Burnham to Lowestoft

[tidclacy]

Planning to sail up to Lowestoft from Burnham in one hit next month and was wondering whether to stay East or West of the Shipwash?

Is it reasonable to do it in one hit or would it be better to stop off at Harwich to avoid the adverse tide for the second half of the journey.

Planning then to cross to Ijmuiden from Lowestoft. I know we could do it in one hit from Burnham but crew rather elderly so taking it in shorter stages.

My average speed is 5.5 knots.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Eurybia]

Burnham to Lowestoft is around 90 nm. It's not a lot further across to North Belgium/South Holland from Burnham. Why not make the crossing direct from Burnham then hop up the coast to Ijumuiden.

 

[MoodySabre]

"Rather elderly" - stead on old chap! We call you Young Harry

Personally I'd stay West of the Shipwash but that's mostly because I had a squeaky few minutes at 0200 hours heading home across the bottom of the Shipwash with a ship in the Deep Water Channel heading out and another coming in from the Inner Sunk. I put the engine on and did a 180 pronto! It is much easier to cross the DWC if you are staying west.

Shoving the tide up past Orford can be a bit tedious and because the tides times are at least a couple of hours earlier in Lowestoft compared to Burnham you get more hours of adverse tide (or so it seems). I think that I'd wait to see what conditions are like onthe day - a good sailing wind and a neap tide would make one hit more pleasurable than motoring against springs.

My penn'th. Hope a good trip either way.

 

[tidclacy]

Thanks Roger for the compliment!! They were my thoughts as well, hoping to go up on neaps and as you say review the situation off Harwich.

 

[dennyjc]

Is it reasonable to do it in one hit or would it be better to stop off at Harwich to avoid the adverse tide for the second half of the journey.

Hi tidclacy,
I'd advocate making two hops.
The current runs slightly stronger on the second 'leg' of Harwich to Lowestoft.
with your boat speed it will be two fast fun days of sailing and you'll still feel fresh and ready for the bigger North Sea crossing.
If there's any swell then Shotley will give a more comfortable night than Harwich.
.....but then I would say that.
( I figure that the more visitors the less the rise in my annual fees)

 

[AliM]

We did it last week. An easy sail up to Shotley, another easy one to Lowestoft, both taking full advantage of the tides. Then a long and boring, but easy day to IJmuiden. That bit is 105 miles, so at 5.5 kts you can't do it in daylight. We started at 4 am and arrived at about 22.30 (UK time). In the past we have done it overnight, or from Harwich instead of Lowestoft, and the long day's crossing seems to suit us best.

Look out for De Ruyter gas platform and do not pass closer than about 2 miles, and be careful of the TSS on the approach to IJmuiden and the new wind farm just south of it. Otherwise, it is quite straightforward.

 

[Boz]

Hi Alison
I presume you overnighted at ijmuiden and then pushed on to Amsterdam?

sorry to be nosey
Boz

 

[AliM]

We actually had a couple of days at IJmuiden because it was blowing old boots (which is why we did the crossing when we did) and also because after a long day with just the two of us, we need the rest. We then went to Muiden - just past Amsterdam in the Markermeer, Enkhuizen and now Makkum, where we are sitting out another old boots day. Off tomorrow into the islands, and slowly along them to the Baltic. We have lots of time, so we do short hops when the weather is good, and therefore we can sail rather than motor or suffer! We have done this a number of times before, so are happy to answer any questions.

 

[Javelin]

Lowestoft ?? ergh.
Orford Ness against the tide can be unpleasant.
Leave Harwich at HW and you have 6 hours of tide with you which would give you plenty of time to get to Lowestoft.

I think I'd go,
Burnham to Harwich
Harwich to ijmuiden

 

[Boz]

Thanks Ali....
I'm planning (hoping) to follow your route but going into the canals at Den Helder down to Amsterdam. I've done this route before as crew on a friends boat, but this will be the first time as Skipper.

My question originally was to ask which Marina you use in Amsterdam, we were in Sixhaven but I suspect the facilities are better elsewhere. Having said that I like the plan of going straight to Enkhuizen, which we also enjoyed on the previous trip. Unlike you, however we will have a time constraint.

There is no escape for you though as I have you on Vessel Finder. It looks a cosy berth in Makkum?

