trip Amsterdam London

[Guest]

I'm planning to go to London this may. I think we'll go via Calais.
Any suggestions for the trip? What are the good and nice Marina's to stay in London?
Thank you

 

[willothewisp]

Don't you think you're taking the long way round, down to Calais, crossing to Dover and up to Harwich, then London? It'll take you a week at the least! Calais- Dover, albeit the shortest crossing, is also the busiest and by no means the easiest. The currents are strongest there and you're in the shipping lane practically all the way.By the way, look op a back number of the Waterkampioen, it featured several articles on London trips in 2002. St. Katherine's Haven would also be a good bet (it's on the internet, as are many coastal harbours and marinas. Try Ben Hoekendijk- De oversteek naar Engeland. It carries plenty of tips and advice for novices such as myself.

 

[kingfisher]

Dan,

I've done the same trip two years ago: Terneuzen-Londen. You'll find some of the photographs on my site http://sirocco31.tripod.com

Terneuzen-Nieuwpoort-Ramsgate-Queensborough-(detour on the Medway by Hoo)-St Katherines in Londen

Back was ST-Kats-QB-RG-Oostende-TZ

Tips: The Thames is exactly like the Westerschelde: shipping, currents etc. We went south of the Isle of Sheppey. Great trip but calculate your tides well

Queensborough is great, Hoo is fine, but the Medway is an industrial ugly channel.

Up to QB the scenery is nice. From QB to the Thames tidal barrier it's quite industrious. From there on its amazing. St Kats is a jewel. Quiet, but in the middle of the city. Tesco's supermarket at the back, pub in front. Showers are fine, but busy. Mail to ST-Kats NOW for reservation!!!! Quite expensive, it was 20£ a night for my 31ft.

To get into St Kats, theres a small lock with the same enthousiasm as the Zandkreeksluis on a busy summers weekend. And the English don't know how to lock. Use a lot of fenders.

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[Guest]

I always go through the canals through Brugge to Nieuwpoort and go out to sea there. Very easy, no delays (except tide of course, + / - 3 on HW, 24/24), no French to deal with, two bunker boats and so on. Agree with comments about the Medway unless you are going above Maidstone in which case the upper river might just make up for the dismal tidal bit. Watch out for Aylesford Bridge though! Can't think why anybody would like Hoo!

St. Kats is the perfect place in London and a very cheap place to stay and see London (relative to hotels, etc.)

Goede reis!

 

[Richard_Blake]

London? Easyjet and hire a motor cruiser!

LowTech

 

[quaelgeist2]

Couple of comments, taking into account previous posts.

= If we talk about summer season, reconsider St Kaths - its a nice location, but dirty, touristy (you ARE the attraction), and pretty badly organised (the lock takes ages you have to wait for long periods -nice outside on the Thames- and you have to book in advance else you may find your self in a locking queue for 2hrs)

= Limehouse Basin marina is much more relaxed

= Careful in the locks anyway - due to lack of necessary practise it can be worse than Lemmer on a Sunday

= We have done Ramsgate-Nieuwport/B, 10-14hrs, still OK with the TSS;
Ramsgate-Zeebrugge, 12-15hrs, careful with TSS;
Ramsgate-Scheveningen directly, 21hrs, can be done (shouldn't recommend as we did not comply with TSS rules completely)

= Also did Nieuwport-Queenborough in 19hrs, but would not go into QB without knowing the area: could be confusing with lots of light, potentially some traffic out of Thames and Medway strong currents in the Swale where you more up (never mind that some weekends all buoys are taken)

= we do like the Medway, it has nice anchorages (bird sacnturies with wild geese) and recently got the excellent though expensive Chatham Marina (fuel!)

= Take fuel in Ramsgate or on the Medway, the LOndon fuel barge is not recommended

= You will more likely than not motor or motor sail up (and less likely down) the Thames, since you need average speed of 6 kn over ground to make it in one tide - unless you have a very fast boat or perfect wind conditions

= a chart of the Thames is helpful but not essential (I used a NOrth Sea Pilot with a sketch of the river and it did the trick - there is not much to see and the signs and buoys are easy to read

enjoy the trip
chris