First trip Harwich to Ostende

[island163]

We are planning to go across the North Sea this weekend, probably on Sunday as it looks calmest that day. I want to keep SWMBO happy as this is the first leg of a long summer of sailing. We hope to do it as a day sail as this is our first big trip this season. Any tips, suggestions from the experienced sailors on this forum. I've planned out at a route using a combination of the Imray C30 chart and the North Sea Passage Pilot.

After getting to Ostende we will head to Vlissingen/Middleburg on Monday and then follow the standing mast route through Holland.

 

[Cantata]

So what is your outline plan to get to Oostende?

 

[island163]

Landguard, Cork Sand, Roughs Tower, head towards Sunk W2 but turn south to cross TSS, keep going south until Sunk S2 is abeam and then head east crossing TSS. Once crossed both sections of TSS head southeast in general direction of garden city making sure we cross next big TSS at right angles. After that head southeast to MOW 7 and then SSE to cross TSS. Then head east to just south of KBK2 and then MBN then head southeast to channel into Ostende. It reckon it's about 80 miles overall and we should be able to motor/sail at 6+ knots giving us a crossing time of about 13 hours. I plan to leave at 0500 on Sunday which looks to be about HW Harwich +1.5. Given that we should be able to make it over two tides I don't think I'll have to worry too much about tidal vectors as long as we make sure we cross the many TSS schemes at right angles.

 

[sailorman]

Landguard, Cork Sand, Roughs Tower, head towards Sunk W2 but turn south to cross TSS, keep going south until Sunk S2 is abeam and then head east crossing TSS. Once crossed both sections of TSS head southeast in general direction of garden city making sure we cross next big TSS at right angles. After that head southeast to MOW 7 and then SSE to cross TSS. Then head east to just south of KBK2 and then MBN then head southeast to channel into Ostende. It reckon it's about 80 miles overall and we should be able to motor/sail at 6+ knots giving us a crossing time of about 13 hours. I plan to leave at 0500 on Sunday which looks to be about HW Harwich +1.5. Given that we should be able to make it over two tides I don't think I'll have to worry too much about tidal vectors as long as we make sure we cross the many TSS schemes at right angles.

Landguard to cork Bn or south cork ( depending on tide flooding or ebbing )then Long Sand Hd then Oostende approx 125 > 130 depending upon off set needed for the tide. Job done
Landguard By > Oostende 72 Nm

 

[MoodySabre]

As Sailorman says. I've never worried about crossing the Sunk TSS at right angles and seldom seen any traffic in the southern part. The worst bit for me is out near the end of the Shipwash where the deep water channel curves round. I shall try to avoid it in future by taking the Cork Sand route if leaving from Harwich.

I'm not going to Holland this year but you should have a great time. It's a good time of year to go before it gets too busy. Now feeling a bit envious......

 

[island163]

Landguard to cork Bn or south cork ( depending on tide flooding or ebbing )then Long Sand Hd then Oostende approx 125 > 130 depending upon off set needed for the tide. Job done
Landguard By > Oostende 72 Nm

So we cross the TSS by Long Sand Head and then cross the big roundabout in the sea and head across to Ostende. That looks a lot simpler and shorter, thanks for the suggestion. Would you recommend going down to Long Sand or could we just head for the Sunk W2 and then get into the Sunk Precautionary area?

 

[sailorman]

So we cross the TSS by Long Sand Head and then cross the big roundabout in the sea and head across to Ostende. That looks a lot simpler and shorter, thanks for the suggestion. Would you recommend going down to Long Sand or could we just head for the Sunk W2 and then get into the Sunk Precautionary area?

Medusa or Cork Bn Trinity LSH then straight into Oostende on 130 deg

i have used that once or twice

 

[island163]

Thanks to you all for the advice, that looks like a much better plan. This is our first year of sailing on the East Coast (apart from coming down from Scotland last autumn). It's hard to get used to the traffic after having sailed on the west coasts of Ireland and Ireland since 2008 and having got used to seeing very little shipping.

Looking forward to exploring our way through the Dutch canals for a month as we head for the Baltic.

 

[Marmalade]

Landguard to cork Bn or south cork ( depending on tide flooding or ebbing )then Long Sand Hd then Oostende approx 125 > 130 depending upon off set needed for the tide. Job done
Landguard By > Oostende 72 Nm

+1

easy peasy

 

[Otter]

Allow some tide offset, let it take you off course one way then back otherwise it adds about 20% to the journey. We got it wrong on our first two crossings steering religiously for the waypoints, after that we got all sophisticated and proper like and just sailed a bearing, letting the tide drift us off and back on course. Some awfully clever chap on the forum said the difference is 20% with moderate tides, certainly it's been taking less time.

 

[island163]

All went well on passage, thanks all for your advice. Beer and Moules were consumed on arrival in Ostend.

 

[sailorman]

All went well on passage, thanks all for your advice. Beer and Moules were consumed on arrival in Ostend.

Bier

 

[sailorman]

how long did it take

 

[Cantata]

Pleased you made it OK, I am faintly jealous.

 

[jerrytug]

Can I suggest, take your time going up the standing mast route,pull over at the little places and stroll about. They are very pleasant and all have their own character. Enjoy!

 

[Koeketiene]

All went well on passage, thanks all for your advice. Beer and Moules were consumed on arrival in Ostend.

Where did you stay?
Are the pick-up buoys at the RNSYC in place yet?