This summer's cruise

wingdiver

wingdiver

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This summer\'s cruise

Well, we were thinking of a trip across Northern France but it seems that the locals are up to their old tricks again.
We had chosen that part of the world as a change from the Northern/middle Dutch or North Sea Belgian areas as we have been over there for the past couple of years.
We only have two weeks this time so going too far afield is not really an option.
Plus the cost of marinas on the UK south coast scares me a bit.
Any thoughts on the areas around the Westerschelde, Antwerp, Middleburg, Veere etc as we seem to have missed out on those.
Cheers
D
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Well......

Of all the places we've been on the boat, through Vlissingen, into the Veersemeer is at or very near the top of our list for favourites!


Middelburg is lovely... a really nice little marina, right in the heart of the two... very pretty

The Veersemeer is delightful... quiet, peaceful and plenty of places to stop... we in particular love one of the islands in the centre, called Baastien de Langeplaat. not only is is quite obviously cared for and tended, but the pontoons on the island are free!... if you want a quiet relaxed night, then there could be few better places..

From there, the options are many....

Veere itself is very nice... a brilliant harbour (although it will test your boat handling skills!), and the town, although small, is very quaint.

Zierikzee (sp?) is nice too.... and the view from the top of the 'MonstorToren' is amazing.

Goes is a treat in itself.... the marina is again right in the heart of a pretty Dutch provincial town, surrounded by great architecture....

As you can probaby tell, we like the area a great deal.... it is definitely well worth a visit.
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Great area, have just spent 3 years there, off & on.

Usually takes 2 off the wind compared with Dover forecast so great if the weather elsewhere is not good.

Antwerp not really worth the struggle to time tides to get up there and dodge the big boys! Though many less big container boats recently.
If you do go, then go to the Linkeroever - left bank and the KLYC [ Royal Liberty Yacht club - nice bar, cafe ] Saves all the effort of being let into all the locks.

You can walk down the road and get a tram into the centre of town or take the footpath through the tunnel under the river.

Breskens, might need a blazer, seems lots of Ruperts at weekends. Pay attention to the buoyage at the entrance, especially if you are not a bilge keeler or of a nervous disposition.

Terneuzen, just down the coast from Breskens. Nice little marina and pleasant town. Barts Bakers and bars, cafes for all budgets near marina.
No supermarket within reasonable walking distance though!

Vlissingen - the old harbour, phone the cafe to get them to open the gate, carefully check the water depth on entry,

Middelburg, - worth the visit. Nice Yacht Club and facilities.

Yerseke, Wemeldinge, prefer Yerseke but does get busy

Zieriksee - if you like rafting and close quarter manoevering But worth the effort.

All gets a bit frantic at weekends - try to avoid the canals then.

Be aware of the possible need to have the two tomes of rules and regulations, and a current chart for the area.

Do not discharge heads into any inland or coastal waterways!!
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Depends if you stay on your boat most of the time or like to spread your wings ashore - in which case the trip up the Westerschelde is for you.

Go Breskens, possibly put in to Terneusen for the night, then on to Antwerp getting there at top of the tide (probably have to motor the last part) Breskens to Antwerp is possible on 1 tide - that's what I do. Go for Linkeroever marina and walk the tunnel straight into town - everything to see and great shops etc. Cathedral is world class.

Back down river for 3 hours to Hansweert and up canal to Osterschelde and all its ports - any will delight you - other posts have mentioned some.

If time permits, drive north through the locks to Willemstadt and next day on to Dordrecht where you time your arrival for the lifting rail bridge, then 200m on RHS head into small town harbour and marina. You'll know you're in the right entrance - you see a fire tug moored on your LHS and you push an entrance button on the bulwark on your RHS to gain entry. The Venice of the north....and another great cathedral that features in lots of classic paintings!

You can return west via the Maas / Haaringvliet (good sailing here) and Helevoetsluis to sea. Middleharnis is another delight - they're all over the place...

If you're familiar with locks, you'll know already that the secret is (almost always) to get your rear line attached first and nudge ahead on motor to secure the foreline. All fenders in place!

All in all a great trip.

And reasonably priced! Have fun.

PWG
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

we are in pretty much in the same position as you, i am however going to go to France, i have loads of out of date flares which i can aim at the fishing boats as the blockade gets underway.
Agree with Morgana, we went to the Veersemeer last year and spent over a week in the area, the little islands are delightful and our kids had the best time ever playing in the little lagoons in the dinghy, Veere is wonderful, but has no useful shops, it did have a Brit ex pat sitting outside the yacht club in his Dutch built gin palace, which we moored alongside, he took me down to the supermarket which is between Vlissingen and Middleburg in his Jag! but it would be unwise to rely on him this year /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Its normally an area that you tear through, which is a big mistake.
We also popped round to the Gravlingermeer and stopped on one or two of the islands up near Brouwershaven - the one with the herd of wild horses on and oysters that are just everywhere (shame August is out of season) it was great seeing the horses tearing around through the shallows, it was like the camargue (except the horses were brown!)
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Thanks for the replies.
We have been as far South in Holland as Colijnsplaat and Wemeldinge on previous trips.
We also brought Mermaid home from Breskens after her road trip across Europe but we were only there for a few hours and that was our only visit to the Westerschelde.
Antwerp is feasible but it seems that it's a cul-de-sac and to go into the Dutch inland waterways, we would need to come all the way back to Vlissingen - unless someone knows better.
Further north, exiting via the Roompotsluis is particularly scary for us as the air draft is around the same as the height under the road bridge! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
We have all the charts, books and the famous almancs. Even, dare I say, electronic charts of the area. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Whats your air draught? i went out through the Roompot last year had to do a few calcs first but mines a 42 ft sloop you are a ketch would have thought i had a higher mast than you
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Last week I went through the Roompotsluis just ahead of a Dehler 41 who was waiting for low water.
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Well. I believe they said there was 20 metres below the bridge, which is 65 feet in old money.
Our main mast is 55 feet, which is quite big /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
The foot of the mast is around 7ft to the waterline. That's 62ft!! THen there are the VHF aerials on top of that say 3ft.
Now you see why we were panicking. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

Don't miss out on Antwerp - more than worth it.
Lots happening - all day, every day.

Stay left hand bank marina (Linkeroever) - avoid the locks.
KLYC very friendly - never left the bar sober.
RYCB - snobbish (blue blazer brigade)

Note: Linkeroever lock open times.
Reeds says HW -1 to HW +1
Wrong (as we found out) - lock opens at HW-1 to let boats out and in and then closes till HW+1 when it opens again for a short while.
Phone ahead.

There
Breskens - Antwerp on one tide

Back
Antwerp - Hansweert
3.5 - 4 hrs - into Oosterschelde through the canal (6 NM - 3 bridges IIRC)

Got latest Schelde and Zeeland Dutch Hydro carts - yours to borrow as from early June should you want/need them.
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

You have 18.4m clearance under the span at the Volkerak entrance and Roompotsluis - it's the standard, and I have passed it "comfortably" with my 17.5m airdraft. There may be a little more give at the sealock if taken at low water.

PWG
 
Re: This summer\'s cruise

You dont have to go back to Vlissingen. We had a great trip through the Wemelding-Hansweert canal (Ostershcelde to Westerschelde) Lots of folk dont realise its open to leisure traffic. In usual Dutch fashion the massive lock was opened for just our little boat. Thoroughly enjoyed Antwerp.
 
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