Antwerp

[Pye_End]

Anybody been there?

Is it worth the trip?

I have Dutch chart 1803 1996 - does anybody know if this is still useful or should I buy a new one?

Also, possible stop on the way - never been to Blankenberg. Always keen on finding out what these places are like - is this worth a visit?

 

[asj1]

Not been to Blankenburg, but Breskens is a good marina with easy entry if you are heading to Antwerp ( not that I have been as far as Antwerp)

Regards

 

[wingdiver]

Hi
Not been to Antwerp yet. I guess I should say that new charts should be bought - especially as they are only £20.
Re Blankenberge - we were there a couple of weeks ago and had been there several times before but not for around five years.
The entrance is long between two piers. There can be swell sometimes.
It used to have a reputation for being very shallow particularly between the piers but we draw 1.8m and went in at low tide (didn't touch once!)
There are a pair of leading marks to starboard near the North Sea Boating building.
There are two areas to moor - to port is the old fish dock which has pontoons and boxes with small fishing boats nearest the entrance and then yachts further in.
Straight on is the main marina area.
There are around five yacht clubs here and they all have pontoons/boxes and will have harbourmasters around until about 17:00 local time.
The easiest to moor in are the VVW to starboard which has a visitors temporary pontoon and then you are directed to find a free box (green marker). The VNZ to port has a long visitors pontoon where you can stay or be directed to a box by the HM. Don't know about the others.
There is a chandlery and fuel (N Sea boating). Fuel was €1.44 a litre when we were there.
The town has everything you would expect from a seaside resort and has a good beach. If you go to the one west of the western pier it is quieter.
You can use the Kosttram to go anywhere on the Belgian coast from Knokke in the east to La Panne by the French border (we paid €2 return to Ostende). There is also a very good (and cheap) train service to Bruges - €5 return - or even Brussels).
Hope that helps.
PM if yopu want to know more.
Cheers
D

 

[sailorman]

Breskens ok but Ternuzen would be the best departure point ( well thats wot we done ). charts should be ok as its all bouyed for big boats. we stayed on the north bank ( cant remember the name ) very quiet with a pedestrian tunnel under the river a short walk away. shops near by + a sandy beach just down stream again walking distance

 

[PeterGibbs]

Antwerp is one of the gems of European culture - and it offers
good grub too!

You have 7 hours to make it the 45 miles from Breskens to the one decent marina there - Linkeroever - on the starboard bank as you hit town. Its gate is open 1 hour +- otherwise you have to wait on a large mooring buoy.

Costs are very reasonable, and there's engineering there too if needed. Access to Antwerp is via a pedestrain tunnel under the river which you find just 800m walk up river from the marina.

The river is quite something and very large vessels make it up to close on Antwerp, but that's not to put you off.

You can split the journey via Terneusen on the stbd bank - easy all tide approach, making final leg up an easy job. Perhaps viable for sailing this way, otherwise you need to motor if going in one hit.

The banks move a bit with time, but a relatively recent chart will not let you down - it's a well marked river all the way up.

When returning, you get the expected 5 hrs of ebb tide, so will have to stop at Terneusen, Or you can make a detour 3 hours downstream northwards up the canal to Wemeldinge on the Osterschelde, and the riches of this part of Holland.

More Q's? PM me - I went this way 6 weeks ago.

PWG

 

[DRANNIE]

Never sailed there but have a good friend (he is a native) who lives in antwerp. Great place, plenty of cultural stuff going on, galleries and museums even a small zoo. Good restuarants and night life.

 

[Koeketiene]

Great place - well worth a visit.

When we go there, we do it in stages.
1. Cross to Ostend
2. Ostend - Breskens - perfect on one tide. You don't want to run foul of the tide off the Scheldt.
3. Breskens - Antwerp. Again do it in one tide. Listen out on the relevant VHF channels as you proceed up the river. The big boys have right of way and stop for no-one. We usually stay on the left bank (Linkeroever). You should aim to arrive just before HW. The lock gates open HW +/- 1.
Very good facilities, and Antwerp city centre no more than 10 minutes away.
If you want to get away from the city, there's always the St Anna 'beach' around the corner.

On your way back, try to stop at Lillo - home of Belgium's smallest and friendliest YC. Stopped there for two hours which turned into 12 because Westmalle Trapist made me miss the tide.

Blankenberge is the Belgian equivalent of Blackpool. Signs of past glory very much in evidence. Heavy silting in the entrance - time your arrival.
Been there once - it was enough.

 

[sailorman]

so r u in Ramsgate on wifi perchance

 

[Koeketiene]

Dieppe on wi-fi /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Arrived from St Val en Caux on PM tide today.

Bologne s/Mer on Friday.
Then Ostend or Ramsgate, depending on weather.

 

[sailorman]

ava good one /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Pye_End]

Thanks everybody for comments. Read most of them before I left.

Unfortunately I got to enjoy one or two places on the way too much (it is true about Gravelines!) - sometimes because of the touristy bits but mainly because of the wind!

Looks like I shall have to save some of this thread and have another go next year.