squidge
New member
Hi chaps,can anyone recomend a pilot book for the netherlands in english? Ive done a search but have had no luck so far.
Thanks
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Thanks
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Netherland pilot book
- Thread starter squidge
- Start date
dickh
New member
Imray do one, by Brian Navin - very good with lots of details. "Cruising Guide to the Netherlands". Price for 2000, 3rd edition £22.50, or you can have my older 2nd edition for £10!(at least I think it's the 2nd edition, I'll have to check tonight...)
<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing...
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<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing...
/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
DanTribe
Well-known member
Hi
Brian Navin's Cruising Guide To The Netherlands is the only only one that I have ever seen. It is very useful, but bear in mind that some of the info is a bit out of date, as are many of the photos. This is not surprising as it's an ambitious task to cover all of Nederland.
The guides issued by ANWB [Dutch AA or RAC equivalent] are very good, particularly Vaarkaart Nederland which gives bridge opening times and mast clearance etc. Free to AA/RAC members from their tourist shops or scrounge one from the the 1st Dutch boat you meet.
You have to carry the Wateralmanak Vol 1 but its worth also having vol 2 [buy these in Holland, much cheaper].
Have fun.
Dan
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Brian Navin's Cruising Guide To The Netherlands is the only only one that I have ever seen. It is very useful, but bear in mind that some of the info is a bit out of date, as are many of the photos. This is not surprising as it's an ambitious task to cover all of Nederland.
The guides issued by ANWB [Dutch AA or RAC equivalent] are very good, particularly Vaarkaart Nederland which gives bridge opening times and mast clearance etc. Free to AA/RAC members from their tourist shops or scrounge one from the the 1st Dutch boat you meet.
You have to carry the Wateralmanak Vol 1 but its worth also having vol 2 [buy these in Holland, much cheaper].
Have fun.
Dan
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Gunfleet
New member
There is Dutch Inland Sailing Pilot by Henry Levinson. You may have to source it 2nd hand. It's on Amazon (and I've had to edit this post because I can't read even with my glasses on!)
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by JohnM on 02/07/2003 12:16 (server time).</FONT></P>
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by JohnM on 02/07/2003 12:16 (server time).</FONT></P>
squidge
New member
Thanks All. I am surprised that considering the popularity of the Netherlands that more books havent been published.
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samwise
New member
Squidge
We had the same problem. I think Brian Navin is the only game in town for the Netherlands. A new edition was due this year ( in May) but publication has slipped and slipped and it seems unlikely to grace the shelves this year. There is supposed to be a Yachting Monthly Cruising Companion to Holland in progress ( at least according to the current edition of the YM Cruising Companion to Northern France and Belgium) However, the publishers told me that it was not yet "in the pipeline."
The N France and Belgium companion only goes as far as Vlissingen and the Westerschelde.
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We had the same problem. I think Brian Navin is the only game in town for the Netherlands. A new edition was due this year ( in May) but publication has slipped and slipped and it seems unlikely to grace the shelves this year. There is supposed to be a Yachting Monthly Cruising Companion to Holland in progress ( at least according to the current edition of the YM Cruising Companion to Northern France and Belgium) However, the publishers told me that it was not yet "in the pipeline."
The N France and Belgium companion only goes as far as Vlissingen and the Westerschelde.
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Richard_Blake
New member
Speaking from the country itself - no there aren't enough good pilot books. Imray is the best so far. If you decide to go fresh water and do the IJsselmeer and the other lakes, get the latest inland charts as you arrive - not too expensive - and ask the locals for the latest dredging area information. They tend to surround fairly large areas with little buoys with massive machinery in the middle.
Don't underestimate the IJsselmeer - it can produce an amazingly nasty short chop which has sunk unprepared boats. In a sudden blow, avoid areas just downwind of dredged channels (marked on charts) and lee shores, of course. Keep an eye on the echo sounder, as the lake is so big one tends to be lulled into a false sense of security, and most Dutch boats are flat-bottomed or shallow draft (we ran aground following an 80 footer).
Prepare for locks assuming that this is a competitive sport, and be prepared (spare warps and fenders) to go other-side-to at the last moment.
There's a rule here that commercial traffic has right-of-way over pleasure boats - it's not entirely clear, but the skipper of a sailing traditional charter vessel - 60 foot tchalk for example - may consider he's commercial and ignore Port and Starboard; take this possibility into account and make your course corrections early and obvious.
There are "vluchthavens" (refuge havens) marked on the charts around the Meer, which are nice quiet anchorages even in good weather if you want a bit of peace. The New salt Herring and the smoked fish are great - especially in a true fishing harbour like Urk. It's fun and surprisingly varied if you move around a bit to a variety of harbours.
Good luck
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech
Don't underestimate the IJsselmeer - it can produce an amazingly nasty short chop which has sunk unprepared boats. In a sudden blow, avoid areas just downwind of dredged channels (marked on charts) and lee shores, of course. Keep an eye on the echo sounder, as the lake is so big one tends to be lulled into a false sense of security, and most Dutch boats are flat-bottomed or shallow draft (we ran aground following an 80 footer).
Prepare for locks assuming that this is a competitive sport, and be prepared (spare warps and fenders) to go other-side-to at the last moment.
There's a rule here that commercial traffic has right-of-way over pleasure boats - it's not entirely clear, but the skipper of a sailing traditional charter vessel - 60 foot tchalk for example - may consider he's commercial and ignore Port and Starboard; take this possibility into account and make your course corrections early and obvious.
There are "vluchthavens" (refuge havens) marked on the charts around the Meer, which are nice quiet anchorages even in good weather if you want a bit of peace. The New salt Herring and the smoked fish are great - especially in a true fishing harbour like Urk. It's fun and surprisingly varied if you move around a bit to a variety of harbours.
Good luck
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech
quaelgeist2
New member
@Richard - The same rule that grants commercial traffic the right of way defines large charter vessels, licenced to carry more than 20 guests OR longer than 20m, as deemed commercial vessels. Hence their perception that they have right of way.
Following the might-is-right rule you should also be careful with smaller (usually steel) boats that look like Thames barges - they won't mind contact...
Regarding locks - given that they are ubiquituous, people are quite well trained in going in, for the less experienced that may look like a competition... SOmetimes it is, e.g. weekends at some busy points you might have to wait 2-3 cycles to get in/out some places -> there the continetal people lack the proper queueing experience ;-) As you say, be prepared to switch sides, not least because you migh the told by the lockmaster to do so, and don't hesitate to go right in the middle - saving you the hassle of adjusting the lines.
Enjoy the relaxed sailing on the Ijsselmeer where you come and go as your mood tells you, not the tide!
chris
(speaking from that country, too)
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Following the might-is-right rule you should also be careful with smaller (usually steel) boats that look like Thames barges - they won't mind contact...
Regarding locks - given that they are ubiquituous, people are quite well trained in going in, for the less experienced that may look like a competition... SOmetimes it is, e.g. weekends at some busy points you might have to wait 2-3 cycles to get in/out some places -> there the continetal people lack the proper queueing experience ;-) As you say, be prepared to switch sides, not least because you migh the told by the lockmaster to do so, and don't hesitate to go right in the middle - saving you the hassle of adjusting the lines.
Enjoy the relaxed sailing on the Ijsselmeer where you come and go as your mood tells you, not the tide!
chris
(speaking from that country, too)
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Richard_Blake
New member
Yes, you're absolutely right - reading my post again I see it was unnecessarily flippant and a little alarmist. Apologies
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech
Richard
<hr width=100% size=1>LowTech
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