Winter passage planning

[Aquafan]

I am planning to visit the Dutch waterways in June next year.
I will be leaving Limehouse and then down the Estuary but then what do I turn right to Ramsgate (which would mean working my way up the French/Belgium coast) , go left to say Shotley or go straight across?
Which is the best option (easiest) and which harbour the other side of the Channel do I head for.
The boat is small just under 9 mtrs with one VP 310HP engine with a maximum range of 200nm although reports say more.
I have limited experience but done Ramsgate and the Norfolk Broads a few times starting from Marlow.
I thought I should do it before I get too old.
All advice will be most welcome and thank you in advance.

 

[apollo]

I am planning to visit the Dutch waterways in June next year.
I will be leaving Limehouse and then down the Estuary but then what do I turn right to Ramsgate (which would mean working my way up the French/Belgium coast) , go left to say Shotley or go straight across?
Which is the best option (easiest) and which harbour the other side of the Channel do I head for.
The boat is small just under 9 mtrs with one VP 310HP engine with a maximum range of 200nm although reports say more.
I have limited experience but done Ramsgate and the Norfolk Broads a few times starting from Marlow.
I thought I should do it before I get too old.
All advice will be most welcome and thank you in advance.

There is another way, go due East from Ramsgate - 3X waypoints - Mid Falls, Ruytigen North, Niewpoort. 49 miles. Then its an easy run next day up to Flushing.
Cuts quite a lot of time off the calais route although obviously no places to duck if it gets rough.
This is the run we did this summer. If you are in Harleyford (you said Marlow?) - PM me and happy to have a chat one weekend in the Showboat over a coffee.
Mike

 

[Aquafan]

Thanks Apollo for your helpful reply.
I had actually considered your plan and it looks straightforward enough. I would love to meet up with you at the Showboat (it will always be known as the Showboat) one weekend maybe a bit nearer the time
Thanks again

 

[apollo]

Any time, shame you are not crossing later next year as i could accompany you!

 

[Billy Blue]

There is another way, go due East from Ramsgate - 3X waypoints - Mid Falls, Ruytigen North, Niewpoort. 49 miles. Then its an easy run next day up to Flushing.
Cuts quite a lot of time off the calais route although obviously no places to duck if it gets rough.
This is the run we did this summer. If you are in Harleyford (you said Marlow?) - PM me and happy to have a chat one weekend in the Showboat over a coffee.
Mike

No issues then with red diesel at Niewpoort?
I wonder what the Belgiums attitude is after Brexit.
The RYA last advice as of 26 May 2016 is. "However, we recently received a report that suggests the stance of the Belgian Authorities may be hardening and the risk of being fined for boating in Belgian waters with marked red diesel in your fuel tanks may therefore be increasing." With no update after that, I wonder if there have actually been any fines imposed this year.

 

[apollo]

No issues then with red diesel at Niewpoort?
I wonder what the Belgiums attitude is after Brexit.
The RYA last advice as of 26 May 2016 is. "However, we recently received a report that suggests the stance of the Belgian Authorities may be hardening and the risk of being fined for boating in Belgian waters with marked red diesel in your fuel tanks may therefore be increasing." With no update after that, I wonder if there have actually been any fines imposed this year.

We did see the customs guys in Bruges, they walked past the boat three times to let us know they were there, but we were not questioned.
If you want to go next year then do it!

 

[Billy Blue]

We did see the customs guys in Bruges, they walked past the boat three times to let us know they were there, but we were not questioned.
If you want to go next year then do it!

That's my intention.
Having got stuck firstly in Boulogne and then Dieppe for most of my 2 week trip across the channel in July this year and an "exciting" trip between the 2 ports due to consistent F6+ W'ly winds, I thought I'd avoid such problems (once I'm over there) and do some inland boating in Holland next summer. I chartered a boat in Friesland a few years ago and discovered what a fantastic place for boating it is.
Anyway, I was thinking about much the same questions as Aquafan about routing (from the Medway) and whether I should avoid Belgium.
Looking to go just after the Dutch invasion of the Medway as I thought it would be good fun to stick around for that i.e. departing sometime in the second half of June. Aquafan, when are you thinking of going?