Where to go for 1 week?

[cueball]

I will be spending the second week of August aboard. My question is where to go? it will be myself and SWMBO. We are based at Essex marina on the Crouch, do you think the Netherlands is to far for 1 week, Belgium or France maybe, or just stick local (by local i mean round to the south coast)?

 

[FullCircle]

Depends on the weather and the wind direction.......

But I would say that Netherlands is a long way and backin a week, especially if you have crew who are not#quite# as keen on sailing as you.
However, Gravelines is a good place to get to.
Personally, I would try and make somewhere like the Oare/Alde and perhaps Southwold.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Depending on the wind, heading West to the South Coast may well be harder work than Northern France, Belgium, etc.

 

[Otter]

Depends if you need a marina or if you're happy to anchor/moor. Nothing beats Ore/Butley Creek/Alde, some great sailing up the rivers and utter p&q. Water available at Orford and Aldeborough with lots of anchorages and moorings and Southwold is a day sail away with pontoons, leccy and showers.

 

[Pye_End]

Depends on how risk averse you are to poor weather, and how many hours a day you want to be sailing. If you are not really worried about returning with a poor forecast then Netherlands is fine in a week, otherwise as soon as you are over the other side you will be looking for a weather window to return. Ditto say Cherbourg and back.

For that sort of thing I tend to go as far as I can in 2 or 3 days, and then make a leisurely cruise back.

 

[michael_w]

In at Roompotsluis and out at Vissigen (or the other way round!) is perfectly doable in a week if the weather cooperates for the North Sea bit.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Currently in Sovereign having set out with the intention of getting towards the Solent and back in two weeks. Left for Ramsgate last Saturday. The SW' lies have buggered that... you basically have around about a 4 hr westbound window from Dover, which means even Sovereign is an unpleasant push... looking forward to Des Sleightholm's "gravy train "back East

 

[sailorman]

Currently in Sovereign having set out with the intention of getting towards the Solent and back in two weeks. Left for Ramsgate last Saturday. The SW' lies have buggered that... you basically have around about a 4 hr westbound window from Dover, which means even Sovereign is an unpleasant push... looking forward to Des Sleightholm's "gravy train "back East

Best go X Channel & get some good grub n wine.
Having said that the Cloggies will be full flow to the CIs & taking over every stopover Hbr

 

[Habebty]

Best go X Channel & get some good grub n wine.
Having said that the Cloggies will be full flow to the CIs & taking over every stopover Hbr

So I suppose Boulogne will be rammed with Calais shut

 

[sailorman]

So I suppose Boulogne will be rammed with Calais shut

our last time there is was rammed from the Club Hse to the fishermans side & Calais was open

 

[Lucky Duck]

Best go X Channel & get some good grub n wine.
Having said that the Cloggies will be full flow to the CIs & taking over every stopover Hbr

Eastbourne to Fecamp is one of the shorter channel crossings and then one can work thier way East with the flood tide...

 

[cueball]

Great suggestions so far, I might move the boat a few weekends beforehand, giving myself a longer range. Anyone done similar?

 

[Boz]

I will be spending the second week of August aboard. My question is where to go? it will be myself and SWMBO. We are based at Essex marina on the Crouch, do you think the Netherlands is to far for 1 week, Belgium or France maybe, or just stick local (by local i mean round to the south coast)?

Why go South? I week should enable a trip round to Wells:

R. Orwell
Southwold or
Lowestoft
Wells

Just a thought

 

[ex-Gladys]

Best go X Channel & get some good grub n wine.
Having said that the Cloggies will be full flow to the CIs & taking over every stopover Hbr

Passports at home, plenty of Cloggies and Germans around....

 

[xyachtdave]

Great suggestions so far, I might move the boat a few weekends beforehand, giving myself a longer range. Anyone done similar?

This is the correct answer if with family/non hero crew members.

I'd say leave the boat there afterwards too and collect it later with your mates,. I've a lot of experience of family boat holidays being ruined by the weather (particulaly in August) and have caught the train back from most ports on the East Coast....

Don't spend your break checking the weather constantly for a window to get home, very stressful IMO!

 

[stephenk]

Did this exact route from Ipswich recently in 32ft yacht over 6 days. Had a great few days in Holland and was very fortunate with weather for 17 hour crossings which managed in daylight. If weather ok and crew reasonably experienced an excellent choice !