Ostende (again)

MikeBz

MikeBz

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We are finally planning to make our first crossing to Ostende (from Harwich) on Monday. I have read recommendations in other threads re sailing a rhumb line from LSH on ~130T. Does this mean you go straight over Westhinder and Midelkerke banks? And Oostende Bank? Do you then follow the buoyed channel in from Oostende and E (G)?

One other thing.... I have managed to leave home without printed insurance docs and Schengen list. Insurance is all electronic so I have it on phone & laptop and I can hand write a crew list. Should this be OK?

Ta.
 
Sailing a course of 130ish is right but depending how fast you are going will vary the last bit and whether you need to change heading across the TSS areas. Personally I only go at right angles if there is shipping about. Just make the best of it and head straight in if you can.

I have only been boarded once in Ostend and the police made out their own crewe list from passports presented. Insurance and SSR certificate were asked for. I guess that on your phone should be OK.
 
We always used to dog leg around Westhinder but a couple of weeks ago after the Voor Anker gig I actually looked at the chart properly and we went straight across it. May need to vary that in heavy weather I guess.
 
Westhinder, Middelkerkebank, Oostendebank, you can go straight over them. Most of the Flemish banks pose no problem, except in rough seas near Low Water. Oost Dyck has shallow patches, but you would normally not come near it, and also Stroombank has a few shallow patches. Coming from Dunkirk, do not be tempted to simply follow the coast, Broers bank is too shallow, you have to follow the Zuydcoote Pas to the Trapegeer buoy. All the banks have a similar profile: gently shelving from seaward and steep-to when coming from the shore.
 
Very useful, thankyou folks. We may go from Ostende to Dunkirk or more likely Gravelines so my next question was going to be about that - thankyou Westhinder for pre-empting that! I may follow that up later.
 
Long sand Head - then 127-130 degrees - take your boat speed into account and make sure you aim up-tide so your approach is tide-assisted. Sail right across everything. The course normally takes us through the west-hinder anchorage which can be spooky...
 
Marmalade said:
Long sand Head - then 127-130 degrees - take your boat speed into account and make sure you aim up-tide so your approach is tide-assisted. Sail right across everything. The course normally takes us through the west-hinder anchorage which can be spooky...
Click to expand...

+1 did this in the last Month.
 
Thanks all. We ended up a bit south of the rhumb line from LSH due to flood tide & shipping and then hooked up North around the Eastern edge of the final section of shipping lanes which was busy. A fast sail (25+ WSW) mostly under jib only but not difficult at all.
 
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