Chichester to Scheveningen

[Badger]

I am planning to do this trip in the summer. it looks like a nightmare in terms of TSS systems. My current plan is to to to Ramsgate and then over but based on the "angle of attack" it looks like a nightmare ! Anyone done it or have a better plan ? Thanks.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

beach

I am planning to do this trip in the summer. it looks like a nightmare in terms of TSS systems. My current plan is to to to Ramsgate and then over but based on the "angle of attack" it looks like a nightmare ! Anyone done it or have a better plan ? Thanks.

Did it the other way last month on a commercial delivery. From Scheveningen down the coast until you get to the Maas crossing reporting point (buoy MN1). Lots of traffic going in and out of Europort, but the crossing was helped by information in English from the harbour entrance control. The busy bit is not very wide here, so you are soon across it.

Then it was carry on down the Belgian and French coast inside all the TSS stuff. You can go inside the end of the Zeebrugge TSS, watch out for a few well buoyed shallows to avoid off Dunkerque. When near Calais at the narrow bit of the TSS, cross over it on a purpledracula course avoiding the big scary moving things, and then it's just a pootle along the UK coast in the ITZ.

In Scheveningen you have to go for a walk along the beach. It's illegal not to in cloggy law. Probably.

 

[vyv_cox]

Did it the other way last month on a commercial delivery. From Scheveningen down the coast until you get to the Maas crossing reporting point (buoy MN1). Lots of traffic going in and out of Europort, but the crossing was helped by information in English from the harbour entrance control. The busy bit is not very wide here, so you are soon across it.

Then it was carry on down the Belgian and French coast inside all the TSS stuff. You can go inside the end of the Zeebrugge TSS, watch out for a few well buoyed shallows to avoid off Dunkerque. When near Calais at the narrow bit of the TSS, cross over it on a purpledracula course avoiding the big scary moving things, and then it's just a pootle along the UK coast in the ITZ.

In Scheveningen you have to go for a walk along the beach. It's illegal not to in cloggy law. Probably.

Pretty much exactly the same as us, done it loads of times. Maas entrance is quite straightforward, less than a mile across but keep a good lookout as some of those ships move pretty fast. VHF contact with port control very helpful, especially in fog, as Angus McDoon says.

Then it's a matter of following the cardinal marks all the way down. We used to leave Stellendam after work, around 2000, then sail in shallow water all the way to the Westerschelde entrance, to 'Fairy' buoy as a waypoint IIRC, getting there just as the sun was coming up. From there we sometimes headed NW to cross the TSS at North Hinder if heading for Ramsgate, or carry on SW as AMcD says past Oostende to cross to Dover after the exit from the Dunkerque channel.

Some care needed at the banks NE of Oostende, we have seen a few yachts go aground there. Otherwise a most enjoyable trip. Hope it goes well.

 

[Koeketiene]

Ramsgate => 090 => Ostend (thus avoiding sandbanks off Dunkerque & Nieuwpoort)
Then just follow the coastline in a NE-ly direction.
Only thing then to consider is crossing the Scheldt estuary - get your tides right.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Southern N Sea

I am planning to do this trip in the summer. it looks like a nightmare in terms of TSS systems. My current plan is to to to Ramsgate and then over but based on the "angle of attack" it looks like a nightmare ! Anyone done it or have a better plan ? Thanks.

Ramsgate to Dunkirk is a nice leg - straight over the lanes of course, one tide, but not a strain in reasonable vis.

Dunkirk to Breskens for a nice break at the clubhouse, perhaps. Tides are quite an issue along this coast, you may want to put in earlier - Ostende is nice.

Breskens northwards: Take the inner channel round Zeeland and watch the depths, all well maked - this is Holland where the job is done properly!

Your big obstacle is the roundabout before the Maas entrance. Here shipping rushes in and out at full bore. You need good vis here - essential, and must call up Maas control before crossing. Approach the southern channel cardinal marker, then choose your moment and go full bore for it, and stand on when (inevitably) another vessel comes stright for you, or you are lost!

Good hunting.

PWG

 

[southerly]

we did it last year in May from Northshore/Itchenor beyond Scheveningen via Brighton, Dover, Ostend to Scheveningen. With good tidal planning it may take up to 5 days.

We crossed north of the ferry trail Dover-Calais, because you have a split traffic area and it was quite easy last year, no significant traffic. Rotterdam was more busy but still easy.

Enjoy,

Southerly

 

[AngusMcDoon]

choose your moment and go full bore for it, and stand on when (inevitably) another vessel comes stright for you, or you are lost!

When I was crossing the Maas entrance at night last month pretty much every vessel above the size of a fishing boat was displaying RAM lights.

