advice on northern french/belgian ports

[lilianroyle]

We're planning to cross over (this weekend) to France from Ramsgate and although we have crossed many times via calais and gone south this time we are going north and I was wondering about the relative merits of Dunkirk/Neuwport/Ostend (and maybe Gravelines). The pilot I have seems to suggest Gravelines has no visitors berths, is this true? Dunkirk looks a bit threatening in terms of size. Dunkirk is probably the most convienient. Is it straightforward to find a berth? any advice about these ports welcome.
many thanks

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Anywhere away from Ramsgate has got to be better.

Have only sailed to Ostende, with young Morgana of this forum, and found it quite straightforward and a very pleasant place to visit.

 

[Greenwichman]

Have fun ...

We're planning to cross over (this weekend) to France from Ramsgate and although we have crossed many times via calais and gone south this time we are going north and I was wondering about the relative merits of Dunkirk/Neuwport/Ostend (and maybe Gravelines). The pilot I have seems to suggest Gravelines has no visitors berths, is this true? Dunkirk looks a bit threatening in terms of size. Dunkirk is probably the most convienient. Is it straightforward to find a berth? any advice about these ports welcome.
many thanks

Will be following you in a week's time, so please keep the berths warm.

Gravelines is full of character, no problem with berths, my boat is shoal draft, but I saw fin-keels sink comfortably into oozy mud in finger berths. New club facilities are clean and welcoming; and there's an easy walk to town, some good places to eat and drink and a super museum and art gallery insdie M Vaubin's fortified walls. Entry is about 2 hours before HW. Staff are friendly.

Dunkirk (east) [dont attempt to enter west] is much better than it seems likely to be from seaward (smokestacks and industry etc). There are three marinas - the first on the port hand as you enter is a 20 minute stroll from the town but the club house serves decent grub. It is exposed to winds from NW. Next in is the Yacht Club (starboard hand, tucked well up the harbour; good club facilities, berths usually available, sheltered from most weather, though northerly gale was 'interesting' a few years back. And you can lock in to the large marina near the town. Seems a faff to do so have not bothered to do so - always berths though. Check out the museum. Lots to do, but needs patience and imagination!

Neiuwpoort is excellent. Three large marinas, loads of options. Friendly town (hire bikes if you don't have your own. Tram service runs the length of the coastline (cheap and efficient). Food a very strong point. And of course the Flanders interior is fabulous and historically significant; car hire worth it.

Obvious pilotage thing is to watch the shoals that run parallel with the coast! They shift about. Treat with respect if it's blowy.

Have fun.

 

[Pye_End]

We're planning to cross over (this weekend) to France from Ramsgate and although we have crossed many times via calais and gone south this time we are going north and I was wondering about the relative merits of Dunkirk/Neuwport/Ostend (and maybe Gravelines). The pilot I have seems to suggest Gravelines has no visitors berths, is this true? Dunkirk looks a bit threatening in terms of size. Dunkirk is probably the most convienient. Is it straightforward to find a berth? any advice about these ports welcome.
many thanks

Gravelines takes visitors. A lovely place. You need to be there around high water (not a problem from Ramsgate). The pontoon on your right as you go through the bridge I think is just for visitors, although you may be given a berth to go into by the HM.

If you get to this sort of area at HW you can as you say just follow the ebb up the coast if you felt the need, or go across the banks if the weather is kind. Dunkirk - the marina on the east will give you access to the beaches, which I prefer (although be prepared for lots of walking), or choose something in the town or on the west side of the channel for a town visit.

Neuwport well worth visiting.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Second everything said above.... Gravelines is a delight... we're fine there with 1.9m draft fin...

Dunkerque is OK, Neuiwpoort dull, made OK by the superb food in the AirForce marina yacht club... Oostende is good... a lot like Cherbourg if you are familiar with there.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Also worth adding that Dunkerque is probably your best bet as a refuge if it cuts up.. the entrance is OK... Oostende can get 'lively' in North Easterlies... and i'd run like hell from offshore Gravelines!

 

[jhr]

Anywhere away from Ramsgate has got to be better.

Have only sailed to Ostende, with young Morgana of this forum, and found it quite straightforward and a very pleasant place to visit.

Having been part of the same expedition, I have to concur with Nick.

However, whatever you do, don't take the train to Bruges; it's a wearisome ten minutes' walk to Oostende station from the harbour and twenty minutes or more on the train to Bruges.

