Canals...advice needed please

[phantomlady]

Hi all, we have now bought a lifting keel yacht (small old Southerly) and are looking for pastures new.
Our ultimate goal is to reach Greece/Turkey but we thought we would go the inland route. Anyone here done it and willing to share advice/resources?
As we are currently based on the North coast of Cornwall we had an idea to go up to Bristol and go inland there...might be a nice trip up to London?? Our dimensions are fine (checked) but wondering about practicalities...would we need to have a BSC before we can get a CRT licence? If so can we get one in Bristol does anyone know?
France doesn't really appeal (may be too expensive anyway) so we intend to go through either/or Holland/Belgium.
What about navigation...thought about Navionics.
Anyone any experiences they are willing to share...
TIA

 

[Tranona]

Are you sure you can get through the canals? - the only possibility is the Kennet and Avon. You need to check with the CRT whether you need a BSC as it depends on how long you intend being in the system.

Don't know what your comment about the French canals is based on but if you think France is expensive then look more closely at your proposed route. France is far and away the more practical route to the Med. Going through Eastern Europe is definitely in the "challenge" category and rarely used because it is so long and difficult, mainly because it is against the flow and much is through heavily used commercial routes. On the other hand, France is mostly tranquil rural canals with minimal commercial traffic and can be either quick or slow depending on your mood.

Plenty of books around on the subject as well as blogs, magazine articles videos etc. particularly the blogs posted here.

 

[phantomlady]

We like the idea of a challenge

 

[macd]

Does the challenge you have in mind include the Danube/Black Sea? That's about the only canal option if you wish to avoid France.

 

[phantomlady]

Yes, thats the plan!

 

[canoeman]

Does the challenge you have in mind include the Danube/Black Sea? That's about the only canal option if you wish to avoid France.

Yes, thats the plan!

Be very interested how you get on.

 

[vyv_cox]

I cannot offer you any useful advice but we have met several yachtsmen who have done exactly what you are planning, one of them singlehanded. He was in Greece having come down the Danube.

 

[macd]

Yes, thats the plan!

Good luck (no irony intended). There are a few blogs of such a trip on-line, if you care to search. Also a couple of books, including one by Rod Heikell, author of several Med pilots, who did the Danube many years ago. I think the whole of it's in the EU*, so you'd better hope there is a Brexit transition period or you may be stuffed.

* Barring Turkey, of course, which you mention as a destination.

 

[Grehan]

http://www.cruising-the-danube.com/

 

[doug748]

We like the idea of a challenge

Read this then, a very good book, may even be a great one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unlikely_Voyage_of_Jack_de_Crow

 

[JFowler]

Read ‘The Amazing Voyage of Jack Decrow’. It written by a chap who did exactly what you’re envisaging, albeit in a Mirror Dingy!
It’s a great read anyway.

 

[JamesFrance]

Everything you need to know about CRT visitor licensing is here

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjo...ying-your-licence/short-term-visitor-licences

You would also need a Thames license

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-visiting-launch-short-period-application

 

[jneale]

Been there - Done than - 2001/ 2002 in Husky 24 motorsailer. via -France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria Romania to Istanbul. PM me for the raw logs and also the printed PBO article 'East through Europe'

Best gateway to Greece where we cruised around for another 12 years

Do It -

 

[dabsolute470]

wish you all the best, this is the journey we had planned for this year but due to business and health issues we have had to postpone it till maybe next year

good luck

 

[LittleSister]

Read this then, a very good book, may even be a great one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unlikely_Voyage_of_Jack_de_Crow

Read ‘The Amazing Voyage of Jack Decrow’. It written by a chap who did exactly what you’re envisaging, albeit in a Mirror Dingy!
It’s a great read anyway.

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