family friendly destinations - there and back in a week

[Marmalade]

Thanks @westhinder lots to think about there.

Youngest will be 15 by next summer. Beeches are not a huge priority.

Clearly a car does open up a lot of possibilities, and with two drivers in the land crew, looks like a sensible option.

In terms of heading back from a NE destination, I wouldn't be planning to set off across the north sea into a headwind above f5.

Yes, we could take more than a week but that does depend on the enthusiasm of other parties.

As for Brexit, Covid, armageddon, I'm just taking an optimistic view ?

That's a fair old headwind - if you add boat speed. Obviously depends on your tolerance - but a F5 (ie up to 20kts) when you sail into it immediately becomes a F6 - c. 23/24 kts - 30 hours of that in a small boat can put your crew off for life...

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

If you only have a short time I would have thought Blankenburg, Ostend, Niewpo rt and Dunquerqe would provide the variety you are seeking. Family train to Bruges via Eurostar to Brussells and train to Bruges (hotel). Then train and tram to visit Blankenburg, Ostend and Niewport. Bus to Dunquerque. The beaches at Dunquerque, with its cafes and sports are worth a visit.
Ostende a day sail from Harwich. If the wind goes NW, come back the long way round via Ramsgate. If you have a fair wind and tide go on to Boulogne. Use the northerly marina at Dunquerque for the beaches, but food supplies some way off.

 

[Rafiki]

If you only have a week or so then. Ramsgate - Graveline, Boulogne and return would about do it. You can miss Graveline out on the way back. The problem with going further ie Dieppe is that it's a fair distance from Boulogne and you have to get back don't you ! You also don't want to be spending each and every day on the go and weather often intervenes ( I for one have always been forced to spend an extra day in Ramsgate in one direction or the other due to inclement weather.
When considering distances crossing the channel in the Calais, Boulogne area you need to consider the need to consider the Traffic seperation zones and the requirements for crossing.
I did this trip in the summer and also went to Dieppe and Fecamp and a couple of places in between, allowing for days we chose not to move and days when weather dictated that we didn't move the total return trip to the Orwell was 3 weeks. We didn't hurry and it would have been quicker to miss out Graveline, but it was a lovely place well worth spending a full day there.

 

[johnalison]

If you only have a short time I would have thought Blankenburg, Ostend, Niewpo rt and Dunquerqe would provide the variety you are seeking. Family train to Bruges via Eurostar to Brussells and train to Bruges (hotel). Then train and tram to visit Blankenburg, Ostend and Niewport. Bus to Dunquerque. The beaches at Dunquerque, with its cafes and sports are worth a visit.
Ostende a day sail from Harwich. If the wind goes NW, come back the long way round via Ramsgate. If you have a fair wind and tide go on to Boulogne. Use the northerly marina at Dunquerque for the beaches, but food supplies some way off.

I have a soft spot for Blankenberg too. Other than at LW, it is easy to get to and leave, and the direct route is less troubled by banks than Ostend. The town and front are quite pleasant and you can eat well for not much cost. The tram is handy for Ostend and the coast.

From Walton B'berg takes about 13 hr for me but in my 34, I would be hard pressed to get home against even F5 on the nose without over 24hrs of unpleasant motor-sailing. I have often heard of people sailing back from that part of Europe against reportedly winds of F7 or more, but what they usually mean is that they had a slant on the wind and did it in one tack more ore less close-hauled. It can get very bumpy for the first twenty miles or so until you get to the shipping lanes.

 

[davidej]

My choice would be Vlissengen, up the canal to Middleberg and Veere. Then Goes, Zirkzee and home via the Rompots (apology if i have got any of the spellings wrong).6
Lovely sheltered sailing and stops on the town quays in beautiful historic towns. No impersonal marinas.

An easy weeks trip especially if you make the crossing overnight. Anyone who doesn't want to can avail themselves of the bargain Stena/ Dutch Railways train /ferry/ train tickets

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

+1 for use of Stena/Dutch Rly. tickets, and circuit proposed but with 2 overnight passages in a week you’ll be pretty shattered!

 

[Daydream believer]

Loads to do in Ostend.( 1 day trip from east coast) My wife & family regularly spent 2-4 weeks at a time there with me. Then one can nip along coast to Breskens then Middleburgh, which is all good fun through lock & up canal. Transport from Middleburgh to Ostend is cheap & dead easy- Or so my wife tells me, because she has done it when weather was rough
Non sailors go by train to Ostend ( like my wife) Cycling to the Atlantic wall& beaches & parks in Ostend. Plus tram to Blankenburge. Youngsters should enjoy boating though the lock & motoring up canal through bridges etc. Can get transport to Breskens if they do not want to sail the 5 hours to Breskens.. Go to Ostend 2nd week in August for the Paulusfeesten & the pop groups are free for a week which many like