arrive in the dark.

Straight to Ostend should be much easier than via Ramsgate. It is many years since I went to Ostend but as far as I remember the offshore banks are not much of a problem in moderate weather. Alternatively, go for the night sail. It can be idyllic.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Hi Rgs.

I think we all have our own ideas on crossings, depending on experience/boat/no. of crew members etc.

Being on my own or lightly crewed, I leave Harwich at about 4.am. I would rather have the 'darkness' in the end I know. I go to bed about 10pm and get five or six hours kip.

There is every chance you will reach the other side by late evening in reasonable light. You can still enjoy a great evening the other side celebrating your achievement.

You can leave at any time really because it is mostly cross tide.

Work out the tidal offsets for about 5 tides to be on the safe side.

Don't be afraid to turn back if you don't like the conditions. There will always be another time.

Best of luck.

 

[wingdiver]

I expect Sailorman will be along soon - he is our guru for Ostende

 

[jonathansinclair@me.com]

Many thanks for the advice! BTW my boat is a beneteau oceanis 31 and I was counting on a conservative 5kt. I expect that we could do 5.5kt if we have decent wind.

 

[FullCircle]

I use/have used Navin's passage pilot, and it works well.
As others have said leaving Harwich at around 4am will pretty much guarantee a daytime arrival at this time of year.
HW -2 at Harwich this weekend is 0135 though?


Sun 21 Aug
HW LW HW LW
03:35 09:14 16:03 21:46
3.4 m 1.0 m 3.3 m 1.0 m

 

[sailorman]

Many thanks for the advice! BTW my boat is a beneteau oceanis 31 and I was counting on a conservative 5kt. I expect that we could do 5.5kt if we have decent wind.

As the trip is cross tide (Harwich > Oostende ) the departure time is of your preference, clear LSH then compass course into Oostende,having done the offset for tidal flow ( dont do a waypoint & fight the tide in both directions ).
aim to be a tad up wind & tide, get it wrong & its a slog but easy to get right )
as its a first trip the weather is obviously of the greatest importance & only 2 up, there is little point in going on Sunday if the weather window is small. No point in off putting the crew ( ).
when we had a 26 footer we averaged 14 hrs from the Deben the Co 32 average was 12 hrs these days it can be 10hrs but more often 11 hrs.
if you depart Landguard By. the distance is sub 73 N mls if you dont fight the tide.
we have never done it via Ramsgit
There is nothing like making the entrance for the very first time, make sure you have plenty of warps, some long.
Go for it & enjoy

 

[jonathansinclair@me.com]

Many thanks for this. As you point out it is all going to be weather dependent - we have the following week off as a holiday so hopefully we will manage the crossing at some point. BTW in my passage plan I did the dogleg that is recommended south of LSH to WP NS 46 in the latest edition of Imray chart C30. Would be interested to know your view on that as it approximately 4Nm.....

Best Regards

 

[Stork_III]

Many thanks for this. As you point out it is all going to be weather dependent - we have the following week off as a holiday so hopefully we will manage the crossing at some point. BTW in my passage plan I did the dogleg that is recommended south of LSH to WP NS 46 in the latest edition of Imray chart C30. Would be interested to know your view on that as it approximately 4Nm.....

Best Regards

Don't bother with the dogleg, nobody else does.

 

[FullCircle]

Don't bother with the dogleg, nobody else does.

True

 

[sailorman]

Don't bother with the dogleg, nobody else does.

LSH ( compass course ) straight between the pier heads then open a Bier

 

[jonathansinclair@me.com]

You make it sound so simple.....

 

[sailorman]

You make it sound so simple.....

it is if the weather is settled

 

[Otter]

Is it quite simple as you've said. It's a broom handle course - you lay the chart out, draw a straight line between Harwich and Ostende. Steer that compass course and in the 12 hours or so the tide will take you in a graceful curve one way, then the other. If heading to windward an allowance for leeway will be needed but I make that as I go along. The one proviso is to compute the rough arrival time and aim uptide a bit. I forgot that last time and was fighting the tide toward the Deben for the last 2 hours which spoiled a beautiful end to a trip.

 

[sailorman]

Is it quite simple as you've said. It's a broom handle course - you lay the chart out, draw a straight line between Harwich and Ostende. Steer that compass course and in the 12 hours or so the tide will take you in a graceful curve one way, then the other. If heading to windward an allowance for leeway will be needed but I make that as I go along. The one proviso is to compute the rough arrival time and aim uptide a bit. I forgot that last time and was fighting the tide toward the Deben for the last 2 hours which spoiled a beautiful end to a trip.

one of out best trips was to hoist the spinnaker on clearing the Pr Hd & take it down just as we picked up the Ramsholt mooring

 

[PeterGibbs]

Many thanks for this. As you point out it is all going to be weather dependent - we have the following week off as a holiday so hopefully we will manage the crossing at some point. BTW in my passage plan I did the dogleg that is recommended south of LSH to WP NS 46 in the latest edition of Imray chart C30. Would be interested to know your view on that as it approximately 4Nm.....

Best Regards

Harwich to Ramsgate is 7 hrs, and on to Ostende is another (rather boring) 8-9. Direct is 12-13 hrs, so no gain there. Ostende is a straight forward run, just 70 m on 134 deg from Languard.

Agree with those who suggest you head out at dawn, cross tide, run S of the Cork and clear N of the banks, cut straight across the southern approach to the Harwich (Sunk) gyratory and head direct for Ostende. If you feel iffy about the conditions make the V2 decision as you near the LSH. You can divert to Ramsgate then in anything strongish with N in it, to make the most of the day. If you press on correct for tide as you approach the Belgian coast.

The Ostende entrance has been rebuilt, as you may know, so drive in until the channel buoys appear between the new moles. You will see the huge Europa tower from 15+m to sea to comfort you in your navigation! Have a jolly raftup to the immediate Stbd in the North Sea Basin with attendant town noise, or go 1m further in to the Royal Belgian Club marina where you'll get a pontoon (most likely) and a nice reception in the clubhouse. Tripping back to town is either a short walk, right out of the gate, or a short ride on the tram to the central station from just left outside the clubhouse.

Bon Voyage!

PWG

 

[sailorman]

Harwich to Ramsgate is 7 hrs, and on to Ostende is another (rather boring) 8-9. Direct is 12-13 hrs, so no gain there. Ostende is a straight forward run, just 70 m on 134 deg from Languard.

Agree with those who suggest you head out at dawn, cross tide, run S of the Cork and clear N of the banks, cut straight across the southern approach to the Harwich (Sunk) gyratory and head direct for Ostende. If you feel iffy about the conditions make the V2 decision as you near the LHS. You can divert to Ramsgate then in anything strongish with N in it, to make the most of the day. If you press on correct for tide as you approach the Belgian coast.

The Ostende entrance has been rebuilt, as you may know, so drive in until the channel buoys appear between the new moles. You will see the huge Europa tower from 15+m to sea to comfort you in your navigation! Have a jolly raftup to the immediate Stbd in the North Sea Basin with attendant town noise, or go 1m further in to the Royal Belgian Club marina where you'll get a pontoon (most likely) and a nice reception in the clubhouse. Tripping back to town is either a short walk, right out of the gate, or a short ride on the tram to the central station from just left outside the clubhouse.

Bon Voyage!

PWG

http://www.infometeo.be/oostende/campagemega.php

 

[Marmalade]

What sailorman says. Long Sand Head then roughly 125 degrees. no dog legs, turns, runs along coast or whatnot. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Say hello to Robert from us all