Baltic to Gosport delivery trip advice ( bringing purchased boat home )

[strudders]

Hi All

I have seen plenty of advice here for cruising to the Baltic and back, but I am considereing buying a boat in the Baltic or Hamburg and looking at the logistics of getting her home to Gosport.

I have seen and read plenty about the Keil canal, so I guess the first stop is Cuxhaven. So I am looking at plans from there and advice about leaving the boat there for a week maybe.

I have not got may days' holiday left this year, so the maximum single run would be 9 days ( 2 weekends included ), otherwise and most likely I will move a little every weekend over a few weeks, so advice on where to leave the boat and what stopovers would be best for getting home and back again.

She will most likely be a 35 footer so I expect 6-7 knots and I am prepared to motor if necessary - I seem to have plenty of crew volunteers already!

I would appreciate the forum's advice please.

 

[prv]

I crewed on a trip exactly like this about ten years ago. Picking up a new Halberg-Rassy from the yard and bringing her to Gosport.

The owner was able to do the trip in one go, but to make it easier to find crew he split it into two legs - I did from the start in Orust as far as Cuxhaven, then several of us flew home and others came out for the Cuxhaven to Gosport part. I think each leg was a week long - we were in port most nights, but did do a couple of overnight passages down the Baltic.

Not sure I have much specific advice, though . Only things I can think of are weights for the fenders in the Canal, and to watch the tide across the entrance to the yacht basin at Cuxhaven - I think we were going sideways faster than we were forwards!

Pete

 

[wotayottie]

Its been my experience that there is often a period of easterly winds down the channel in may / early june, and again in october.

I have a 35 footer and she's a fastish boat. I would not plan on 6 to 7kn average. Not realistic.

 

[geoid96]

We did almost same trip in August a couple of years ago. Our stops this side of Kiel were Rendsburg, Cuxhaven, Norderney, Vlieland, Den Helder, IJmuiden, Schevenigen, Nieuwpoort, Dover, Brighton.

I'm fairly sure that you could arrange to leave the boat at most of those places for a week or so, however some, especially the islands, will get fairly full during July. The main consideration would be how easy is it to get home and back. The only ones with any real issues are the Fresian Islands as these will probably involve ferry, train and plane. We stopped in both Norderney and Vlieland for a few days due to a Westerly eight. However it was sunny, and with bike hire, kite flying and good restaurants, these forced stopovers were the highlight of the trip.

When planning, remember that the trip is against the prevailing wind. In the three weeks we took from W. Sweden, 6 days were spent holed up due to wind, and the only leg that the wind was not on the nose was the last from Brighton to Hamble.

 

[duncan99210]

No specifics about the route, as we've not sailed in that part of the world, but I would suggest that you don't count on being able to average more than 5 knots over the ground even if you motor. You may well be doing in excess of 7 knots but you can almost guarantee it won't bein the right direction!

 

[johnalison]

It's not a particularly difficult trip to plan. Although we have always returned in July or August and invariably met contrary winds, I wouldn't rely on it blowing easterlies in May. After the Elbe, the tides are not especially strong and you will inevitably be sailing or motoring against for some of the time. To make the best of the tide, stops at Cuxhaven, Norderney and Vlieland are straightforward. Lauersoog adds several miles but gives access to the Dutch canals and we have used it often when wanting to keep going against westerlies.

Generally, marinas are very happy to have your custom and leaving a boat for a few weeks anywhere shouldn't be a problem. Cuxhaven has transport connections and Lauersoog inside the lock is sheltered (not outside, which is unsatisfactory). Den Helder can be used for a break or to leave a boat and the station is not far.
The places I have mentioned have been for their usefulness rather than attractiveness, though we rather like Norderney.

 

[Rossynant]

As already said - possible to get easterly winds, or at least not much beating against, in the beginning of summer. Later on may be tricky.
Fast way through Kiel Kanal, but then you get out into shallow waters in the corner - not nice in nor-wester and swell, look out for forecasts. Best idea is to stock adequately in diesel and use it

 

[Stork_III]

Hi All

I have seen plenty of advice here for cruising to the Baltic and back, but I am considereing buying a boat in the Baltic or Hamburg and looking at the logistics of getting her home to Gosport.

I have seen and read plenty about the Keil canal, so I guess the first stop is Cuxhaven. So I am looking at plans from there and advice about leaving the boat there for a week maybe.

I have not got may days' holiday left this year, so the maximum single run would be 9 days ( 2 weekends included ), otherwise and most likely I will move a little every weekend over a few weeks, so advice on where to leave the boat and what stopovers would be best for getting home and back again.

She will most likely be a 35 footer so I expect 6-7 knots and I am prepared to motor if necessary - I seem to have plenty of crew volunteers already!

I would appreciate the forum's advice please.

If you are interested in a HR342, BKYC are replacing their fleet with 10 new 342, the old ones are for sale http://www.bkyc.de/html/hr342_for_sale.html. Unfortunately you can't get Stork VIII, but many other birds are available.