North Sea crossing

[Steve N]

I'm considering a North Sea crossing late August / early September next year. We plan to be in Scotland around this time and would like to depart from somewhere near Edinburgh, and head across to either Denmark or Germany.

I'd be interested to hear comments from anyone that has undertaken such a voyage, what conditions to expect at this time of year, and how best to determine a safe route.

 

[NB Willawaw]

Ive done the Humber to Denmark. Lots of rigs and weather unpredictable.
Personally I would go for a crossing with the shortest number of sea miles as bad weather can be exhausting. Scotland - Norway - Denmark ?

 

[Woodlouse]

The weather is generally from a west or south westerly direction, so you're going the right way. Just keep an eye on the forecast, but even in September there shouldn't be anything too nasty.

As for the safe route, personally I'd just go for the rhumb line. I'd only worry about the oil fields if it was foggy just remember to stay beyond 500 metres from them.

Scotland to Denmark/Germany, shouldn't be more than 2 and a half to three days depending on the size of boat.

 

[Spuddy]

The webmaster of the Bluemoment site did summat very similar within the last 2 seasons
http://www.bluemoment.com/forum/index.php?sid=ff243e9fd0bdd94111ee9217b7235c53

I had a rummage to see if I could find his article but could only see the round Ireland article. Maybe have a look and ask for Nick to dig it out for you

 

[yodave]

What type of keel do you have? Port Edgar is one of the few harbours/marinas with access at low tide, (although Anstruther has water most of the time). Strong currents under the bridges. Not too much to hit in and around the River Forth. Can't comment on the journey East to Denmark/Germany as only crossed from the Netherlands. Weather is the biggest concern as I see it. Best to wait for a decent window of good weather than take a chance.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I would probably leave from Eyemouth and, weather permitting, head for Thyboron in northern Jutland. Most of Denmark is a lee shore with the wind in the West so you do need to be careful with the weather for the landfall. Alternatively you could head for SW Norway, but in that case Peterhead would be a better point of departure.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I would probably leave from Eyemouth and, weather permitting, head for Thyboron in northern Jutland. Most of Denmark is a lee shore with the wind in the West so you do need to be careful with the weather for the landfall. Alternatively you could head for SW Norway, but in that case Peterhead would be a better point of departure.

How about Goteborg on the Vastkusten of Sweden, apart from from the Svartskar, no problems in entry, plus the west coast usually stays ice free. Skagen in Danemark might be an option too. Esjberg might be tricky, though a well lit ferry port therefore entrance channel tho long, is well lit.

There are lots of yacht havens on that coast too, in Orust and other parts of the western archiepelago.
We are hoping to sail North from April 2013, aiming for Stockholm and Gotland to see Family, but hope coming out via the West coast to see old friends by September.
So could report position there perhaps?

 

[Steve N]

Thanks for all the replies.

I just wanted to add that we are considering this as an option to a clockwise circumnavigation of the UK that we hope to complete this summer. I.e. as an alternative to working our way down the east coast of the UK.

Therefore we're considering a route from somewhere close to Eyemouth heading south east towards Esbjerg or Hornum in Denmark.

I expect this would take 2-3 days given decent weather and SW winds.

Our boat is a Hallberg Rassy 43 and has a 2m draft so harbours where we'd need to dry out are not an option.

 

[Kylora]

The webmaster of the Bluemoment site did summat very similar within the last 2 seasons
http://www.bluemoment.com/forum/index.php?sid=ff243e9fd0bdd94111ee9217b7235c53

I had a rummage to see if I could find his article but could only see the round Ireland article. Maybe have a look and ask for Nick to dig it out for you

Here is a link to Webby's blog - Fairwinds - Scotland - Norway

But he started from the west coast of Scotland.

Ash

 

[richardsn9]

I have done Amble to the Limfiord entrance in about three days (your HR would probably be a bit quicker.)

The E coast of Denmark can be an unforgiving lee shore, so if the winds pick up unexpectedly or you are enjoying the trip, you can bear north and pass round the north tip of Denmark and head straight towards Goteborg and the Bohuslan islands, which are a gem of a cruising ground.

The Limfiord is a pleasant break, quite like Holland without the locks. It is worth pushing on a few miles on arrival there to Lemvig, as Thyboroen is a bit too industrial.

Do be aware that the sailing season in the Baltic winds down very quickly at the end of August, as the weather turns quite bleak as autumn arrives.

 

[ChrisE]

I'd agree about getting to the far bank by end of August, the weather quickly goes to pants. We were in Aalesund in Norway for the late August Bank Holiday and it felt more like November and was certainly quite bleak.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

the Bohuslan islands, which are a gem of a cruising ground.

Do be aware that the sailing season in the Baltic winds down very quickly at the end of August, as the weather turns quite bleak as autumn arrives.[/QUOTE]

+1 on the above points, plus the marinas and sailing clubs, esp the Swedish start to wind down/or even shut from 1st August, when the Swedish holiday season ends.
Scrounge a copy of 'Batturist' if you can.

 

[jimi]

Thanks for all the replies.

I just wanted to add that we are considering this as an option to a clockwise circumnavigation of the UK that we hope to complete this summer. I.e. as an alternative to working our way down the east coast of the UK.

Therefore we're considering a route from somewhere close to Eyemouth heading south east towards Esbjerg or Hornum in Denmark.

I expect this would take 2-3 days given decent weather and SW winds.

Our boat is a Hallberg Rassy 43 and has a 2m draft so harbours where we'd need to dry out are not an option.

I ended up going direct from Inverness to Ipswich as part of the UK circumnavigation taking 80 hours to do so.

I'm now thinking of a detour into the Baltic from Ipswich via Heligoland (to get the timing right for the Elbe) and the Kiel canal before hoppping down through the Netherlands, Belgium and France to finish it in Plymouth.

Hoping to also hit the Scuttlebutt Cherbourg do, either en route to Plymouth or on way back to East coast ;-)