If you must go to Bruges, don't be fooled by establishments that hand you a menu when you are seated. In my experience, the only items on the menu are different varieties of beer and it's a bugger if you have to sample all of them to see how they differ.

 

[Tin Tin]

Oostende can get 'lively' in North Easterlies...

IIRC NE-ly's fine, NW-lies are the problem.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Ohh... yes, well spotted!

 

[Greenwichman]

Second everything said above.... Gravelines is a delight... we're fine there with 1.9m draft fin...

Dunkerque is OK, Neuiwpoort dull, made OK by the superb food in the AirForce marina yacht club... Oostende is good... a lot like Cherbourg if you are familiar with there.

Not responsible for tourism marketing in Neuiwpoort, I promise. Indeed I can hardly spell it and never the same way twice, but I do feel that "dull" rather under-sells the promise. The food IS good at the Air Force Club, though, I agree!

 

[Lucky Duck]

Not responsible for tourism marketing in Neuiwpoort, I promise. Indeed I can hardly spell it and never the same way twice, but I do feel that "dull" rather under-sells the promise. The food IS good at the Air Force Club, though, I agree!

The food in the various marina club houses has been in my experiance very good. I just wish that the walk into town was a lot shorter!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

We tend to take the much shorter walk into the little village nearby (whose name escapes me completely at the moment) where, conveniently, the tram stops, and catch that up and down the coast, or indeed just into central Nieuwpoort

 

[Chill]

Blankenberge has a nice marina been there many times, go to the Oberbayern for great Mussels,

Chill

 

[spillemw]

Nieuwpoort definitely has the better facilities of the Belgian ports. Don't go to the Royal Yacht Club on your right, but turn left to the "VVW" marina. Great showers. Decent food in the clubhouse, too. Only issue right now is that there are a LOT of tourists in Nieuwpoort in July and August, particularly when the sun is out. There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants and bars, but they can get crowded. The center of Old Nieuwpoort is quite charming and much quieter.
Oostende is OK, but the "Montgomery" marina immediately on your right as you enter the port is crowded and expensive. The "Mercator dock" behind it is better but can only be reached by a lock that is not operated 24x7x7. Also you need to wait several times a day when the big ferries are leaving. If you want to visit Bruges, phone the Montgomery marina if they have a berth. It is less than a 10 minute walk to the train station.
Blankenberge has the advantage the channel is very short so it takes you only a few minutes from sea to marina. The marina is also very close to the town center. Facilities are not great though. If you have a deep keel you should not enter at low tide (although this is less a problem in summer). Like Nieuwpoort there can be A LOT of tourists.

 

[spillemw]

The food in the various marina club houses has been in my experiance very good. I just wish that the walk into town was a lot shorter!

If you want to go to Nieuwpoort-Bad (meaning the seafront), what few visitors know is that you can walk around the marina, alongside what used to be a military base, in the direction of the harbour head. There you can take a small ferry, which is free (the ferryman does expect a small tip), across the harbour channel, and there you are.
It's still a bit of a walk, but not longer than the walk to the nearest tram-station.

 

[FlyingSpud]

Dunkirk - the marina on the east will give you access to the beaches, which I prefer (although be prepared for lots of walking), or choose something in the town or on the west side of the channel for a town visit.

Neat little free electric bus every 15 minutes now runs on a loop all around Malo Les Bains and reaches the Marina on the east side, jump off half way round for the Operation Dynamo museum.

Malo itself is rather chips, kiss me quick hats and formica counters

Actually, how does the marina get 5 anchors? The toilets and showers are in a nearby sea school and are not great, no wi fi (which you get in every other marina), and the fishing boats love leaving at full chat just to bang everyone around

Dunkirque is a good refuge, but not such a great place, any of the Belgian towns are better.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Nieuwpoort definitely has the better facilities of the Belgian ports. Don't go to the Royal Yacht Club on your right, but turn left to the "VVW" marina.

I have never visited that marina mainly because it always appeared to be full, or is there another reason to avoid it?

 

[Koeketiene]

I have never visited that marina mainly because it always appeared to be full, or is there another reason to avoid it?

Bloody expensive

 

[spillemw]

Hmm. I was pretty sure it costs "only" 20 EUR per night, which is inclusive of everything. Doesn't strike me as too expensive. The RYC is more expensive, but I don't know exactly how much it is.

 

[spillemw]

I have never visited that marina mainly because it always appeared to be full, or is there another reason to avoid it?

I would be surprised if it was full. There are almost 1,000 berths. It is very difficult to get a permanent berth, but for one or a few nights shouldn't be too difficult.