Dover to Dunkirk/Oostende/Blankenberge/Zeebrugge

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awyatybw

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Hello,

I'm planning a passage from Dover to Dunkirk/Oostende/Blankenberge/Zeebrugge. I have never sailed this end of the channel before and, apart from being scared witless by the idea of the shipping lanes, I am also more than a little concerned by all the banks etc along the Belgian coast.

The tide turns in our favour at Dover HW -0200. I plan the crossing for neaps. When is the best time to set out? On the most likely day in question, Dover -0200 is around dawn.

I'd like to get as far up the coast as I can. Target cruising speed is 5kts, although might manage 6kts with favourable wind. Any suggestions or problems of note? The next hop will be to Flushing and then up the canal to Middelburg.

Any recommendations of good pilotage notes for this section of coast (the coast itself, not the various harbours: I have the Cruising Association book). What charts do people like for it? Imray C30 at 1:200,000 seems a bit small-scale for comfort.

Alan.
 
Although the shipping lanes can be busy, with prudence they are not an issue. I normally cross at 90 degrees which takes you almost to Calais and then along the coast. The shallow banks vary regularly and therefore your charts etc may be out of date but they are generally welll bouyed. The Dunkerque part is exceptionally bouyed. Also consider Neiupoort as a nice overnight stop. Dover to Dunquerque in a day is quite comfortable, and then Dunkerque to Flushing also. The meers of southern Netherlands are all open to you even with the mast up right up to the Fresians depending on your route. The Dutch sell chart folios which are available in Belgium, at considerably less than the UK sources. also dont forget the obligatory dutch vol 1 ANWB Almanac - only printed in dutch!Have a good, safe trip.

cheers
 
Alan,

I've sailed that part of the word for many years - we even kept our boat in Ostend for a year. Take my advice for what you think its worth.

1. Dover - Dunkirk's about 48NM. Given your boat and your average SOG you will have to cope with foul tide at some point. I would cross from Dover to Calais - a more reasonable 28NM. Do-able on one tide. As to nav - just follow the ferries, there'll be plenty of them.

2. Calais - Dunkirk - 30NM. If you time your departure right, you should have the tide with you all the way.
As to nav - don't get to overly concerned about the sandbanks - keep between 1 & 2 NM offshore and just stay parallel to the coast.

Just take it from there - everything else should come in bite size chunks.
Keep an eye out for the cardinal buoys on the Dunkirk - Nieuwpoort bit, but other than that, I can see no real problems.

Nearly forgot: when entering Blankenberge hug the starboard pier. Quite a bit if silting port side. Try to enter as close to HW as you can.

Remember: if it seems stupid, but it works; it isn't stupid.

Have a good trip.

Will
 
IMHO, Neiuwport is nicer than Blankenburg for an overnight stop. Enjoy the trip.. If you pass through the Versemeer into the Osterchelde Kats marina is excellent - so clean that they keep the lobsters for the restaurant in cages beside the pontoons and they taste good too (the lobsters, not the pontoons!).
 
Used C30 last week with no problems for Oostende to Dunkirk, and then Dunkirk to Ramsgate.....

Dunkirk is easy and safe to get into.... suggest the marina farther in, the YC Mer du Nord.... friendly, and close to town.....

Run from Dunkirk to Oostende is only a short hop.... did it in 3 1/2 hours on Thursday with the tide.....

Didn't follow Wills advice about just staying offshore West of Oostende, but passed through the Dunkirk Pass de la Ouest, through the saddle (Trapegeer to E6) and the Buoyed channel..... v easy to follow in good vis as channel buoys are only 1/4 mile apart.... did however, pretty much just head straight for Oostende over the sandbanks when at HW, and never went below 7m of water.....
 
For many years I did this passage at least twice each season, as far up as Holland.

