Visiting Ramsgate

[Beagle]

Begin of June we have planned our first crossing from Holland (perhaps a stop in Belgium) to Ramsgate. Any tips and tricks for visiting Ramsgate (such as inner- or outer harbor, local restaurants/pubs)? Another thing, what kind of electricity plug is common for England, is that the blue Euro-plug (3 pins)? Last item, what is pratical use regarding Solas V? I mean how official do you make a voyage plan and such. Thanks in advance!

Rene.

<hr width=100% size=1>Never underestimate the strenght of human stupidity

 

[snowleopard]

to answer your last question first, the UK is totally laissez-faire about qualifications, boat & equipment so don't worry about pieces of paper other than passports and registration certificates.

at ramsgate you will find it much easier to use the outer harbour in fact i doubt you could get a visitor's berth inside the lock. the facilities are good and the town isn't too far away.

all uk marinas use the same power outlet, the round blue type with 3 pins (16 amp size) and the voltage is 240.

enjoy your trip and welcome to the UK.

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[Beagle]

Thanks for your reply, very helpful and useful information. We are very exited and look forward to the first pint!

<hr width=100% size=1>Never underestimate the strenght of human stupidity

 

[AndrewB]

There are two typical passage plans from Holland to Ramsgate.

(1) The direct route, buoy hopping along the edge of either the shipping lane from the Westerschelte or from the Mass and crossing the TSS north of Sandettie;

(2) The Coast Hop, down to Ostend or Nieupoort, then leave either of those on the flood tide to reach Dyke (off Gravelines) just before high water, cross the TSS from there and take the ebb to Ramsgate.

The latter is more usual in practice (specially first time) because of the direction of the prevaling winds. But care is needed particularly (1) at the Passe de Zuidecoote on the French/Belgian border; (2) approaching Ramsgate around the Goodwin sands. A lot of yachts run aground in both places, the Goodwins particularly can be dangerous. Make sure you have decent charts of these places and trust the buoys (which are often moved) not your GPS.

Ramsgate is based on three harbours: the Outer, Royal, and Inner, which you pass through in turn. Approaching Ramsgate, keep out the dredged channel and call on VHF channel 14 for permission to enter. There can be a strong cross tide on the entrance specially at Springs. Watch out for the green (unlit?) starboard buoy immediately inside the entrance to the Outer Harbour. Entering the Royal Harbour, keep well on the side of the Western Wall, specially around low water, a lot of visitors go aground here. Tie up in the marina on the Western side of the Royal Harbour. If you are staying a few days, you can arrange to go into the locked Inner Harbour which may be more comfortable.

There are many restaurants in Ramsgate but few are good quality - the best are ethnic, Indian or Thai. Try one of the ones that are to be found half way up the cliff face behind the harbour. The other place to look is Harbour Street that leads up into town away from the harbour. The yacht club (Royal Temple) at the top of the cliff is worth visiting for a pint.

As Snowleopard says the formalities are fairly relaxed, but do not bring a pet. Because of the recent problems of illegal immigration, occasionally yachts get stopped and checked by coastguards on the approach to Ramsgate.

 

[extravert]

A bit extra from what has already been said...

Ramsgate is a busy harbour with frequent ferries. Call harbour control for permission to enter or exit. Stay out of the main deep channel outside the harbour when a ferry is approaching or leaving.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[dickh]

Hope you enjoy your trip. Make sure you call Ramsgate Port control to get permission to enter, don't cut the corner as it can get shallow at low water. Outer harbour is to port as you go in. Lots of good restaurants and bars and the Yacht club up the hill is OK but I found a bit snotty.
Enjoy your visit, we hope to make Holland this year.


<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by dickh on 21/04/2004 12:21 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Beagle]

Thanks all! We have invested in the latest charts and Reeds, in which I read something about asking permission for entrance. We are experienced sailors (even coastal trips but no crossings so far), good navigators (both old fashioned and electronical) and decent communicators. The tricky part for us might be the crossing of the shipping lanes. Let's hope we do not get caught up in fog. I hope to be of the same assistance for all visitors to Holland (at least I know some great sailing places, good restaurants and pubs!)

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[sailorman]

where is your home port.
we will be in South Holland / Zeeland june 25 > july 12 around the time of "Delta Week" 02/07 > 11/07

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[Capt_Scarlet]

I don't think you will find our coffee shops as good as yours.

Instead enjoy a few pints of warm english beer.

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[Twister_Ken]

I have no advice whatsoever, except to say that visiting Ramsgate is not obligatory.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[sailorman]

he will be lucky to find anywhere "open" in Ramsgate.
the best spot is The " Royal Temple Yacht Club"
worst, Shops + marina showers on pontoon/ stieger

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[pvb]

Have you checked out their website?

The <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ramsgatemarina.co.uk>Ramsgate Marina website</A> has a lot of useful information. I've always found the staff helpful, and the facilities in the main block are good. But the town is rather dismal.

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[sailorman]

Re: Have you checked out their website?

"dismal" thats an understatement

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[Beagle]

Re: Have you checked out their website?

Once again, thanks for all the helpful information. Knew about the Ramsgate site, very useful indeed. So, Ramsgate might not be the top town to visit. Our first concern is a good crossing and that will be our main focus. Even Ramsgate must serve good enough pint I guess!

