Oostende in May

[Laurin]

We plan to come too!... I have 2006 Almanac so will bring it along if needed.

 

[flyingjunior]

Also you may have a few grey hair moments in the dutch locks as the Dutch appear to have a need to be the 1st in and out of the locks (the boat being nearly 50ft the boss decided to use the commercial locks after one partically hair raising experiance).

 

[Koeketiene]

Locking in & out in Holland is very much a "struggle for life". Bring lots of fenders - minimum 8 both sides!

Above all, don't smile or wave at anybody; it's a sign of weakness!

 

[sailorman]

in my experience always found the Dutch courteous, locks or otherwise.
always pays to hold-back & let others get "On the Wall" then sidle-up & raft along-side, leaving them to tend lines / fend-off. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
in my experience always found the Dutch courteous, locks or otherwise.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is a wind-up, right? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[sailorman]

don't laugh n hurt the nether regions Will. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
how did you manage that " pushing a pen" then /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[FullCircle]

8 fenders a side (minimum!!!) ??????????
Blimey Will, our boats would have more positive bouyancy than an Etap!!

I have 8 big ones and 2 ball fenders, and that is more than anyone else I know.

If Kas and Patrick turn up in the Stella, they could fill the dam things with Helium and fly home.

PS where is the PM you (allegedly) sent?


Jim

 

[Koeketiene]

[ QUOTE ]
how did you manage that " pushing a pen" then /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Doing "husband & wife" stuff /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[sailorman]

if your sort of stuck give us a call " always willing " to help out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

OK... so here's the plan....

What we'll do is get our act together outside the lock.... floating raft, 3 wide and 2 deep, and motor in en-masse.....

That'll impress the cloggies so much that they'll forget to put their boats in gear, and we're in before you know whats happened...

Whats more, there are additional benefits....

No need for 8 fenders on each boat....
Save a fortune on fuel for the centre boats
Avoid my dodgy maneouvering skills....

 

[sailorman]

3 fenders each side sufficient
as previously stated "dont rush-in" let other foolhardy skippers go first to go along side the dirty/lumpy wall then use them as a fender.
you then get to leave before them & not stuck on the wall un doing lines /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Laurin]

Is everybody still meeting up on Saturday?... it's been a bit quiet and don't want to drive for an hour to be a Billy no mates

 

[CliveG]

I think that some of us are meeting.
See the thread on Scuttlebutt

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Kas,

Clive has pointed you at the thread, but yes, we'll be there 19h00 on Saturday...

 

[Laurin]

Thanks NAS, See you on Saturday.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

OK,

So here is what we agreed:

Thursday/Friday night/Saturday day - East coast to Oostende
Sunday - in Oostende for sea festival
Monday - Oostende via Flushing into the Walcheren canal to Middelburg
Tuesday - day in Middelburg
Wednesday - Middleburg through VersMeer/Westerschelde to Zierkzee
Thursday - day in Zierkzee
Friday - out through Roompotsluis to home ports

We may well dive back into the Deben or similar rather than straight back to Ipswich, but time/weather dependent

The idea here is that there is plenty of chance to cut an early departure either out through Roompotsluis, or back via Flushing if the weather looks dodgy...

 

[sailorman]

[Wednesday - Middleburg through VersMeer/Westerschelde to Zierkzee]

Oosterschelde surely Niel unless you plan a reverse trip down the canal????????
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Please to put faces to new names,
a very pleasant evening even though the Ale pie had a "Toupee" & very salty /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

OK..... point made.....

I was hoping that we could slip out under cover of darkness and give that JimDew fellow the slip, sending him back towards Oostende, before he finishes off my Bowmore! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[sailorman]

y can get more from that nice Man Alain in Oostende ( offer him a Jupiler - he prefers 2 - when he brings the goods- whatever time of day )


check-out the stock
http://www.generalstores.be/index.html
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Guest]

Can anybody recommend a good pilotage guide or where I can get information on navigating in the Oosterschelde, particularlt info on the bridges/locks and their charges. thanks,
Mike