Dunkerque (East), can just about be reached on one tide from Dover, so its a good place to stop. Leave Dover just before the tide starts going NE, from memory that means 2 hours before high tide. Don't forget you MUST radio Port Control for permission to leave. East entrance is better for this passage. Head out to South Goodwin lightship, E to the edge of the shipping lane, then across to Dunkerque (formerly Dyke) LANBY on the other side. Then head towards Dunkerque following the line of buoys. Keep just outside the line of buoys to avoid ships, but beware near Dunkerque itself that it is very shallow quite close to the buoys on the north side. Dunkerque uses international traffic lights for entry. There are two marinas inside, the further one on the right is better for the town. Beyond Dunkerque, the nice thing is that because you are inside the sandbanks, the sea is nearly always quite calm, the tides aren't too strong until you get near Holland. Follow the buoys through the Passe de Zuydecoote. Note that the sands shift a lot here, and the buoys may be in different places from your chart. If so, TRUST THE BUOYS, not your chart. Once through, turn east to Nieuwpoort, which is a nice little spot, well worth a vist, lots of marinas to choose from.

From Nieuwpoort you don't need to worry about the sandbanks any more, keep fairly close to shore. Ostend is quite busy, but uses entry signals like Dunkerque and is easy to enter except in a strong N or NW wind. The Mongomery Dock there is often rather full and can suffer from swell, try the little marina right at the end of the main channel as an alternative.

Blankenberge entrance is shallow, only enter on the tide (about 2 hours either side). However, they had been very active dredging the entrance, and when I last visited it was considerably deeper than the pilot guide suggests. Zeebrugge is very commercial and busy. If you get that far I suggest you might press on to Vlissingen or Breskens in Holland which are much nicer - but beware the tides in the Westerschelde.

If you are still in doubt vitit the White Cliffs MYC which meets in Cullen's Yard Restaurant at Dover Marina on wednesdays and fridays. Their members regularly do this passage and you might even be able to 'cruise in company'.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Keep an eye out for the cardinal buoys on the Dunkirk - Nieuwpoort bit

[/ QUOTE ]

There's a nasty "S" bend in the channel between Nieuwpoort & Dunkirk, if push comes to shove follow the buoys not the chart through the bend.

I can recommend the "Royal Belgian Air Force YC" in Nieuwpoort - friendly and a great restaurant.

On the Dover - Calais crossing, remember that for every berth vacated by a ferry there will be one to fill it - so if you see 3 leave expect 3 to arrive - they may not all be visible.

Peter.
 
We "do" this stretch of Belgium/Holland frequently but from East Coast so cant comment on getting there from your end but..
Oostende - nice port but often have to wait to enter & rolls a bit in the first harbour but v good cluhouse & near town; others quieter but not so nice. sl older kids love it.
Nieuport - nice & quiet and straight in but a long way from the town; good marinas and clubhouse & restaurant (Miss Belgium parade there last visit !!)
Zeebrugge - a rolly wait to enter; long way in to marina & v isolated from town 'tho local restaurants nearby - many fish-based.
Blankenburg - entrance better than reported (we draw 2m) and would prob go in LW+2h @ neaps. Towns a bit tacky but its foreign tack so quite fun & lots for the kids to do. Nice beach.
Breskens - nice marina but quite isolated from town; lots of big boats to dream about. Great clubhouse and food.

TIDE - use it esp in the Westerschelde; even at neaps its pretty strong near the entrance.
At 5kts even with tide its a bit of a hike from VLissengen/Breskens to get past Oostende (& vice-versa) & Blankenburg/OOstende to Dunqureque/Calais is a decent trip.
Going into Westerschelde we normally go shore-side of the traffic lanes & cross N of them at the narrowest bit & convienient time then follow N side to Vlissengen & creep in close to shore minding vessles going N up the Derlou Channel.
Southern delta - brilliant place go there alot. Seems less crowded recently. Favourite towns - Middleburg; Goes; Zirekzee & of course the Islands everywhere.
 
Just to add to Andrews notes,

The mistake many people make is to wait until the tide is about to turn before leaving Dover. You want to be towards mid channel when it turns to maximise the push past calais and up to Dunkirk and avoid having to point too southerly to make the Dunkirk approach channel

So leave Dover 3 hours or so before high water and you will easily make Dunkirk before the tide turns against you.
 
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