Belgium to UK

[BigART]

I have to collect a boat from Nieuwpoort, Belgium and bring it back to the UK, south coast. A couple of questions:
- Does anyone know of a reasoanbly direct bus/train service from Calais/Oostende/Zeebruge?
- Looks like lots of horrible sandbanks just outside. My plan is to leave a couple of hours before high tide, go NW 3-4 miles, turn left/west down the Passe de Zuydcoote. Just opposite the French/Belgian Border, nip across to the next channel to the south and run down the channel approx 2 mile of the French Coast until off Cap Gris Nez, then dive across the TSS to the west of Dover, then on my way. Is this reasonable?

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[Mudplugger]

From La panne @ Knokke, there is a coastal tram service at regular intervals that serves the belgium coast. and not expensive. However getting to La panne from Calais/Dunkirk can't help with...last time took a taxi....Normally cross from off Dunkirk and head towards Ramsgate ( bigger gap in the middle of the TSS) have a good trip..Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.

 

[AndrewB]

This route has become notoriously awkward in the last few years.

Options are:

(i) Rail: Calais -> Lille -> Brussels Midi -> Ostend. Then tram-train to Nieuwpoort. Reasonably cheap but slow, with 3 changes. There are about 5 trains daily from Calais to Lille, 7 from Lille to Brussels.

(ii) Ashford -> Brussels by Eurostar, then as above. Quick but outrageously expensive.

(iii) Calais -> Dunkerque by either train or bus (buses from outside station). Cross border to La Panne by taxi (12km), then get tram-train to Nieuwpoort.

(iv) Dover -> Dunkerque by ferry, then as above. This ferry doesn't take footpassengers, so you'd have to hitch!

(v) Ryanair, Stanstead -> Charleroi, then train from Charleroi Sud via Brussels Midi. Probably quickest and cheapest.

(vi) Taxi, Calais -> Nieuwpoort. About 70km.

(vii) Go with me, I'm sailing Dover -> Nieuwpoort next week. Cheap but very, very slow!

The website for Belgian train timetable is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.b-rail.be/E/index.php>HERE</A>. The Belgian coastal tram-train isn't included, but the service runs regularly along the coast every ½ hour or so.

Your passage plan looks fine, though personally I would cross the TSS a little further east, at its narrowest point. The tide runs strongest at the point where you cross, time it so you cross on the flood tide.

 

[BigART]

Andrew

Thank you for your very detailed reply, I would be delighted to take up your offer of sailing there, unfortunately, the vessel hasn't arrived yet! She is sailing back from Spain. I think (iii) or (v) look favourite as the simplest/cheapest.

Part of my plan was to avoid the melee between Calais/Dover but I shall have another look.

Angus

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[brianhumber]

A)take a Eurostar from Calais Frethun to Brussels, then lots of trains direct to Ostend/Zeebrugge.
B) Train Calais to Dunkirk, bus/taxi to the Beguim border where the costal tram starts, then you can tram it to Ostend and further up the Coast

Passage plan ok I would say, I would always panic in the days before GPS in finding the Passe De Z but once your in it keep following the bouys all along past Dunkirk to the Calais area and then hop across according to tide and traffic.

Once had to beat through the Pass DeZ on a F6/7 against the tide lots of tacks but do-able if you keep in the channel. Loads of white water on the sandbanks don't stray.

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[BigART]

This is a new (to us) untried boat. I will not be setting of against a F6/7! There seem to be a good number of buoys on my Imray chart of the area, so GPS will be a luxury.

Angus

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[brianhumber]

The bouys are bit strung out on the Belguim side so in poor vis can be a bit stressful. I was helped the first time through by the long gone Dover/Ostend jetfoil showing where the zigzag through Passe de Z was but GPS shoud be a better substitute for you.
Point I was trying to get over was that with a SW because you are close inshore and the sandbanks take the sea off even a F6 was not too bad although I must admit we gave up at Dunkirk because it was beer time and we had been beating all day from Holland.

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[westhinder]

Passage plan is ok. I was only wondering which High Water you were referring to, Dover or Nieuwpoort. The tide runs against you from approximately three hours before to three hours after HW Nieuwpoort. My advice would be to leave two hours after HW Nieuwpoort and enjoy a favourable tide all the way to Cap Gris Nez. By the time the tide turns, you're about to cross the Dover Straits. Not too long after you're across, the tide will turn again in you favour. In the Zuydcoote Pass, take care not to cut the last corner into the Dunkirk channel around Low Water because there are a few very shallow patches close by.
Since the demise of the Hoverspeed fast ferry Dover-Oostende, crossing from Britain to Belgium has become complicated, I'm afraid. Ryanair to Charleroi and then the train to Oostende(1.5 hrs) and tram to Nieuwpoort (40 mins) will indeed be a good option. Alternatively, If you know a friendly lorry driver, there are freight ferries both to Oostende and Zeebrugge.
Enjoy your trip

<hr width=100% size=1>Johan

 

[Vara]

Lift

Have sent you PM

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!