Expand Ostende 2007?

26 footer > Oostende & Back in a week end

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Ah, i've been away and a lot has happened!!!
Brillinat info on Ostende, thnaks everyone.
At my end there's been developments, too. My wife has just agreed to 2 weeks in August to try our first attempt at ostend then. If it's ok with the forum, i'll keep asking daft questions about what to prepare and how.
Better still i went out sailing this afternoon in a dinghy with wet suit - i was zinging around. May i recommend to you all off-season dinghy sailing to keep you sane - all you need is a winter wetsuit.
Navigation-wise - keep it simple, stupid. Right?
I've got experienced crew to help. Just need to prepare properly.
Fingers crossed.
 
harwich > s cork (well to port) > north east gunfeet stbd > longsand head 130 deg true > west hinder ( optional )>Oostende

from LSH if you can manage a 12 hr trip into Oostende the tides will cancel-out but make sure your "Up-Tide" on arrival

Oostende Pilots ( Hbr Control ) on Ch 09, for entry if you get green signal from Port Pr Hd dont call Hbr just proceed in . Montgomery Dock is the first hole to stbd
 
[ QUOTE ]

What's the best navigation guide to Ostende harbour?

[/ QUOTE ]

Enter harbour
First right
Then right again

If you're going in August like you said, you need not do anything else. GOD (Robert - HM - voice like foghorn) will tell you what to do - and where.


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Insiders tip: Be his "friend" - he smokes Bastos BTW - and you will not come to any harm.
Insiders tip N°2: leave Port Control (CH 09) well alone, unless you really have to. They're there for ferries & fishermen only - and tend to view yachts (and in particular foreign yachts) as a nuisance.
 
There's more than enough info in the Almanac, no need to buy a dedicated book.... it really is very easy once you are in the harbour...

Only thing to be aware of, is that in the Montgomery dock, you moor bow too, with the stern attached to one of a number of buoys off the pontoon....

So be prepared with a long line (30m?)...

Easiest stratgy is to prepare the line on a stern cleat, take it forward a little, put the boat alongside (downwind) of the buoy, thread it through, take up the slack, and then motor very gently towards the pontoon using the stern line to check your speed.... have at least one bow line prepared, and place it on the upwind side, get someone ashore to make it off, and you are on.... time to tidy her up at your leisure.... if its really breezy, there's nothing wrong with resting your boat alongside another in a temporary raft while you get your bow lines on, but remember that if you do so, you are putting a lot of weight on their lines, so be reasonably quick!

Hope that helps
 
do the mobo's moor up like that too? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

only i think i have crew and may almost certainly be joining you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

would it be unsociable if i were to take a berth in th Mercator marina?
Would be nice to go in and out without a "friend" causing 100 quids of damage! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Doug
 
Here we go, shows the issues with mooring. I went in there with a my boat, I had never even reversed it before, as it was launched that week, and this was Full Circle's first trip.

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Yep, the mobos too.... although there are a few alongside berths available for the bigger stuff, so you might strike lucky!

Yes it would be unsociable to go into Mercator... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The mooring system is really very very easy... in fact, I think its easier than going alongside.....
 
That gap that I am in above was about 2/3rds the width as I started my entry. It magically streched open as I went in, and was assisted by 1/2 a dozen mooring lin helpers too.

Doug, dont be such a wuss. Actually if you look, there is a stern to boat on the left of our lot waving a Belgian flag, so it aint impossible. Also, you need to be instructed by Robert. Its worth the experience everytime.
 
wuss /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
wuss /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif


thats got me going now! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif


you watch when i arrive /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
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