Did anyone make it to Ostende?

Not better, just different. I still reckon Cherbourg is the best artifical harbour I've ever sailed into. Well lit, good shelter and enough room in the Petit Rade for a J class to round up and drop her sails. Oh, and the supermarket is somewhat superior. :p

Just remember to stay up-tide when approaching.
 
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We went there on the 9th may after a weather aborted try for Amsterdam, I didn't want to beat into that sea a moment longer, certainly not for the 24 hours it would have taken us and had to retreat back to the orwell to re group, early leave saw us in ostende, I do like it there but prefer it when the festival is on, believe its going to be every 2 years now as the berth holders have revolted and complained about having to move out for the weekend. sad. Would have liked to have met some of you fellows there, that Duval is lovely but man its strong.........
 
We have been thinking of you. we were pleased not to have opted for the good weather forecast for tuesday, pleased we made the right call & left when we did but 2 hrs earlier would have been better. we had to stay hard on the wind the first 5 hrs & followed the wind backing so as to get south of s galloper, pre windmills we would have sailed over it. doing so cost time as we were hard on the wind & a couple of miles extra on the trip. we still made 12h 10 mins to landguard By
 
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Kurrawong_Kid said:
Not when in Ostende he is'nt! Only the SWMBO! Ostende at Anchor magnificent! Arrived back Thursday night, having sneaked to Dunkirk before the gale and had a benign passage back yesterday.
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If there's one thing I envy you retired buggers, it's your free time (something us working slobs never seem to have enough of).
Sailing because you want to, not head back because you have to.
 
adamstjohn said:
We went there on the 9th may after a weather aborted try for Amsterdam, I didn't want to beat into that sea a moment longer, certainly not for the 24 hours it would have taken us and had to retreat back to the orwell to re group, early leave saw us in ostende, I do like it there but prefer it when the festival is on, believe its going to be every 2 years now as the berth holders have revolted and complained about having to move out for the weekend. sad. Would have liked to have met some of you fellows there, that Duval is lovely but man its strong.........
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The organisers have already announced next year's dates. It may be every two years from 2016 but I'd be surprised if that is the case as it's become a huge event for the town/city. Apparently, the marina in council-owned and they pretty-much do as they please.

The event must be a pain for the regular residents but it was interesting to see how quickly the marina was put back together after this year's festival. Residents have access to their boats throughout the event although most stayed in port this year due to the weather.
 
philiphurst said:
The organisers have already announced next year's dates. It may be every two years from 2016 but I'd be surprised if that is the case as it's become a huge event for the town/city. Apparently, the marina in council-owned and they pretty-much do as they please.
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- The Mercator dock belongs to the city. The exploitation of the marina is given in concession to Mercator Marina (majority shareholder is the RNSYC).

- As from 2016 the festival will become bi-annual. This is in a large part due to the fact that the driving force behind Oostende voor Anker (Hubert Rubens) also has a 'day job' as a member of the Belgian Navy PR department. The festival has grown so much over the last years, that organising it is making increasing demands on his time.

- The Belgian Navy Days (at Zeebrugge Naval Base), which Hubert Rubens also organises, also became a bi-annual affair. So, in future the Belgian Navy Days and Oostende voor Anker will alternate.
 
OR4751 said:
- The Mercator dock belongs to the city. The exploitation of the marina is given in concession to Mercator Marina (majority shareholder is the RNSYC).

- As from 2016 the festival will become bi-annual. This is in a large part due to the fact that the driving force behind Oostende voor Anker (Hubert Rubens) also has a 'day job' as a member of the Belgian Navy PR department. The festival has grown so much over the last years, that organising it is making increasing demands on his time.

- The Belgian Navy Days (at Zeebrugge Naval Base), which Hubert Rubens also organises, also became a bi-annual affair. So, in future the Belgian Navy Days and Oostende voor Anker will alternate.
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Thanks for this information. I hadn't realised that the RNSYC owned the Marcator Marina but had noticed their logo at the lock and assumed it to be a form of advertising.

I guess it makes sense to alternate events and will appease those berth-holders who may feel a little unhappy with an annual event at Oostende.
 
wingdiver said:
Saw you arrive. Welcome back. At least your berth was free :)
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Cripes it nearly wasn't. LK's berth was taken when we came back in Thursday evening after a week away - JJ said to take any vacant berth and it was either yours or the one two doors down. We chose that one because it was bigger. Glad we did or you'd have woken us with your bow thruster as you went past.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Cripes it nearly wasn't. LK's berth was taken when we came back in Thursday evening after a week away - JJ said to take any vacant berth and it was either yours or the one two doors down. We chose that one because it was bigger. Glad we did or you'd have woken us with your bow thruster as you went past.
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B of H has no bow thrusters, only pole thrusters. Much quieter
 
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