Who has been over to Holland recently

Plan is still to head straight over to Vlissingen or Breskens probably leaving early hours of this coming Saturday.
Have noticed that the yacht harbours/marinas in Holland seem to use VHF Channel 31, which UK sets don't have (as it's the same frequency as one of the rescue service channels over here - from what I read).
I assume it's generally OK to rock up at a marina unannounced or is it best to phone ahead?
 
Plan is still to head straight over to Vlissingen or Breskens probably leaving early hours of this coming Saturday.
Have noticed that the yacht harbours/marinas in Holland seem to use VHF Channel 31, which UK sets don't have (as it's the same frequency as one of the rescue service channels over here - from what I read).
I assume it's generally OK to rock up at a marina unannounced or is it best to phone ahead?
Only Breskens on 31 in that area to my knowledge. they will have a phone contact also a hand set provided on the reception berth
 
Plan is still to head straight over to Vlissingen or Breskens probably leaving early hours of this coming Saturday.
Have noticed that the yacht harbours/marinas in Holland seem to use VHF Channel 31, which UK sets don't have (as it's the same frequency as one of the rescue service channels over here - from what I read).
I assume it's generally OK to rock up at a marina unannounced or is it best to phone ahead?

As Sailorman says the marinas have a fixed intercom on the reception berth, but some also use ch31, Breskens and Wemledinge on the Oosterschelde. In Uk Ch31 is reserved for rnli beach rescue use. You can get a Variation of License from Ofcom to allow it to be put legally onto your VHF (I have one). It use is prohibited within 30Nm of UK low water line.
 
As Sailorman says the marinas have a fixed intercom on the reception berth, but some also use ch31, Breskens and Wemledinge on the Oosterschelde. In Uk Ch31 is reserved for rnli beach rescue use. You can get a Variation of License from Ofcom to allow it to be put legally onto your VHF (I have one). It use is prohibited within 30Nm of UK low water line.

Yep, I read about the useage in the UK,
Thanks for the replies.
 
Ahem. There are 3 locations in Scotland that have Ch31 allocated to them....


Craignure Pier, Isle of Mull

Arinagour Pier, Isle of Coll

Gott Bay Pier, Tiree

:D
 
Plan is still to head straight over to Vlissingen or Breskens probably leaving early hours of this coming Saturday.
Have noticed that the yacht harbours/marinas in Holland seem to use VHF Channel 31, which UK sets don't have (as it's the same frequency as one of the rescue service channels over here - from what I read).
I assume it's generally OK to rock up at a marina unannounced or is it best to phone ahead?

You'll have better luck calling on the phone rather than VHF as the bar staff may answer it especially if outside the limited opening hours of many HM offices. Reception pier may be manned, have an intercom or just a posted list of available berths.
Dutch school holidays are drawing to a close so there should be less demand for visitor berths.
 
you'll see a blue board with the vhf channel you'll need after most locks and entrances in my experience. However so far have never had to use it. Browershaven is quite an experience as the harbour master talks to you as you approach from seemingly every direction at once and when you mutter under your breath he can hear you! All a bit big brother.
Goes was fab,and so was the aforementioned restaurant. At Veere now and the yacht club meal was great. The harbour entrance makes southwold look cavernous.
 
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you'll see a blue board with the vhf channel you'll need after most locks and entrances in my experience. However so far have never had to use it. Browershaven is quite an experience as the harbour master talks to you as you approach from seemingly every direction at once and when you mutter under your breath he can hear you! All a bit big brother.
Goes was fab,and so was the aforementioned restaurant. At Veere now and the yacht club meal was great. The harbour entrance makes southwold look cavernous.

Broweshaven is controlled from the lock ( only used in defence situations) as you go through
 
you'll see a blue board with the vhf channel you'll need after most locks and entrances in my experience. However so far have never had to use it. Browershaven is quite an experience as the harbour master talks to you as you approach from seemingly every direction at once and when you mutter under your breath he can hear you! All a bit big brother.
Goes was fab,and so was the aforementioned restaurant. At Veere now and the yacht club meal was great. The harbour entrance makes southwold look cavernous.

Without the tidal flow
Go up the Town hall Tr well worth it on a clear day
 
My spies tell me that the bridges in the Middleberg canal are better synchronised this year and that waits there are less of a problem.
 
I'm sure I read somewhere that there is a new synchronised system from June/July.

Whenever I have been on the Walcheren Canal, the passage from Middleburg south always seems to be simpler than from Vlissingen north, with bridges opening in close sequence. Unlikely to be possible to do it in both directions.
 
At Middleburg now so will test the bridge wait in the morning. Veere by the way was lovely, however no one warned us about the incecent bell ringing ALL NIGHT. Half the time it was late which made it even more aggravating. Got a bus to the Deltaexpo today. Glad we went but not worth the 40 quid entry for the two of us.
looks like a nice easterly on Friday to bring us home.
 
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My spies tell me that the bridges in the Middleberg canal are better synchronised this year and that waits there are less of a problem.

Apparently there are now three times in the day when they are synchronised and you get a clear run. I suspect it may be during the busy season only. We didn't try it in early July when we could have because we would've arrived at the Schelde a couple of hours before the ebb started.

We've been along the Walcheren canal three times this year, and Middelburg to outside the Vlissingen lock has been at least two hours each time.

The fastest run we had was a couple of years ago. We came round the corner from the Schelde to find the sport lock on green, the lock gates then closed immediately behind us, and we arrived at the first bridge just behind a water authority boat (the size of a tug). Every bridge opened as we approached it. It got well ahead by the first station bridge, but we got through on green just in time. We arrived at Middelburg ten minutes after a bridge into the harbour, and it was immediately opened again specially for us. I would have to look at the (lightly toasted or at least powder-coated!) log on board to confirm the duration, but it won't ever happen any faster.
 
Took us a shade over 2hours from middleburg to the sea lock at vlissingen. Breskens now, leaving for home in morning. Been a good trip. Next year we'll head south and spend some of these spare euro's.
 
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