Sailorman, home harbour is Herkingen, which is on the Grevelingemeer (that's Zeeland, South of Holland). You probably will be entering the coast by Roompot (lock). During your holidays we will be back in Holland ourselves. If you need some tips about good marina's, anchorages, restaurants and an occasional pub... let me know!

<hr width=100% size=1>Never underestimate the strenght of human stupidity

 

[sailorman]

Re: Have you checked out their website?

Hi Rene
entry will depend on wind direction hopefully Stellendam. the last time in Herkingen must be 10 years ago ( only 1 marina then) & it was very windy..
last year entered via Ijmuiden,A,dam,Urk, Hoorn, ( foggy o/shore so south via Haarlem), Wilimstadt, Brunisse,Zeirekzee,Goes,Middleburg,Ooestende (suppiles)
Harwich
still looking for places to visit
cheers
roger

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[pvb]

I was trying to be kind!

I was unlucky enough to be gale-bound in Ramsgate for a few days last summer. Not the best place to be stuck in. The town seems to be very popular with "asylum seekers" though.

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[Beagle]

Places to go in the South of Holland

Sailorman,
Seems you know most of the good places. Once you've passed the lock at Stellendam, you're on the sweet water lake called Haringvliet. Interesting place there is Hellevoetsluis (near my home town) with some good rest.&pubs. Beyond the bridge is the Hollands Diep, with its main attraction Willemstad (think you know that place). From there it is about a 4 hour sail (3 locks!) to the Grevelingen-meer and yes, some places have changed over 10 years time. Herkingen has 1 marina and 1 seperate club. A very small town but the commercial clubhouse (Piet Heyn) serves fine good meals for a more than decent price. Bruinisse has a more 'upper class' kind of restaurant, The Sailor's Inn. Good fish meals. At the North-Sea side of the Grevelingen (no lock there, just a dam) there is Port Zealande which is nice to visit with a young family due to the big attached bungalow park, including a big indoor swimming pool. Beautiful anchorages, it is a clean salt watter lake as you may remember. Other interesting places are Scharrendijke and Brouwershaven (they now have a weird deposit system for electricity and showers). From Grevelingens it is only one lock to the Oosterschelde. There you will find interesting places such as Zierikzee, Wemeldinge and Yrseke (where it can be pretty shallow). From the Oosterschelde, you're only one lock seperated from the Veerde Meer. This is a very small lake with interesting places to go. Top attraction is the town Veere. Best thing to do is stay overnight in the marina at Kamperland, there is a free (gratis!, we like that) foot-ferry connection to Veere.

Perhaps more UK (and other) sailors could be interested in visiting Holland. I think there are plenty of websites giving ithis kind of information, don't know if it's in English. Could always set up something like that myself...

Rene.

<hr width=100% size=1>Never underestimate the strenght of human stupidity

 

[heerenleed]

watch the depth now in Haringvliet

Sailorman,

in addition to Beagle's advice about Haringvliet, I have read recently that the tide will be brought back this spring. It will be a controlled tide though, achieved by semi-opening the sluices at the sea side near Stellendam.

It will, after that, no longer be a freshwater basin, the sea water will creep up a long way inland, thus allowing the Biesbosch area to be sewpt clean once more.

This will not cause many problems, but if you rely too much on your charts you might run aground in shallower parts. I think the difference between HW and LW won't be a lot over 1 metre, but still, you need to know. On a quayside mooring in the area, keep some slack in your lines, for the obvious reasons.

Apart from this, I'd like to add a word of caution concerning the Slijkgat entrance towards Stellendam. This entrance may get rather nasty in anything over F5 with a from W through N in some stages of the tide. If in doubt, call the Netherlands Coastguard on VHF ch25,"Post Ouddorp" (pronounced Out dorp; very helpful people, also if you need a weather forecast for the area). In adverse conditions the only two safe entrances into the area are the Schelde mouth and, of course, the Nieuwe Waterweg to Rotterdam, but the last one is not the nicest one as it's used by the large commercial shipping (and there's no way to go except Rotterdam Parkhaven or Rhoon marina, both a long way in)

In adverse conditions, whatever entrance you take, be very cautious around the 5m line

But maybe you know all this. .

cheers & fair winds


<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[apollo]

If you like a bit of Old English cooking (roasts etc), go to "Annes Pantry" halfway up the slope which is over on the right as you look at the cliffs from the harbour.

After we have been to Holland for two weeks, its nice to go in there and we know we are back in UK again. Like going to tea at grandma's.

Annes Pantry
8 Albion Hill
Ramsgate
England
United Kingdom
CT11 8HG
Telephone : 01843 593287

Just my opinion mind!

Mike

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[Beagle]

Mike,
Thanks for the information. I sure do enjoy a good Ol' English roast! Not to sure about my fellow sailors but they need to expeience this too, and trust me on my judgement (oops). Not too sure about the warm Ales. Common remark in Holland when served warm beer is to stuff it back into the horse.... But a couple of Nelson's, Scotland's finest (or worse, tart fuel) will certainly be welcome after our trip.

In addition to the useful information from Heerenleed, here's a link with detailed information from the Dutch department regarding The Haringvliet (in English) http://www.haringvlietsluizen.nl/haringvliet_uk/default.html

I'm not too sure about the planning of making the Haringvliet salty again because there was/is still a lot of resistance from local farmers (among others).

<hr width=100% size=1>Never under estimate the strength of human stupidity