Cruising the nile?

[Ghetto_skool]

A freind an I made an observation, you don't appear to ever hear of people giving it a go. I'm not in the know so was wondering if im just not in the right circles or is there a reason people don't go? If anyone here has done it I would love to heat about the experience! Ta, Ian

 

[7htas]

Too much hassle.

That's going on my experience of being a Merchant Seaman alongside there; and also leaving the ship at Port Said.

It's not a country I'd go back to under my own steam.

 

[AndrewB]

It gets too shallow and there are barriers a few miles in. When this came up before, one forumite reported his daughter had managed it in a Wayfarer several years ago, but it had required at least one portage.

Reputedly the paperwork is formidable for any vessel entering the waterways, but the Yacht Club of Egypt at Alexandria used to assist.

Not that now seems like a very good time to be considering this.

 

[ribrage]

A freind an I made an observation, you don't appear to ever hear of people giving it a go. I'm not in the know so was wondering if im just not in the right circles or is there a reason people don't go? If anyone here has done it I would love to heat about the experience! Ta, Ian

Forget it , red tape nightmare through out the region in my experience, baksheesh rules, better taking a package holiday there and using a dhow, look for demon boys recent posts on visas etc

 

[rivonia]

Come on Myagi Moon. Albert did it and they enjoyed it. This was only a few months ago.

Peter

 

[jimbaerselman]

It gets too shallow and there are barriers a few miles in. When this came up before, one forumite reported his daughter had managed it in a Wayfarer several years ago, but it had required at least one portage.

Guilty m'lud. Portage through a weed clogged area if I remember her comments correctly. 20 years ago! Loved the trip, all the way to the Aswan dam and back. But many shoal areas which shift.

Reputedly the paperwork is formidable for any vessel entering the waterways, but the Yacht Club of Egypt at Alexandria used to assist.

No worse than Morocco; easier than Israel.

Not that now seems like a very good time to be considering this.

Indeed!

 

[Ghetto_skool]

I have a feeling now would probably the best time to go. Its only going to get worse as the country divides itself, can't see stability returning any time soon so now is probably your last chance for a while. I'm becoming a bit obsessed with the idea of a nile trip even if im reduced to a small rib and outboard for the vast majority! All pie in the sky of course but still a beautiful part of the world! How many days sailing is it to the dam from the mouth? Ian

 

[miyagimoon]

Come on Myagi Moon. Albert did it and they enjoyed it. This was only a few months ago.

Peter

No Peter, We did the Suez Canal and Red Sea in our own Yacht. The Nile is totally different. We did do Aswan to Luxor but on a Nile River Cruise Ship.

 

[rivonia]

No Peter, We did the Suez Canal and Red Sea in our own Yacht. The Nile is totally different. We did do Aswan to Luxor but on a Nile River Cruise Ship.

Yeh - Sorry it's me old age!
I'll drop you an e-mail later so we can catch up.

Peter

 

[Roberto]

If you can read French, this is a (rather old) account of a First 30 having gone as far as Assuan


http://www.guillou.com/nilinfos.htm#1

 

[BigJoe]

Slight thread drift.........

But...........

We are thinking of going through the canal in November, doing the North Red Sea, and come back up into the med in say.....Aprilish.

Just think it would be a warmer winter, and something a bit out of the ordinary.

 

[miyagimoon]

PM me if you want latest info, we did exactly that last year. It was great.

 

[BigJoe]

PM me if you want latest info, we did exactly that last year. It was great.

PM sent........

 

[jimbaerselman]

PM me if you want latest info, we did exactly that last year. It was great.

Have those cruises trumped the Gyppy Tummy label?

 

[miyagimoon]

Can't say it was all that great - outside the marinas (2) it is filthy. You are not allowed to get off the boat while travelling up and down the Red Sea (in Egypt anyway) Red tape, copies, more copies cruising permits ships papers etc. Then there's the baksheesh.... We all had to chip in 10$ at Port Said for the pilots of which I think only four boats had.

Coming back up the Red Sea it's motor all the way and a lot of diesel is used against the prevailing conditions. We found the whole experience quite expensive.

John

This is obviously your opinion based on your experiences whilst there with the Vasco Da Gamma Rally. We as you know went independent of any rally (with another 2 yachts). We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the weather was great, the people very helpful (the baksheesh culture only really existed in the Canal area), yes there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy. We entered and left Port Said without being required to use Pilots. We were allowed and did go ashore at numerous locations in Egypt without any real hassle once the officials had seen your paperwork etc.

It is known that the prevailing wind is NW, so coming back up from down south is all about timing and catching the south winds albiet they are few and far between. We managed it 90% of the time.