'New Look' Ostend

I would think no passports trumps no ICC any day!

It all kicked off when the customs chap ( accompanied by a police officer) asked how we could prove we owned the boat & how we could show we were capable of sailing it & why I did not have a passport
My crew ( before i could stop him) replied " well we sailed the f....ing thing through the harbour entrance didn't we?? ( it had been rough & he had been a bit concerned)
They held us for about 2 hours whilst they searched the boat & asked just about every question possible about 10 times. The cheeks of ones posterior were quite tight

It seems the pair of them understood English better than we thought

It also makes me smile when an earlier entry in this thread says actually getting there proves ability
 
It all kicked off when the customs chap ( accompanied by a police officer) asked how we could prove we owned the boat & how we could show we were capable of sailing it & why I did not have a passport
My crew ( before i could stop him) replied " well we sailed the f....ing thing through the harbour entrance didn't we?? ( it had been rough & he had been a bit concerned)
They held us for about 2 hours whilst they searched the boat & asked just about every question possible about 10 times. The cheeks of ones posterior were quite tight

It seems the pair of them understood English better than we thought

It also makes me smile when an earlier entry in this thread says actually getting there proves ability

We offer them good coffee, worked so far
 
Some might say red diesel is legal but try telling them that. I have been asked for proof of competence several times in France as well as Belgium & not for going into canals

Likewise Not having your name on the stern of ones boat may be legal here but try telling Belgians that[/QUOTE]

#43 You are preaching to the wrong man :D
 
It all kicked off when the customs chap ( accompanied by a police officer) asked how we could prove we owned the boat & how we could show we were capable of sailing it & why I did not have a passport
My crew ( before i could stop him) replied " well we sailed the f....ing thing through the harbour entrance didn't we?? ( it had been rough & he had been a bit concerned)
They held us for about 2 hours whilst they searched the boat & asked just about every question possible about 10 times. The cheeks of ones posterior were quite tight

It seems the pair of them understood English better than we thought

It also makes me smile when an earlier entry in this thread says actually getting there proves ability

Have you spoken to the RYA? They were still giving the advice that ICC was not required for coastal waters and only required once above a certain length/speed when in Dutch inland waters when I last looked.
 
I will be spending 3-4 weeks there this year & knowing my luck i will be boarded


3-4 weeks in Belgium, are you planning to inspect every cobble?:D

April/May l trial run SH for start of season if weather permits
Whitsun several days annual mini booze with son & daughter & friend
June on the way back from Dean Helder via dutch canals with 2 friends
August 1.5 weeks on my own for the paulafeesen
August/ sept back on holiday with wife & daughter 2 weeks but may slip in Antwerp or Veere as well
End sept another mini booze to round the year off
If any of the above gets bad weather causing delays then crew usually come home via train/ferry & I come home when weather permits
 
April/May l trial run SH for start of season if weather permits
Whitsun several days annual mini booze with son & daughter & friend
June on the way back from Den Helder via Dutch canals with 2 friends
August 1.5 weeks on my own for the paulafeesen
August/ sept back on holiday with wife & daughter 2 weeks but may slip in Antwerp or Veere as well
End sept another mini booze to round the year off
If any of the above gets bad weather causing delays then crew usually come home via train/ferry & I come home when weather permits

which Hbr do you use in Oostende
 
If anyone knows and has a second to type..can yachts go in to the fish dock on the NE side? There was lots of empty wall space last time (2011), and I bet it`s cheap (on a per metre basis) and there is a good chandlers,engineering shop,rufty-tufty trawler pub etc.. And empty factories and nazi fortifications to expore,I love that bit of Oostende personally,cheers Jerry.

Just seen above post,is Montgomery the fish dock??
 
If anyone knows and has a second to type..can yachts go in to the fish dock on the NE side? There was lots of empty wall space last time (2011), and I bet it`s cheap (on a per metre basis) and there is a good chandlers,engineering shop,rufty-tufty trawler pub etc.. And empty factories and nazi fortifications to expore,I love that bit of Oostende personally,cheers Jerry.

Just seen above post,is Montgomery the fish dock??

To date yachts are not normally admitted to the fish dock on the NE. Unless you're on your way to the sail loft/rigging shop or the boatyard.
Both of them overhauled our previous boat.
While you're in the fish dock, there's no charge to moor but you do have to pay to lock in/out. Couple of years ago this was €15 each way.
Also, there are no facilities like showers/water/shore power.

However, this is about to change at some point in the future.
The RYCO - currently located at the end of the Voorhaven - will relocate to the Vuurtorendok (the smaller one to the N of the Fish dok (Visserijdok)).
Once the RYCO has moved the lock in/out charge for yachts will be dropped, but you will then have to pay for your berth.
 
If anyone knows and has a second to type..can yachts go in to the fish dock on the NE side? There was lots of empty wall space last time (2011), and I bet it`s cheap (on a per metre basis) and there is a good chandlers,engineering shop,rufty-tufty trawler pub etc.. And empty factories and nazi fortifications to expore,I love that bit of Oostende personally,cheers Jerry.

Just seen above post,is Montgomery the fish dock??

A few years ago my forestay went just as we were leaving. We managed to get a halyard tied down, and Oostende directed us to the fish dock. It was a Saturday and a bank holiday Monday, I had to get back and so we ended up in the fish dock for about 2 weeks

The lock is large, and pretty slow, so if they are thinking of using that for yachts, it would mean a lot of time. The dock itself is huge though.
 
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