Channel crossing

[jjj]

Hi Iam intending to sail to the north sea canal in Ijmuiden Holland, and was wondering were would be the best place to cross the channel? I will be leaving from Southhampton. I was wondering if there is a unoffficial crossing point to limit the danger from commercial shipping. Thanks JJJ


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[Athene V30]

I am not aware of any official crossing points - I would cross where it is narrowest even though this does concentrate the shipping.

Going form Southampton I would cross Dover to Calais / Dunkerque at right angles to separation lanes & on a day with good visability! The first time I did this about 4 years ago I saw no ships at all and my crew thought I had totally exagerated the density of shipping to be expected - until we came back!

Alternative would be to cross somewhere between Southampton and Brighton to Fecamp / Dieppe - much longer (60 to 70 miles or so) but no shipping lanes (from memory. However still need to keep good look!

Good Luck

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[maxi]

Hi JJJ

Crossing at the narrowest point does have some merit, and a coastal trip up to the N Sea Canal is more interesting than being offshore.
But it also takes you into some areas of pretty shallow water that you may wish to look at closely and, it takes you directly through the approaches to Europort. This can be a mind-blowingly busy area of complex ship movements during the day and certainly no place for a small boat at night.
Not so long ago in that area I was hauled from my bunk by my, far from novice, crew, who had the lights of 28 "threat" ships at close quarters. A night he will not forget.

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[tcm]

yep, there are no official or unofficial crossing points. Crossing at the narrowest point is more likely to have ships line astern so only concentrated laterally which is better than down channel when they are more able to overtake.

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[brianhumber]

having done this a time or two I find crossing to the French Side when between Folkstone and Dover easy and the shortest route. Then going up past Dunkirk is a doddle if you keep just outside the big ship channel. Working the tides helps a great deal. The dog leg after Dunkirk through the sandbanks to take you onto Belguim is narrow and needs careful attention to the bouyage.
Crossing the Schelt and Europort shipping channels needs very close attention and never in Fog IMHO. Use your VHF as the port authorities require.
Use the Dutch charts - very good


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[jjj]

Thank you all for responsing and adding some clarity to the subject, it is appreciated. Cheers JJJ

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[sailorman]

if u r a sailor that may depend on wind direction @ the time of trip.


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[AndrewB]

Different strategy.

Crossing to the French side from somewhere around Folkestone and then following along the Belgian and Dutch coast has the advantage of providing plenty of stopovers if the weather turns nasty or you get tired.

It has the disadvantage of routing you through a number of the most busy traffic areas: the Dover Straight TSS, outside Zeebrugge, mouth of the Westerschelde, and the Maas Precautionary Area. Moreover, you are sandbank-dodging for much of the way.

These can be avoided by following the English coast around to North Foreland, then heading roughly NE and crossing the much less busy North Hinder North TSS at around 52º N, 2º30'E and north of the short TSS marked by the NHR-N buoy.

From memory I believe this also works better on the tide as you can get an initial good ride north-east from Ramsgate, into the area of weaker currents in the southern North Sea. I think this route is preferable if speed is a consideration.

 

[Koeketiene]

Re: Different strategy.

Fully agree - have taken roughly the same route in the past (when in a hurry). Less busy, tides work for you,... .
Only (major!) minus - you will miss Ostend -> by far my favorite destination in that part of the world.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[jamesjermain]

Re: Different strategy.

I haven't done this particular passage but from what I have heard, I would avoid the Schelte area if at all possible.

If the plan is simply to get to Ijmuiden as quicly as possible it seems silly to go south across the Channel when you have to make a lot of north. I would follow the suggestion of sailing up to North Foreland then crossing direct to Ijmuiden.

There could even be an argument for going right up to Harwich, spending a pleasant evening in the Suffolk Yacht Harbour at Levington or the Woolverstone marina further up the Orwell. From here you can head almost due east to Ijmuiden which would be the least stressful crossing.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