Hull to Amsterdam

[Norv]

Hi all, almost done with the repairs to the Colvic Watson28.6

I was wanting to know the feasibility of sailing to Amsterdam from Hull UK and back.

The Watson has a diesel BMC commodore 2.2 engine and two fuel tanks.
From what can gather It seems that it would be Engine most of the way there as the wind is in the wrong direction most of the time.
From anyone's knowledge what would be the rough fuel consumption and would sail be possible. What is the possibility of this and what would be needed for a trip of this kind?

Cheers for any advice.

 

[fifer]

Hi Norv, the wind is only in the wrong direction when its coming from where you want to go. In this case thats roughly SE which is a pretty uncommon direction for winds in the UK. This paper (https://www.metlink.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wea.301.pdf) outlines some of the detail. Assuming winds from the SW you'd cross on a nice beam reach.

How much have you sailed this boat and how much experience do you have. You'll need to plan customs/immigration paperwork, emergency refuges, canal locks, shipping lanes and tides on a trip like this.

For engine consumption 1L/hr/10HP is a rough rule of thumb I think. You might find fuel consumption curves for the engine in the owners manual.

Edit: lots of windfarms to navigate round now too

 

[Norv]

Thank you for your advice much appreciated, As to my experience I have some not a lot in fact very limited. At 50hp it sounds like a lot of diesel will be needed if all the way on Engine

Cheers again

 

[Daverw]

Did this 3 years ago, as the most common wind direction for us based on the Humber is westerly past spurn you head 100 degrees and keep going, diwnd wind or as wind gears beam reach, we had strong northerly and it was not comfortable we took 25 hours to get into Ijmiuden, then lock into canal to central Amsterda, we found the harder bit getting back as we had to come via Lowerstoft

 

[KompetentKrew]

I think what's missing here is the purpose of the trip and the time budget - those are essential information IMO.

Looks like the passage is about 28 hours at the Colvic's cruising speed of 6.5 knots if you go directly, so you could do it in a long weekend if everyone's capable and up for it and the goal is a big night out in Amsterdam.

If you have three weeks then you might stop in Blakeney, as Imray says it's very scenic, and also suggests a passage Lowestoft to IJmuiden.

Choose Sixhaven or Aeolus, as they are close to free ferries which run 24/7 to the central station. I would favour Aeolus as it's only 5 minutes walk, but has two good supermarkets adjacent; the Jumbo is Waitrose style, the other cheaper.

 

[Daverw]

Would not choose Blackney but instead go from Wells

 

[Zing]

I was wanting to know the feasibility of sailing to Amsterdam from Hull UK and back.

I’ve done it many times on P&O, Hull to Rotterdam. Fast and convenient. Amsterdam is a short train ride away.

 

[Daverw]

I’ve done it many times on P&O, Hull to Rotterdam. Fast and convenient. Amsterdam is a short train ride away.

not at the moment you won’t

 

[Zing]

not at the moment you won’t

Yer, damn covid bollocks, Zeebrugge is still going I think?

 

[PilotWolf]

I think there was a Training video on Only Fools and Horses....

W

 

[Stemar]

At 50hp it sounds like a lot of diesel will be needed if all the way on Engine

But you won't be using 50hp. I would expect 20HP would get you to hull speed in most conditions. Any more and you burn a lot more fuel for very little gain.

 

[Tradewinds]

I think what's missing here is the purpose of the trip and the time budget - those are essential information IMO.

Looks like the passage is about 28 hours at the Colvic's cruising speed of 6.5 knots if you go directly, so you could do it in a long weekend if everyone's capable and up for it and the goal is a big night out in Amsterdam.

If you have three weeks then you might stop in Blakeney, as Imray says it's very scenic, and also suggests a passage Lowestoft to IJmuiden.

Choose Sixhaven or Aeolus, as they are close to free ferries which run 24/7 to the central station. I would favour Aeolus as it's only 5 minutes walk, but has two good supermarkets adjacent; the Jumbo is Waitrose style, the other cheaper.

Personally I'd go to Amsterdam Marina - more likely to be room - call them on your mobile once through IJmuiden locks and (hopefully) book your berth. Good restaurant on site. Barely a 5 minute walk to the Ferry to Centraal Station. Now a new Albert Heijn supemarket close to the ferry terminal. What happens with immigration procedures nowadays I've no idea.

