The way to Vlissingen

[Heraclitus]

I'm planning, weather permitting, to end my first season on the East Coast with a trip to Vlissingen next weekend (Friday to Monday). Looking at the chart and the almanac it seems that the way to go (from the Blackwater) is cross the Thames estuary until you get to S Knock SC buoy and then straight across (crossing the shipping channels at right angles, of course). Does this sound right? Any tips? I've never done this passage and some of you must have done it dozens of times.
Thanks.

 

[Marmalade]

I'd go up the wallet... out to long sand head and then across to Vlissingen from there. Make sure you arrive on the flood as there's an absolute ripper of a tide coming out of the westerschelde if you time it wrong.

You can lock in at Vlissingen and then take the canal up to Middelberg (about an hour) - lovely place.

 

[FullCircle]

Another vote for Long Sand Head, turn right.

 

[johnalison]

I found less water cutting close to Long Sand Head this year coming back from Blankenberg. Perfectly OK if you follow the obvious route.

 

[Koeketiene]

Just make sure you don't end up fighting the tide in the Scheldt estuary - you won't win.

 

[Heraclitus]

Thanks everybody. Long Sand Head. Turn right. Got it.

 

[MoodySabre]

From Bradwell I leave near HW, through the Spitway and out to Long Sand Head - 30nm in about 4.5 to 5 hours with the tide under you.

Hmmm my trip at the end of May seems a long time ago Have a great time.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Second Guapa's comment.... been there done that!

Also, another vote for LSH and turn right...

Couple of other observations.... don't bother with Breskens... nothing to attract there other than an ok YC with good food... the town itself is dead and its not cheap.

In Vlissingen, i'd recommend locking through and using the Schelde marina rather than the De Ruyter marina.... nothing wrong with the latter, but the former has a very nice feel about it... and if time permits, allows easy access via the Walcheren canal to Middelburg, which is a very very lovely place to visit... in the past by timing departure carefully we've managed to cross the nth sea into Vlissingen and straight through to Middelburg in one hit.... worth the extra hour or so if you can hack it.

 

[Otter]

Make sure you arrive on the flood as there's an absolute ripper of a tide coming out of the westerschelde if you time it wrong.

We arrived an hour late and it took 3 ******* hours to do 5 miles, I was spitting by the end - spitting was all I could do since swearing was impossible due to young children present

 

[Koeketiene]

don't bother with Breskens... nothing to attract there other than an ok YC with good food...

The food really is good - in fact, in my books it warrants a detour (and that's saying something - I am a notorious fussy eater )

 

[rudolph_hart]

The food really is good - in fact, in my books it warrants a detour (and that's saying something - I am a notorious fussy eater )

Another vote for the Breskens YC restaurant. The mussels are particularly good.