Advice For Trip To Oostende

[Emjaytoo]

We are planning a trip next week, down the Dutch/Belgian coast to Oostende, staying over for a couple of nights in the RYCO marina.

Any advice on entering/leaving the harbour, the marina and things to see in Oostende would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sailorman]

RNSYC much better for atmos & the town/shops
no probs entering follow the Int signal lights, Ch 9 for Port Control.
visit the Mercator Ship, the Gardens just to the west of the mercator also worth a look there is a Pavilian where food / drinks can be bought. go up the Appletize Bldg ( tall Tr ) the view is good if viz is clear

 

[CPD]

Maybe post on the East Coast Forum too ?

 

[Wunja]

If you are approaching the entrance to RNSYC and hear a loud fog horn; there is a kamikaze fishing boat coming out - they aren't too fused about following the signals!

 

[kingfisher]

Moules frites at the Kombuis, multiplex cinema just outside town, on the tramline (Kinepolis), in case weather is totaly crap.

As said, watch the harbour lights. Locking through takes time on arrival and departure. Don't bother with the first (tidal) port (montgomerydock): crappy small fingers (and I mean small), lots of wash from ferries. So do lock through. If arriving late with lock closed, moor at the holding pontoon close to the Mercator lock. Again, do not moor in the Montgomerydock marina (Nort Sea Yacht Club)!

Another option is to go all the way to the fishermans dock at the end of the voorhaven, where you will find the RYCO (Royal Yacht club Ostende). Good: no locks & cheap. Bad: 10 min walk from centre. Good: away from centre, so calm.
http://www.ryco.be/new/


Toilets in Mercator dock are crap. Clean though, but shared with the general public. So tourist families using the toilet and you standing there with shower gear feels weird.

 

[sailorman]

Take no notice
The Mongomery Dock Is the Biz.
fingers are so short there arnt any /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[samwise]

I seem to recall that there was some kind of time schedule for the Mercator toilets and showers which meant that yotties had first go up to a certain time, after which the public could join in.

Our first Ostende experience was to arrive at Mercator just as a week long rock festival was nearing its final crescendo, culminating in the man on the piano setting fire to his instrument ( the piano!). I hit the frites stall with a 200 Euro note to pay for about 10 Euros worth of chips ( they stumped up the change without a murmur). However as we had taken 24 hours on the passage from Levington due to a cock up on the tides we were so cream crackered that, stuffed with fine frites, we slept right through the rock and roll.

Ostende also has that amazing toyshop that fascinated our kids with its double display of cuddly toys on one side and a fearsome collection of deadly weapons ( guns, crossbows etc) on the other. Great place

 

[sailorman]

how can you "cock-up" the tides /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Long Sand Hd then 125 deg Bingo

 

[kalessin]

Sailorman, since you ask, we ended up at Oost Dyck trying to make progress into a spring tide and a NE F5. It was our first-ever N Sea crossing.

i notice your route goes right through the middle of the Sunk precautionary area. Is that still a good idea?