Blackwater to Oostende

[MystereFlyer]

I was positioned 180 miles North East off the Aberdeenshire coast working on an FPSO around this this time last year we had some pretty severe weather throughout a two week trip. Here is some footage from the Maersk Gryphon Alpha bridge as we ploughed through 15 metre waves. Wouldnt be a good idea to be out in that in a small boat. Wind speed reached 78mph that particular day but and averaged 62mph over a 6 day period. Enough time for the heave to get up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8veXypVdqEs

 

[Tomahawk]

There is a huge (and I mean huge) block of flats in the centre if Oostend. You can see them from a long way out... Tis a good thing and a bad thing. You get an early indication you are on course... but it takes forever from first seeing it to actualy making landfall. In fact it can almost be depressing that you are almost in sight but still do not appear to have arrived.

 

[Bru]

There is a huge (and I mean huge) block of flats in the centre if Oostend. You can see them from a long way out... Tis a good thing and a bad thing. You get an early indication you are on course... but it takes forever from first seeing it to actualy making landfall. In fact it can almost be depressing that you are almost in sight but still do not appear to have arrived.

That's a slightly worrying remark to hear from the skipper of the yachting equivalent of the Starship Enterprise ... "Hoist the spinnaker, First Mate ... warp factor 9"

 

[Tomahawk]

From LSH, check the off-set of tides to Oostende (60 ish mls away) + or - the off-set 1 deg for every mile of off-set & adjust the compass course accordingly. DO NOT steer to a WP as you will add hrs & miles to the trip.
you will X the main TSS @ near enough right angles but not the inshore lanes, just keep a sharp look-out here.

Ah yes the rule of shipping lanes. There will be no ships in the TSS until you get close to crossing it. Then as you approach you will see about four ships,all of which will converge on the same part of the TSS as you just when you are going to cross it. After playing dogems with your heart in your mouth there will be nothing Nywhere newr the horizon...

Happens every thime.

 

[Tomahawk]

That's a slightly worrying remark to hear from the skipper of the yachting equivalent of the Starship Enterprise ... "Hoist the spinnaker, First Mate ... warp factor 9"

Prvious boat....
You can see it from about 25 miles out... at five knots that makes five hours..

 

[Bru]

Prvious boat....
You can see it from about 25 miles out... at five knots that makes five hours..

Ah right, presumably on Toma 25 miles out is roughly about the time to start getting the fenders and mooring lines ready?

 

[sailorman]

Ah yes the rule of shipping lanes. There will be no ships in the TSS until you get close to crossing it. Then as you approach you will see about four ships,all of which will converge on the same part of the TSS as you just when you are going to cross it. After playing dogems with your heart in your mouth there will be nothing Nywhere newr the horizon...

Happens every thime.

If you had a slower yacht they would be gone

 

[Tomahawk]

If you had a slower yacht they would be gone

If only…

I have crossed various shipping lanes in a variety of boats from very fast to very slow… It seems the rule applies most of the time. It seems there is a malignant force at work to ensure you always arrive at a point in the sea a the same time as some large ship.

 

[johnalison]

You chaps certainly have the knack of giving encouragement to a first-timer.

 

[sailorman]

You chaps certainly have the knack of giving encouragement to a first-timer.

our first time ( and quite a few after as well) we were well equiped
boat,log,compass, depth sounder,charts,tidal atlas,douglass protractor, a pr of singlehanded compasses & a pencil

No liferaft,vhf,plotter

 

[Koeketiene]

Variation on our track.
Landguard - Cork Sands - 130 Magnetic.
The only bit where you really need your wits about you is crossing the small TSS south of Westhinder Anchorage (towards Antwerp).
That's also the point where you start to make out the Europa Tower block of flats in Ostend (about 15NM out).

Don't over-think it - it's a pretty straightforward crossing.

 

[johnalison]

our first time ( and quite a few after as well) we were well equiped
boat,log,compass, depth sounder,charts,tidal atlas,douglass protractor, a pr of singlehanded compasses & a pencil

No liferaft,vhf,plotter

That's downright irresponsible. You should have had an RDF, like my Hitachi, available from Telesonic for £19.99.

 

[sailorman]

That's downright irresponsible. You should have had an RDF, like my Hitachi, available from Telesonic for £19.99.

Ah well yes, i did have one of those useless things, possibly around 82/3 the recorder was handy for those anti social hrs shipping forecasts

 

[Koeketiene]

That's downright irresponsible. You should have had an RDF, like my Hitachi, available from Telesonic for £19.99.

Apart from a compass, a clock, a log, charts and an echosounder, what is really essential/indispensable?

 

[Bru]

Apart from a compass, a clock, a log, charts and an echosounder, what is really essential/indispensable?

A brain?

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Bacon sandwiches

 

[Tomahawk]

Bacon sandwiches

And a bottle of something very good to celebrate your arrival..

You will never forget your first "crossing" and successful arrival in a foreign country.



Something for the hangover may be useful after

 

[Koeketiene]

A brain?

I have had naval training. A brain was desirable but not essential.

 

[Bru]

I have had naval training. A brain was desirable but not essential.

Fair point!

 

[tillergirl]

Without wishing to get too anoraky that Open CPN chart's a bit dated init?