Oslo - Cherbourg

[alant]

Anyone got experience of doing this in October?
Which route is preferred? (1) Across North Sea & down UK east coast, (2) Down west of Denmark (3) Down east of Denmark & via Kiel Kanal.


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[Rowana]

What size of Yacht? When in October?

Why would you want to go down East of Denmark & through Keil? Personally I wouldn't consider that way. More bother than it's worth

I would just come straight down the north sea, keeping clear of big ships and spagetti junction at Noordhinder (sp?) to off Harwich, then round the corner from there.

Are you looking for crew by any chance? I'm available after 25th October.

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[alant]

HR 31. Date open at present, could be anytime after mid Sept.
Done this route before have you?


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[tome]

Never done it, but looking at doing the other way round (Solent to Bergen) and then return. Assuming you want to do this as delivery rather than cruise.

Instinct would be to let weather dictate Denmark or direct. Predictable weather, direct the UK E Coast going as far south as possible, aim Humber or beyond. Unsettled, via W Denmark in legs.

Either way, you will face a beat down channel from Dover Straits to Cherbourg so fuel up UK/Holland before DS and have a good meal before rounding.

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[brianhumber]

Depends on yacht and crew and time slot. Having been thrown out of my bunk in the Southern North Sea in a 25,000t ship in the Autumn, I would advise you must know your and your craft's weaknesses and strengths and wait for a suitable slot. Skagerat can be a particular bitch and you need to be on your toes to avoid all the rigs and obay TZS.

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[heerenleed]

Fuelling up in Holland/UK? NONO

Fuelling up is in Belgium, gentlemen, and most certainly not in the Netherlands, where you have to buy white diesel at € 0,98 a litre. Like in the UK, red diesel is legal in Belgium, but unlike UK, no rip-off prices. Topped up this month in Blankenberge at € 0,52 per litre.
Best option for fuelling in Belgium is Blankenberge, fuel pontoon on stbd in the entrance. Oostende strangely has no fuel pontoon, you can order a fuel lorry, but they won't come for anything under 1000 litres. Other option is Nieuwpoort, but the way in is a lot longer, so only practical if you wish to stay overnight anyway. Don't know about Zeebrugge, but marina is 45 mins. in.

cheers

<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.heerenleed.tk>http://www.heerenleed.tk</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by heerenleed on 27/08/2004 08:52 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: Fuelling up in Holland/UK? NONO

Red diesel 52 Euros a ltr, I would have thought that was a pretty similar price to the Cowes fuel barge, or has it gone up a lot in the last few weeks?

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: Fuelling up in Holland/UK? NONO

I thought all Dutch sailors used agricultural diesel and carried round a receipt saying it was bought in Belgium!!!

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[alant]

Any idea of usual weather around that time of year (if there is such a thing as usual these days) near Skagerrat & Kattegatt, since route taken will be heavily dependant upon this aspect.

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[alant]

"Never done it, but looking at doing the other way round (Solent to Bergen) and then return. Assuming you want to do this as delivery rather than cruise" - Owner doesn't want boat thrashed, so would like to be fairly kind to it. As previously mentioned, as always weather will dictate route.
What pilot info are you using for your trip?


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[burgundyben]

Have done Oslo to Hamble in September, via Skagen (storm bound 2 days), Keil, Dutch canals, Flushing (Vlissingen) home (v big weather).

Advantage of that route is if the weather is foul you can pop into dutch canals and still make progress although you might have mast height issues, I did it in Flemming 55 mobo so no rig. Also, there is only limited ports to run into on west coast of denmark, more options on east coast. Keil Canal quite fun too.

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[tome]

Understand re owner. I only have a pilot covering the southern N Sea which is on board. Will have a look over the weekend. Done the trip a good few times on survey vessels, but never sailed it. We have relatives Bergen (with sea frontage and pontoon!) and we'd like to spend a summer there so thinking '06 arriving in time for 17 May celebrations and leaving early September for return. Would plan to leave boat there between visits. My boss is in Oslo so can maybe use this as an excuse for a visit ot 2!

Agree that weather dictates route. Incidentally, oil rigs have very detailed local forecasts and are usually happy to pass this on via VHF.

If forecasts are good, I'd prefer to do a long crossing both ways rather than short hops. You've re-awakened my interest so will probably have a hunt for a better pilot book to cover Norway.

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[alant]

Best of luck. Please keep me posted if you find anything interesting.
Just started my search, but busy until mid -Sept. Will consider feasibilities then. Hoping for suitable weather window, but haven't found any info which gives historical (or long term forecast) weather for the period being considered.

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[brianhumber]

Depends on the relationship of the continental high and how far and low the atlantic depressions can push across before fizzling out or pushed north. Suggest a look at wettercart week ahead forecast will give some indication, but as we all know the situation a few days out can be 'fluid' ( sorry about the pun)

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[jasu74]

here is good site about the usual weather:

http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/APC/Pub106/106synop.pdf



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[peterb]

Admiralty "North Sea (East) Pilot" gives gale (F8 or more) frequencies for October as Skagen, 1 day; Vestervig, 1 day; Nordby In Fano, 2 days; Sylt, 3 days; Helgoland, 6 days; Nordeney, 2 days; and Borkum, 2 days. Looks as if the worst area is round Helgoland.

There are very few havens of refuge on the West Danish coast. (I've been caught out here, and tried to get in to Hvide Sande; wave broached us in the entrance channel and rolled us to 80 degrees). My bet would be to come down the Kattegat and through the Kiel Canal, then wait at Brunsbuttel for a reasonable forecast.

If you're coming down past the Frisian Islands, be aware that in bad weather some of the channels between the islands can alter radically, and be virtually impassable.

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[Rowana]

Sent you a PM

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[Amphitrite]

Going down the Kattegat and passing through the Kiel channel is a big detour, but nevertheless it might be a good idea as it is relatevily sheltered sailing, at least in comparison to the west coast of denmark. Very few safe ports in heavy weather, though Esbjerg is a good hiding place.
Beware if leaving cuxhaven, the Elbe can be nasty (currents, seas, shallows and heavy traffic). Helgoland is a good refuge, but keep a safe distance to the frisian islands, some years ago even a big german lifeboat broached in heavy seas...

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[heerenleed]

Re: Fuelling up in Holland/UK? NONO

Hushhhhhh...
I'm sure there are people who try this. Problem is getting agricultural diesel, they are not allowed to sell it to you in cans.
We are lucky. we are close to Belgium, top up once a season in Blankenberge and then refill from cans we fill in Belgium at an ordinary road gas station sho is certainly not allowed to let us fill cans, but lets us do it anyway.....



<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.heerenleed.tk>http://www.heerenleed.tk</A>

 

[heerenleed]

Mast height no prob

if you take the so called <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.staandemast.nl>Staande Mast Route</A> (standing mast route) you can go all the way from Delfzijl to Vlissingen. Unfortunately, the site is only in Dutch The bottlenecks are Amsterdam, you go through in convoy at night, N to S starting at approx. 02.00 AM, other bottlenecks are the railway bridges in Gouda and, to a lesser extent, the Dordrecht railway bridge. But, as you say, you can make progress in adverse weather. The Dutch coast can be a nasty lee shore.
If you want more info, PM me.
cheers

<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.heerenleed.tk>http://www.heerenleed.tk</A>