Standing on to any of them was not an option.

 

[minnitt]

Unless you have some particular reason I would not myself choose Scheveningen as an end-destination. I was there last summer en route back to Chichester and thought the place dull and the coastline around it dull as well. The port was also a building site as new blocks of flats & offices were being put up. My preference would be to get into the Dutch inland waterways as soon as possible and explore them. Special plug for Dordrecht!
As others have already indicated the easiest crossing is Dover - Calais or thereabout. Then up the French/Belgian/Dutch coast. Ramsgate would give you longer at sea and a proper North Sea crossing. Cos of tides you might choose the former for the journey out and the latter for the return. Up to you! But whichever way you go there will be lots of boats in that part of the wood going in all directions and lots of TSS's which need to be crossed at right angles.
The Maas trafiic control is very helpful, speaks good English and will guide you across if they think you may need assistance! Watch out for dredgers tho' - they are building more land immediately to the south of Europoort and dredgers are all over the place at that point.
Good luck.
Michael Minnitt

 

[multihullsailor6]

Same as AngusMcDoon I did it the other way in the summer of 2008, but after Calais went on to Boulogne and Dieppe - discovered Dieppe to be a delightful town. Then across to Newhaven in one tack crossing the here wide shipping lanes at close to 90 degrees. AIS does help in these waters though. Do go in to Breskens if you have time.

 

[huzar30]

I did Ramsgate to Den Helder a couple of years ago. The advantage of this route is that you can run parallel to the main shipping line, about 5 miles north. The only time you cross lanes is where the DW route cuts north [not that busy] and again near Den Helder [but most of the traffic has gone into Europort].

Being 5 miles off means you are clear of the lanes yet close enough to see all the traffic. AIS is very useful here!

The journey took about 24 hours.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Scheveningen: 101 ways to eat eel.

 

[vyv_cox]

Scheveningen: 101 ways to eat eel.

We lived about two miles away for seven years. Never ate an eel once. Ate lots of other stuff there though, mostly pretty good.

 

[Badger]

Thanks very much

Thanks for all the info. I need to look at the right scale chart and work out where all these things are that you have mentioned. I have got friends who live near the Hague in a place called Kijkduin so I have been there by road a few times. I found the restaurants and bars in Scheveningen and Kijkduin to be really good. ( Maybe it helps to know a local or two ).

 

[huzar30]

There is also the coast hopping route - I did it in reverse: Scheveningen>Zeebrugge>Dover>Brighton>Portsmouth.

Beware the sandbanks off Dunkirk!

 

[kingfisher]

Ramsgate-Ostende is the most efficient route, you make best use of the tides and you cross the shipping lanes at near 90° without having to deviate from you course

Don't do Ramsgate-Dunkerque, because the next day (Dunkerque-Breskens ex.) you'll have to deal with the pass de Zuydcote and the flemish bank, a nuissance on a good day, a vomit inducing area in bad weather.

Zeebruge is the main port of refuge when the weather is totally ****. But beware, the jetty which sticks out 2 Nm causes all sorts of weird currents: so waves will be choppy and out of synch. Nothing bad, but you'll notice it.

Zeebrugge (ZB) as a port itself is ****: expensive and no entertainment. In fine weather, aim for Blankenberge (BB). BB is actually quicker than ZB: when you enter between the moles in ZB, you still need to navigate the industrial port. You'll be in the pub quicker if headed for BB. Beware: BB has a -1.5m sill at LLW SP halfway down the canal, AND do not approach BB in anything above 6bft with a north-element.

BB-schevening is a long slog, because of the tides. You'll need to start at the beginning of the first fair tide, take your losses with the foul tide (better not do this with spring tides) and end at the second fair tide.

Or spend the night behind the Roompot sluis (free pontoons and anchorage) on the Oosterschelde.

Or
Chichester-Newhaven-Dover-Gravelines-Blankenberge-Roompot-Scheveningen

Why Scheveningen? There's nothing there?

 

[WindyOut]

Was in Scheveningen last June. The port has nothing to commend it except it's the only stopover option between Stellendam and IJmuiden.

Two things about the Maas entrance:
1. Be ready for the riptide (not dangerous at all, just bumpy for a couple of minutes)
2. You're in Dutch territorial waters, and the Dutch convention (and law in inland waters) is that anything over 15m LOA has right of way over anything smaller than 15m. Ergo: don't stand on against any commercial vessels, even under sail. Either choose your moment and full-bore it across the 1-mile-wide entrance or ask Maas Control to guide you across (they're patient and helpful).

Good passage ;-)

WindyOut