Crouch to Ijmuiden

[tidclacy]

Planning this trip in May.

Coming up from the South Inner Gabbard I plan to skirt the North edge of the Noord Hinder Junction to the East Cardinal Elatma and then on to Ijmuiden. I assume I will still have to cross the deep water route at right angles that runs North from the Noord Hinder. Am I correct in that assumption? Or has anyone got a better route?

 

[sailorman]

Planning this trip in May.

Coming up from the South Inner Gabbard I plan to skirt the North edge of the Noord Hinder Junction to the East Cardinal Elatma and then on to Ijmuiden. I assume I will still have to cross the deep water route at right angles that runs North from the Noord Hinder. Am I correct in that assumption? Or has anyone got a better route?

there is the North / South seperation between the SIG & Elatma. i would see what traffic is about @ the time.
we have done NIG into Ijmuiden on the rhum line no probs, the last time it was iron torp`sl all the way. we did see our first dolphins though in the North Hinder anchorage

 

[AliM]

We've done it a quite a few times in each direction, but now we tend to go north along the coast beyond Harwich*, to avoid most of the nasty Harwich approach traffic, or even go up to Lowestoft, so we can go almost due East all the way crossing the remaining traffic at right angles.

There's the odd gas platform which you have to keep clear of, and AIS is useful so you can eliminate at a glance a lot of anchored (but well-lit) ships which can be confusing. The Ijmuiden approach is very easy. We intend to go that way as early in May as there's decent weather.

Sailorman - are you sure they were dolphins? We regularly see porpoises, but I've not seen a dolphin there. It would be great to see dolphins as well.

*At work, without charts, so I can't remember the exact route we use.

 

[tidclacy]

Excuse my ignorance Sailorman but can you elaborate on SIG & NIG

 

[sailorman]

Excuse my ignorance Sailorman but can you elaborate on SIG & NIG

south inner gabbard
north inner

 

[sailorman]

We've done it a quite a few times in each direction, but now we tend to go north along the coast beyond Harwich*, to avoid most of the nasty Harwich approach traffic, or even go up to Lowestoft, so we can go almost due East all the way crossing the remaining traffic at right angles.

There's the odd gas platform which you have to keep clear of, and AIS is useful so you can eliminate at a glance a lot of anchored (but well-lit) ships which can be confusing. The Ijmuiden approach is very easy. We intend to go that way as early in May as there's decent weather.

Sailorman - are you sure they were dolphins? We regularly see porpoises, but I've not seen a dolphin there. It would be great to see dolphins as well.

*At work, without charts, so I can't remember the exact route we use.

 

[AliM]

Super pictures, lovely dolphins - lucky you! I've only seen them in the Med - it's always been porpoises in the North Sea, including close in to the Naze and Brightlingsea, and lots in the Baltic.

 

[johnalison]

Last summer, we did Walton-Lowestoft and Lowestoft-Ijmuiden for the first time, having previously done Walton-Den Helder direct or others. It worked out very well and we saved having to do a tiring night passage (and thus moved on next morning). I can recommend it.

 

[squidge]

Hi I have sailed this route , Crouch to Suffolk Yacht Harbour , then SYH to Ijmiuden. Its a 24hr trip none stop, short handed , 2 adults , 2 children, Lots a strong coffee a must ! Yes cross every TTS at right angles if at all possible. I like the idea of Lowestoft to ijmuiden how long did that take? May consider this trip again in August. rgds

 

[Otter]

I think we might try Deben to Roompotsluis this summer. It's almost right angles to the TSS and avoids the Sunk roundabout. 90 miles is along way with three young children though...still it gets us to the Gravlingermer thingy in almost one go.

 

[sailorman]

I think we might try Deben to Roompotsluis this summer. It's almost right angles to the TSS and avoids the Sunk roundabout. 90 miles is along way with three young children though...still it gets us to the Gravlingermer thingy in almost one go.

check the lock opening times

 

[michael_w]

Beware of grubby diesel at the Ijmuiden marina. Clogged my primary filter up good and proper. If you have to fuel here, get yourself a filter funnel.

 

[Wunja]

check the lock opening times

Its on demand. It certainly opened at 3am to let a fishing boat out last month. They do have a habit of waiting for boats leaving Roompot marina, which can take about 40 minutes!

 

[Stork_III]

Its on demand. It certainly opened at 3am to let a fishing boat out last month. They do have a habit of waiting for boats leaving Roompot marina, which can take about 40 minutes!

I think in summer, it closes midnight Sat to 6 am Sun, otherwise 24hrs on demand.

 

[wingdiver]

check the lock opening times

That reminds me of our first trip out of there in Mermaid. As is usual, I called up the lock and asked what time the lock and bridge opened only to be told it was a fixed bridge.
Embarrased silence from me. Never had a problem previously as the last boat had a much shorter mast despite being a sloop.
The operator then kindly told me there was 20m airdraft at that time.
Quick calculation - new mast I had help the rigger build 55ft, about 6ft to the waterline from the deck, aerials around 2ft, total 63ft. 20 metres is 65ft!!! OMG!!
Lock chap offered to watch us creep under the bridge from his high vantage point so through we went.
You know that feeling when you pass under a bridge that is a huge distance above your mast (like the Orwell Bridge) and it looks like you are going to hit? Imagine that with only a couple of ft clearance. I had visions of masthead kit arriving on deck.
As it turned out, it was OK but that will teach me to check my information before passing through.
Also, I think it can be a lot lower that 20m airdraft depending on tide....

 

[Wunja]

You know that feeling when you pass under a bridge that is a huge distance above your mast (like the Orwell Bridge) and it looks like you are going to hit?

Like this?

Also, I think it can be a lot lower that 20m airdraft depending on tide....

It was 18 when we came through

 

[AliM]

We did the Lowestoft to Ijmuiden crossing a few weeks ago, aiming to do it more or less in daylight. It was one of those days recently with a persistent north east wind, so because the courses is due east, we were hard on the wind the whole time. The waves were quite big, too, so it was an exhausting and uncomfortable crossing. However, the strategy of setting out at 4 am was a good one, and we'll do that again. The worst traffic is about 30 miles off the Dutch coast, so you get through that, and the conversation about passing well clear of the De Ruyter oil platform with the guard boat, all in daylight. Then Ijmuiden is easy to get into in the dark.

For anyone who has noticed my absence from this forum, it's because we are back in the Baltic - near Flensburg at present, and hoping to wander around Denmark, Sweden, Bornholm and Germany before darkening the door of the East coast again! By the way, if you think the Ore entrance is bad, try the gaps between the German Frisians, and if you find the Wallet rough, try the Elbe - all that but with enormous ships passing close!