Edit. Ferry leave on the hour and half hour going to the station - like clockwork - takes about 13 minutes. And the GVB ferries that come and go from the station are FREE.
IMO since Sixhaven became a conventional pontoon marina it's wild, rather chaotic charm has gone. Aeolus is small and often full and it's traffic light entry system (RED=go away) means you can no longer sneak in and blag a berth - I tried and got abused. Friendly clubhouse though.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's perfectly possible and probably achievable for the most part under sail with normal conditions, however given your resumé , not much experience, I think you need to think again and get a few hours under your belt with the boat. For a novice it's quite a long trip with a couple of navigational problems.

 

[Tradewinds]

It's perfectly possible and probably achievable for the most part under sail with normal conditions, however given your resumé , not much experience, I think you need to think again and get a few hours under your belt with the boat. For a novice it's quite a long trip with a couple of navigational problems.

I agree. I would say that having AIS has taken quite a bit of stress away regarding shipping movements. Be aware of the cross stream at the entrance to IJmuiden (which is wide) - lots of big ships coming and going as well as the local fishing fleet. In mixed conditions the passage can become a real grind especially on the return.

I'm not the North Sea's biggest fan .

 

[Halo]

It’s a no brainier to go Hull Lowestoft Ijmuiden then up the N Sea canal to Amsterdam. Re fuel at Lowestoft and make sure you have reciepts for all fuel showing you have paid duty. Do not have red diesel in a can or you may be fined. Have no can or one which has been flushed out with white diesel and filled with it.

 

[[70521]]

It’s a no brainier to go Hull Lowestoft Ijmuiden then up the N Sea canal to Amsterdam. Re fuel at Lowestoft and make sure you have reciepts for all fuel showing you have paid duty. Do not have red diesel in a can or you may be fined. Have no can or one which has been flushed out with white diesel and filled with it.

There is an Asda not far from the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk YC if you need white in a can. They do good food and have a very interesting male lavatory in the clubhouse.

 

[Halo]

Other things for Netherlands are
1. Lock off any black water discharge. It is illegal to release sewerage into sea or inland waters
2. To go in canal systems you need hex id for radio and current official waterways guide and have done some training on EU waterways to gain a certificate.

 

[Tradewinds]

Other things for Netherlands are
1. Lock off any black water discharge. It is illegal to release sewerage into sea or inland waters
2. To go in canal systems you need hex id for radio and current official waterways guide and have done some training on EU waterways to gain a certificate.

Yes ATIS on Vhf radios is a ‘requirement’. Most people use their mobile phone nowadays. I have ATIS etc but have heard that non-atis vhfs seem to be accepted by lock-keepers without bringing the wrath of the authorities down on the user. The Dutch are very easy going and as far as locking off seacocks - I doubt it. But you should use the shoreside facilities and try not to pump out. AIUI you don’t need any certificates for the Dutch canals that we yachtsmen use. If you do - I’ve never been asked and have never heard it mentioned (other than here).
So, relax and chill - it’s what the Dutch do.

 

[DanTribe]

On a trip like that I would want to be confident that at least one crew member will not be seasick, often under estimated how debilitating it can be.

 

[ean_p]

Hi all, almost done with the repairs to the Colvic Watson28.6

I was wanting to know the feasibility of sailing to Amsterdam from Hull UK and back.

The Watson has a diesel BMC commodore 2.2 engine and two fuel tanks.
From what can gather It seems that it would be Engine most of the way there as the wind is in the wrong direction most of the time.
From anyone's knowledge what would be the rough fuel consumption and would sail be possible. What is the possibility of this and what would be needed for a trip of this kind?

Cheers for any advice.

I take it that your in either Hull or Goole marina, if so have a trawl about as the trip each way is very commonly done in either Hull or Grimsby marina's. You will get good advice and may get someone to go along with you or at the least cruise in company if you're determined to go. Some go down to Lowestoft, generally when they don't fancy the 30+ hours a straight crossing entails but it does make for longer crossing overall and not one which is necessarily easier or safer. All things being equal the worst of the trip is getting out of and on return getting into the Humber. It's busy with moving traffic and seems to take forever. But hey ho having got out it's ( if memory serves, it's been a good few years) 109°(T) from the Hobo bouy with a dog leg for the TSS. Watch out for drifting into the platform exclusion zones ( story there...!) and across the anchorage at the other side. Straight into ijmuiden for a shower and a beer. Coming back watch for a fearsome swell that sometimes appears as your leaving the canal. And think carefully if there is any east / south east in the wind as it can lift the sea at the other side. Beyond that it's often a very calm trip and usual to see porpoise/ dolphin and lots of bio luminescence.... wonderful! I think tradewind above is more on the ball as regards regs etc or its certainly how it used to be last time I went over!....enjoy.