Boulogne/ Le Touquet or thereabouts - or Nieuwpoort/ Oostende or thereabouts?

[RupertW]

Thanks Rupert. What did you draw?

You are braver than me to do that without a depth sounder! - perhaps you're a bilge keeler so the downside (sorry) of getting it wrong isn't so great.

It was a Maurice Griffiths triple keeler so actually happier sitting on the ground than sailing. The main long iron keel was only six inches deep but a flat nine inches across so any damage was to whatever it landed on (including Littlehampton breakwater once in the dark and for 10 years I could see the starboard marker bent where I'd used it to haul the boat forwards off the top of the breakwater.

And basically on a rising tide up a river (e.g. Rye) we would go up with the tide and rest for a few minutes every time we got ahead of the flow.

 

[johnalison]

We've been in Blankenberg regularly in recent years when we have wanted a short crossing home from further east, since it is easier than Ostend, with no banks and little shipping. The marinas are divided between the different clubs. We have used all at some time or other but tend to moor on the left after entering the old scouring basin. The marina on the right is a long way from anything. The fishing harbour marinas are fine but all get busy in the season.

The entrance is now dredged regularly and in fair weather you can enter at almost all tides. Shopping is sort of OK, with a market on market days. As stated, there are some attractions. I haven't been to the aquarium but we did go to a serpentarium a few years ago which was full of slimy things and good for children if it it still there. The Ibis bar at the end of the harbour serves draught Kasteel at 11 percent, which usually puts me into cracking form for the crazy golf.

 

[BelleSerene]

It was a Maurice Griffiths triple keeler so actually happier sitting on the ground than sailing. The main long iron keel was only six inches deep but a flat nine inches across so any damage was to whatever it landed on (including Littlehampton breakwater once in the dark and for 10 years I could see the starboard marker bent where I'd used it to haul the boat forwards off the top of the breakwater.

And basically on a rising tide up a river (e.g. Rye) we would go up with the tide and rest for a few minutes every time we got ahead of the flow.

Sounds blissful. I might take an angle grinder to Belle Seren's keel...

 

[thalassa]

We've been in Blankenberg regularly in recent years when we have wanted a short crossing home from further east, since it is easier than Ostend, with no banks and little shipping. The marinas are divided between the different clubs. We have used all at some time or other but tend to moor on the left after entering the old scouring basin. The marina on the right is a long way from anything.

Depends on what is useful to you. The (unguarded, but often deserted) beach is only 100 meters away, walks in the dunes, and ...the Aldi!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Most of your "turn right" options are listed (with links - where they exist) on http://www.jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/channel/e-channel#Gris%20Nez. There's a sketch map higher up the page showing locations.

I used to edit this region for the CA Almanac. My web site doesn't give pilotage guidance, but I've kept all the "amenity" descriptions up to date since then from comments added by site users, and the various amenity web sites.

It's a great region for exploring WW1 and WW2 history, gourmet seafood, bird sanctuaries and un-ending sand dunes.

It is easier to cruise France from west to east, since you'll then be arriving in shallow harbours at high tide. So consider the option of getting your westerly travel in along the British coast, then making a longer sea crossing to go east along France.

JimB

 

[bendyone]

Nieuwpoort/ Oostende then up the canal to Bruges. Kids and SWMBO will love Bruges

 

[sailorman]

Nieuwpoort/ Oostende then up the canal to Bruges. Kids and SWMBO will love Bruges

Oostende > Brugge by train so simple

 

[Daydream believer]

Nieuwpoort/ Oostende then up the canal to Bruges. Kids and SWMBO will love Bruges

Went to Zebrugge one year, locked in for a day & went up canal to Brugge. Had to stop just outside as lock closed at 16-00 hours & we wanted to go back. So we walked in to the centre past a chocolate factory !!!! had a great trip up the canal & back & when waiting for the lock to open on the return we saw sections of the Tricolour which had been sunk not far from the Sandettie light vessel. They had cut it into 3000 Tonne sections with a diamond coated wire as clean as butter right through 12-14 decks. We could see Volvo dump trucks & BMW cars hanging inside the decks as the ship sections sat on a barge waiting to be lifted ashore whilst the preceding section was being cut up.
This trip is passable by yacht but not sure that Ostend to Brugge can be done by any sort of MOBO with much of a headroom. However, the station is right by the harbour & 5 mins walk from the RNSYC & about 15 mins on the train
For the OP's kids Ostend is definitely the best stopover place.

 

[Goldie]

Just a thought re cruising Belgium; if you have an inboard engine you may wish to check up on the latest situation regarding red diesel. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[BelleSerene]

You've got to go. It was lovely. And a historic steam railway journey! I'm hoping SWMBO will relax the cross-channel ban this year and go again.

I'm very tempted by Saint Valéry-sur-Somme but it'll be at neaps. I have checked the almanac and the local access chartlet ('plan du balisage') here [ http://www.portsaintvalery.fr ]. However, ChannelPilot.info says it can't be done at neaps unless you draw only 1.5m, and I read some other site saying it might not be possible. (We draw 1.8.m.)

I have to say, the depths on Navionics online charts say I should be able to access it around the top of the tide at neaps - but lacking corroboration I'm in danger of wimping out.

Does anyone have an experienced view? - Can let's say a 2m draft make it in to St Valéry at neaps?

 

[Habebty]

Not sure but you need about 1.5 - 2 hours of sufficient depth as its a long channel.

 

[reginaldon]

A few from our yacht club went over to the Etaples Y C and they were feted, mind you we are twinned with them.

 

[BelleSerene]

A few from our yacht club went over to the Etaples Y C and they were feted, mind you we are twinned with them.

Say, what was your deepest draft and what time of the month did you go? I think I've resigned myself that I can't lug my 1.8m draft over their mud flats at neaps.