Rant about staying at RYCO marina in Ostend!

[PhilS]

Last Wednesday we came back after a great two week trip to the Netherlands. On the way out we had a pleasant stay at Mecator Marina in the town centre. On the way back we stayed at RYCO Marina so we could leave before the first lock at Mercator. A big mistake as we could have stayed at the Mecator waiting pontoon.
RYCO is ugly at the best of times. I will assume that the Harbour Master didn’t know that they would be dredging there through the night, as he didn’t mention it. I did later notice that there was only one other boat in the marina that looked as though anyone was on it. The dredger was working right next to us between our outer pontoon and the gravel storage area. It arrived at midnight and left at 2am and then got back again at 6am (when we left). I was asleep when it arrived and the noise it made was like the end of the world! It was digging, pumping water and holding itself still with its large engines as well as using flood lighting. It was impossible to think, let alone sleep!
I would also say we felt far more welcome in the Netherlands than we did in Belgium. Both Ostend marinas asked us to ensure we filled in Schengen forms correctly “because of Brexit” and at RYCO we were told our paperwork must be in order in case we were boarded by Belgium police (which we weren’t). In the Netherlands formalities were never mentioned and the conversation was more about sailing destinations and fun things to do. I suspect next time we will go directly from the River Orwell to Breskens. I enclose some photos from my phone of the dredger.

 

[westhinder]

Unfortunately all the Belgian harbours have to be dredged regularly or they will terminally silt up. It is a nuisance, and they do not seem to be able to plan the work so that it is done outside the sailing season. Blankenberge was dredged at the end of the winter, and was badly silted by the end of May. Renewed dredging was planned for last week.
As to your other point, Schengen formalities, Belgian police put out the message that they will be enforcing adherence to the Schengen procedure strictly, also for Belgian boots travelling to the UK. Brexit is one aspect, the fact that there have been a number of attempts to smuggle people to the UK in yachts is at least as important. And that surely will be encouraged by UK authorities.

 

[MikeBz]

We stayed at RYCO a few weeks ago and the harbourmaster couldn't have been more helpful. He explained that the Schengen forms were necessary but loathed by him, and he filled them in himself for us so all I had to do was sign. The club/restaurant was excellent too. We would have been very unhappy about the dredger though...