Solent to Holland

[chrisc]

I have offered to bring my colleagues boat from Solent to Sweden starting in about two weeks.(seems like a good idea as i am not working and summer is coming on) .I have not sailed the South coast of England for 40 years !!!! (or lived there much)but have done a lot of sailing in in Med and Baltic.
sailing boat depth 1.4 M length 29ft.intend to go into canals at Westerschelde,and standing mast route to Amsterdam.
Any advice ,please , which are best harbours ,where is easiest point to cross channel , where and what to avoid ..... would be appreciated.

 

[Beagle]

Funny, was thinking about the other way round for myself this summer (meaning Holland to Solent). Anyway, I would cross from say Dover to Oostende (Belgium), if you're talking stricly about daily sails. From Oostende to Breskens and instead of taking the innerways (you will get nuts in the end!) I would take the coastal route, meaning Breskens-Stellendam, Stellendam-IJmuiden (perhaps visit Scheveningen as well if you've got time to spare). From IJmuiden it's another part of a day to get to Amsterdam (Noord-Zee kanaal).

But, if you insist in "doing the staande mast route", you probably would be going from Breskens along the Westerschelde to Hansweert and take the canal (Kanaal door Zuid Beverland) up to Wemeldingen (great Chinese restaurant).. that's another day trip, 1 lock and just 2 bridges. Next day would be across the Oosterschelde-Volkarak too Willemstad (another 2 locks, but great pubs and nice historial town with great restaurants). Next is Hollandsdiep to Dordrecht, all the way to Gouda. More bridges and locks along the way, including 2 tricky ones namely the Spoorbrug (railroad bridge) at Gouda and the Algrabridge. From Gouda, the next desicion will be at Alphen aan de Rijn, where you can either choose the eastern route through Alkmaar (nice one and everything can be done at decent hours) or more direct North through Amsterdam, which is the "Night-route".

More directions and details can be found at Standing mast route or for brochure click this exciting new link, all confiniantly written in Dutch....

 

[R32Stbrigid]

Hi,

I have done this route, (5ft draught) no problem at all. You need to get the timing right for the run to Amsterdam as there is a large bridge that only lifts twice day, but from there on it runs like clockwork. A convoy naturally forms.

Roompot ( modern marina) may be your first port of call, Zierekzee, Willemstad. Dordrecht, Gouda all very nice with varying facilites. Gouda to Haarlem in one go (36 ish bridges locks etc in convoy), spaarndam then North sea canal and on to Amsterdam. I am going again this summer. The Dutch are very friendly and you do not get ripped off.

Enjoy

 

[mainshiptom]

I have done Loosdrecht(10 miles south of amsterdam) to kent and loved every minute !


I can not wait to go back ! I found the dutch great people and lots of nice harbour in land , also you can go in any whether but diesel is expensive, fill up in Belgium and get some extra cans.


Tom

 

[Sea Devil]

I did exactly that trip a lot of years ago in my Elizabethen 31 - more or less the same.

I kept the option of doing the canals north as a bad weather option only. Had good weather and coasted up to IJmuiden - through the lock and up the north sea canal to Amsterdam and parked outside Central Station. Wonderful trip and nice Dutch ports to visit - interesting!

A few years later heading for the UK east coast, because the weather was really foul when I got to IJmuiden, I took the canal route south thinking it would be quicker than waiting for the weather to moderate - took a long long time - had to wait for bridges - really did not enjoy it at all (and I love the french canals) and I would have had a quicker trip waiting a couple of days for it to moderate....

 

[chrisc]

thank you gentlemen ,all good info. and noted .I guess final route will propobally be decided by weather...... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[heerenleed]

Westerschelde is safest

Mind the entrances coming from the North Sea. In anything over 4, there may already be nasty overfalls depending on the wind direction and the state of tide. Avoid the 5 m depth contour in such weather, as that's where most overfalls are likely to materialise.

If the weather is iffy, remember that only 3 entrances are safe: Westerschelde, Nieuwe Waterweg (but too much large shipping for comfort if you are not familiar with it) and Marsdiep (between isle of Texel and mainland) Even IJmuiden is nasty in NW 5.

If you have time, the standing mast route gives you plenty of scenic places to visit. In that case, use the Kanaal door Walcheren from Vlissingen to Veere. Then continue to Willemstad, Dordrecht and then on to Gouda to start the section that is slowest because of the bridges. However, from Capelle (Algera bridge) to Amsterdam we usually do in one go, if you time the Gouda railway bridge properly. The pasage in convoy through Amsterdam is considered an adventure in its own right. But it is qyuite straightforward, really. Many will recommend the Sixhaven on the N-shore of the IJ, opposite the central Railway Station. It is a good spot, but it has been reorganised and seems to have lost a lot of its charm. Also, it is not pleasant to get into the Sixhaven at 3 AM (which is what you would do) and then try to find a spot. The HM won't be around at that hour.

Much easier is to stay in the so-called Houthaven, that's the last stretch of water, after the lifting railway bridge in Amsterdam and before the exit into the IJ. It's free, as you have paid your harbour dues at the Nieuwe Meer Locks, that allow you transit and stay for 24 hours. Mind the trees (West side is easier) and you will be fine. If you want to stay for longer, find a spot in the Sixhaven in daytime, when most visitors have left again.


If you need any specific information, as a local I will be able to help. Just post or send PM

cheers

 

[roger]

You can do the whole route by day sailing - we did as we're old and decrepit.
Our route was:-
Solent - sovereign Harbour - watch out for depths there at low water.
Sovereign to Dover
Dover - Dunkirk. Make sure you have a favourable tide on the French Coast. Yacht Club Mer du Nord is hospitable and very good restaurants next to the big sailing ship on way into town
Dunkirk -Ostende as Ontend is a hoot and Belgian beer!!
Ostend - Vlissingen
Vlissingen inside or out (via IJmuiden) to Amsterdam.
The mast up route out to the NE is slow but fun. Exit from Lauwersoog saves time and the Yacht Club in the marina there is good.
Dutch internal waters get very crowded at Whitsun.
Lauwersoog to Cuxhaven can be done in a long day or stop at Borkum and Norderney.
All the warnings about the coast around the German Bicht are serious and to be attended.
Its worth getting on if the weather is good. We found Borkum town great fun with Jazz bands and nice food - but we also had force 10 overhead.
Timing for the Elbe is crucual get to the Elbe light float at low water.
Cuxhaven is a pleasant place with the modern town a bike ride away (bicycles available free at the marina)
Kiel canal is a doddle peaceful and a bit boring. Brunsbuttel marina is good but tends to be crowded. Rendsberg is well worth a visit.
Kie is a good crew exchange point and the British Kiel Yacht Club are helpful.

 

[chrisc]

thanks roger I guess this is roughly the trip I have envisaged ,I have been as far as Amsterdam (coming from east ) through keil ,cuxhaven,nordeney,lauwersoog and agree with your comments ,but was thinking of going for the eider and then keil canal,although ,when I look at this it appears too slow.

 

[chrisc]

Re: Westerschelde is safest

thanks peter,all noted (the first bit with some trepidation...)

 

[PaulC999]

Having only done the route route once by the inland fixed mast route, I would not like to make a route recommendation. However, I can recommend the marinas at Breskens and especially the Delta Marina at Kortgene. Both have excellent restaurant/bars which my wife and I found most attractive after a satisfying day of sailing.

Good luck, It is a trip you will remember,