Help wanted for sailing trip to dunkerque Ostend and beyond

[Cantata]

Ok, you've got cross-Channel experience, that's great!
Hope you get to Holland. Honestly, you don't necessarily need lots of specific places recommended - every town or village we've ever visited in Zeeland has been a really nice experience. We love it over there, and I'm starting to wish I was there now instead of trying to make progress along the French coast westwards in mixed weather!
Good luck.

 

[Boz]

Mmm it's a very tough crowd on here prob why I haven't posted before. I feel very silly. Not based in ramsgate but further west and have been west along the coast only and across the channel to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands. If I'm brave enough to post again will ask more specific questions but was just looking for some tips and recommendations and thought that was ok. Have got some wonderful tips from some very kind souls so was definitely worth it.

No 'toughys' on here Wendy, mostly pussy cats really and anxious to help, but advice can be dangerous without some knowledge of experience..... two other things, have a look at Box Berth techniques and Google 'Netherlands Mast up Route'.

You may have see the threads on the changes to the TSS off the Westerschelde worth a recap

 

[jant]

Hi Wendy
I hope that you enjoy the sail, and embrace the East Coast, its a great spot for yachting!
The Cruising Association may be a good place for you to do research http://www.theca.org.uk/home
the association has local members in most harbours, has a forum that includes European inland waterways produces an excellent almanac and best of all it has a chart room and library in Limehouse that is available to members.
Fair winds

 

[PeterWright]

All the advice offered here is great, but I wish people wouldn't write in such glowing terms about our East Coast. I'm currently seeking to enjoy the beautiful ports of S Devon and Cornwall (Falmouth tonight) and find the scenery beautiful, but everywhere overcrowded compared to our lovely E Coast ports. I'd like the E Coast to be spared such an invasion. I know it's a selfish thought, but that's how I feel.

Peter.

 

[Tomahawk]

Is zeirekezee worth A visit?

You can get fed up with drop dead gorgeous beautiful harbours in the centre of town surrounded by good restaurants.

 

[Daydream believer]

Wendy7000, don't be put off coming here. Looking through the posts only two out of the lot have been 'tough'!
The other piece of advice I'd add to tLouth7's is; take a fender board for the locks. In summer they get pretty crowded and a certain amount of jostling can happen. If you are next to the lock wall a board mounted outside your fenders is really helpful and can save your gelcoat. Trust me on this one!

You will chuck the fender board in the next lock- forget it - totally unnecessary, I do not think I have seen a single dutch yacht with them

 

[Daydream believer]

When going down the coast remember to play the tides & it will take a large part of your 2 week holiday. The tide between Ostend & Breskens can get quite strong the further east you go, but I often do Ostend to Middleburgh in one hop if the wind is playing ball. However, on the return I call at Breskens so i can select the return timing better, plus fuel up, although fuel is readily available at Middleburgh. To be honest 2 weeks is not really long enough to get to Flushing & back doing day sails to Ramsgate, Dunkirk, Ostend Etc. You need to skip Dunkirk if poss& do ramsgate to Flushing in 2 hops.( 4 days of your hols inc the return)

Comments above about places like Willemstad can be ignored as you will not get that far with only 2 weeks if you want to spend a day in each place looking round. You will possibly only manage Middleberg, Verre ( I recommend hiring bikes, ride to Verre & explore for a day Inc go up the cathederal tower then return to Middleburgh & ride round there for a look round before taking the bikes back) Goes & Zeirekezee

One point about the coast trip is to watch the banks between Neiuport & Dunkirk.
You can quite easily sail into a cul de sac in the sand banks along the shore & you have to swop over channels before you do this. Study the chart & you will see what i mean. It can be dodgy at low tide if you miss the crossing point which does have a couple of buoys. If going Ramsgate to Ostend, further offshore, it is not an issue.