Regards
Boz
(Russ and Christine)

 

[AliM]

If you don't much mind about the fleshpots of Amsterdam, consider Muiden. Very welcoming and excellent facilities, but a bike ride to decent shops. We did the North Holland canal (Den Helder to join Noth Sea canal) once and found it rather boring. The IJsselmeer towns are much nicer - Hoorn Medemblik and Edam particularly, and sailing on the IJsselmeer is great.

 

[Boz]

If you don't much mind about the fleshpots of Amsterdam, .

Thanks Alison....
My wife wants to do the Van Gogh museum so Amsterdam will have to be on the itinerary. Den Helder to Amsterdam was a bit bridge to bridge, but we had a good few days in Alkmaar. The low spot was the Marina in Den Ouver, although we found an excellent fish restaurant.

We will reconsider our plan

Anyway enjoy your cruise as I pen this you are off Harlingen.....

Regards
Boz

 

[AliM]

The Van Gogh museum is excellent. We visited Amsterdam quite often when working, so feel no need to go back, but it is worth a few days wander. The RijksMuseum is also very good, and while you are in Amstrdam, have an Indonesian meal - the full rijstaffel (approximate spelling).

We got to Vlieland today - passed Harlingen without visiting the excellent fish restaurant there. Vlieland now has a very good marina. It is worth having a look at the islands if you have time, but they are packed in school holidays, and you will need decent charts - the sailing is superb, but can be challenging with very strong currents and nasty drying bits, which move!

 

[AliM]

The Van Gogh museum is excellent. We visited Amsterdam quite often when working, so feel no need to go back, but it is worth a few days wander. The RijksMuseum is also very good, and while you are in Amstrdam, have an Indonesian meal - the full rijstaffel (approximate spelling).

We got to Vlieland today - passed Harlingen without visiting the excellent fish restaurant there. Vlieland now has a very good marina. It is worth having a look at the islands if you have time, but they are packed in school holidays, and you will need decent charts - the sailing is superb, but can be challenging with very strong currents and nasty drying bits, which move!

 

[Boz]

Apologies to all for hi-jacking this thread, but I'm sure you will agree, interesting stuff from AliM
Boz

 

[tidclacy]

The Van Gogh museum is excellent. We visited Amsterdam quite often when working, so feel no need to go back, but it is worth a few days wander. The RijksMuseum is also very good, and while you are in Amstrdam, have an Indonesian meal - the full rijstaffel (approximate spelling).

We got to Vlieland today - passed Harlingen without visiting the excellent fish restaurant there. Vlieland now has a very good marina. It is worth having a look at the islands if you have time, but they are packed in school holidays, and you will need decent charts - the sailing is superb, but can be challenging with very strong currents and nasty drying bits, which move!

What is the name of the fish restaurant in Harlingen please?

 

[RMA]

Burnham to Lowestoft is around 90 nm. It's not a lot further across to North Belgium/South Holland from Burnham. Why not make the crossing direct from Burnham then hop up the coast to Ijumuiden.

I don't think its as far as that. The last time I went from Burnham to Lowestoft I did it in one hit and the GPS recorded 72nm.

 

[tidclacy]

Yes my reckoning is similar.

 

[AliM]

Can't remember the name of the restaurant in Harlingen, but it is at the end of Noorderhafen on the East side by a small bridge over Noorderhafen. We last went there 2 years ago, so it may have changed.

77 miles Burnham to Lowestoft via Shotley, so RMA's 72 sounds about right.

 

[johnalison]

We went to De Djotter I think it was a couple of years ago. We sat outside and the meal took a long but enjoyable time. At the end of the harbour on the right corner by the bridge. We usually stay in the YC marina just past the lock, but it is a bit shallow. Anybody following AliM needs to know that they draw about three inches and enjoy sailing in next to nothing.

Much as I admire Van Gogh, my favourite museum in Amsterdam is the Tropenmuseum. Ethnographic sounds boring, but it is brilliantly displayed and has an ethnic cafe. A short tram ride from the station.

PS, I've just remembered the brilliant chandlers by the fish dock in Harlingen. I walked there in company with Ken (fish) Green, which was an education in itself, if only to have pointed out the quota-dodging fishing boats from Grimsby.