South Coast England to Baltic Sea Options

[johnalison]

The standing mast route sounds interesting, any more details?

We save the standing mast route for our return, because it takes the best part of two weeks, though it could be useful for people laying up in the Baltic.

From the south, you can pass from Flushing, or Hansweert, and through the southern delta. There is then a choice of two routes to Amsterdam, either through Haarlem, or direct, arriving in the night.

From the Ijselmeer, you can then pass through Friesland via Lemmer or Stavoren, or continue up to Harlingen before heading east. The two routes rejoin at Leeuwarden. This section, through Dokkum is the most attractive, and reaches the N Sea at Lauersoog. You can then take the outside route, or continue by canal to Dephzjl. This section is a bit dull but can be useful. Most boats then go to Norderney and outside on to Cuxhaven, though shoal-drafters can dodge inside the islands.

As you see, there is quite a lot to do and be distracted by, as well as frequent bridges and locks, so it's not much fun trying to do it in a hurry, but everyone should try it once.

 

[Joker]

Not sure which side of Denmark to come back down, but the easy option would be 'inside' and then return via the Kiel canal.

Don't go via the 'outside': the Danish Jutland N Sea harbours are the armpits of the universe. And dangerous to enter/leave.

 

[Woodlouse]

There was a mention of the Gotha canal in the YM I think. Without looking it up, I seem to remember the cost being very steep, something like £250, or it may have been £350, for a boat under 10m, but includes five nights harbour fees.

I thought the entry fee covered all harbour fees for as long as you were in the canal. I've not been there for nearly 10 years but I recall some would pay the fee at the start of the summer and spend most of their season on the canal and lakes.

 

[johnalison]

I thought the entry fee covered all harbour fees for as long as you were in the canal. I've not been there for nearly 10 years but I recall some would pay the fee at the start of the summer and spend most of their season on the canal and lakes.

I'm afraid I was quoting the YM article rather inaccurately from memory but I think it said five days. It looks as if they've put the price up a lot since friends of ours did it about eight years ago, when it was only a couple of hundred.

 

[AHoy2]

The standing mast route sounds interesting, any more details?

I covered a fair proportion of the stand-mast route on my recent cruise to Den Helder and back, proved to be an interesting and enjoyable route - if you come to terms with the bridge and lock constraints. If you can plough through the non-relevant parts of my blog there is some insight into the route contained in the Netherlands sections outbound and return. Blog link in signature.

Edit: the Wemeldinge to Dordrecht entry gives a brief insight to the Staande Mastroute chart book and local radio use.

 

[AliM]

The places you visit are so nice that it is a shame to rush. The distances are large, though, so give yourself plenty of time. This last summer, we only got up the east Swedish coast as far as Oskarhamn, which is about halfway from their south coast to Stockholm, before we turned around and sailed home. We were away for over 4 months and sailed 2200 miles. We could have sailed a lot further in the time, but chose to dawdle and explore.
Several People we met had done the Gota canal, and said it was a nice experience, but would certainly not do it again - read what you like into that!

On the stand mast route in the NL - there is a very helpful booklet which you can buy anywhere in NL, and probably in plenty of places here, which gives you all the chartlets, info on lock and bridge openings etc and marinas that you need. It takes a while, but is an excellent option if the weather is iffy or downright horrible.

 

[han34]

Wife and I loved the standing mast route. As has been said there is a Dutch publication that details bridge and lock opening times as well as showing stopping places, a number of which are free for up to three nights. The inland marinas and harbours can be very nice indeed. There are some rally nice towns to visit as well. I would allow at least two weeks for the standing mast route plus a week to get there from the south coast and a week the other side to get to Kiel. You could do it much quicker and many people do. I just go every where slowly because I like to stop and look round places.

 

[jerrytug]

By the way, the hospitable townsfolk of Dordrecht will kindly invite you to partake of a special local brand of "tobacco".

Apparrently a few puffs relaxes one's attitude, and stops one worrying about anything, especially if one happens to pass through on "Armed Forces Day" or somesuch, when imbibing of the " pipe of peace" seemed de rigeur with the grizzled blonde veterans of the Nederlands' military adventures.
Happy daze
Alledgedly

 

[Woodlouse]

We were away for over 4 months and sailed 2200 miles. We could have sailed a lot further in the time, but chose to dawdle and explore.

You need practice at dawdling. I spent three months on the east coast of Norway and only covered 600 miles.

 

[jerrytug]

You need practice at dawdling. I spent three months on the east coast of Norway and only covered 600 miles.

I was thinking of having a look up there, what's the prevailing weather like? Thinking Kristiansand, Risor, maybe not all the way up to Oslo.

 

[knuterikt]

I was thinking of having a look up there, what's the prevailing weather like? Thinking Kristiansand, Risor, maybe not all the way up to Oslo.

Here is a screen shot from "Den Norske Los" (Norwegian Pilot) with wind stats for June at Færder light house.
This book is only in Norwegian but I would think you can understand some of it still
On this page you can find link to all the books http://www.statkart.no/Kart/Nautiske-hjelpemidler/Den-norske-los/

As you see SW wind is the dominant one.
In summer we have local phenomena that is called "solgangs vind" the wind direction follow the sun wearing from East through South to West, this occurs when we have stable high pressure systems.

The Norwegian South coast is my home waters - send me a PM if i can help.

 

[jerrytug]

Here is a screen shot from "Den Norske Los" (Norwegian Pilot) with wind stats for June at Færder light house.
This book is only in Norwegian but I would think you can understand some of it still
On this page you can find link to all the books http://www.statkart.no/Kart/Nautiske-hjelpemidler/Den-norske-los/

As you see SW wind is the dominant one.
In summer we have local phenomena that is called "solgangs vind" the wind direction follow the sun wearing from East through South to West, this occurs when we have stable high pressure systems.

The Norwegian South coast is my home waters - send me a PM if i can help.

Thank you knuterikt I will reply tomorrow I must sleep, Jerry

 

[jerrytug]

Thanks Knuterikt that's a very useful link. I'm hopefully buying a 13 ton Colin Archer type, and at the moment, Risor Trad Boat Festival this August is my aim (where she was built) but we will see next week if I buy her...Jerry

 

[knuterikt]

Thanks Knuterikt that's a very useful link. I'm hopefully buying a 13 ton Colin Archer type, and at the moment, Risor Trad Boat Festival this August is my aim (where she was built) but we will see next week if I buy her...Jerry

Risør Trebåtfestival is a nice event, worth a visit with or without boat http://www.trebatfestivalen.no/pages.php?page_id=21

The main summer holiday period in Norway is in July, in August there are less boats out to compete about the nice places to stay.

 

[beermonkey]

Dear all in this thread,

Thank you. This is why I love these forums so much. I am planning a very similar trip to the OP and have learnt more here than in 30min than in two weeks of interwebby-googlying.

Thank you all.