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Cruise 2018 – Summary
The dates
- Transport from Port-la-Forêt to Aber Wrac'h: April 12-14
- AvRM Gathering (Aber Wrach – Cornwall, UK): April 29 to May 10
- On the South Coast of England: from May 11th to May 24th
- In Belgium (Nieuwpoort and Blanckenberge): from May 24 to May 28
- In the Netherlands: from May 28 to June 11
- In Germany: from June 12 to June 17
- In Denmark: from June 17 to June 26
- In Sweden: from June 26 to August 7
The steps
- Transport: Port-la-Forêt, Sainte-Evette, Île de Sein, Aber Wrac'h / Paluden
- AvRM Gathering: Aber Wrach, Plymouth, Fowey, Helford River, Newlyn, Saint Michael Mount, Falmouth)
- On the south coast of England: Falmouth, Plymouth, Salcombe, Dittishamn, Dartmouth, Yarmouth, Bembridge Harbour, Brighton, Dover
- In Belgium: Nieuwpoort and Blanckenberge
- In the Netherlands: Middleburg (via Vlissingen), Veere, Delta Marina (upstream of Zandkreek), Willemstad, Scheveningen, Ijmuiden, Amsterdam / Six Haven, Marken, Enkhuizen, Hindeloopen, Harlingen, Leewarden, Lauwersoog / Noodergat
- In Germany: Cuxhaven, Bargstedler (on the Kiel Canal), Laboe / Yachthafen
- In Denmark: island of Falster / Gedser, island of Møn / Klintholm, island of Bornholm / Rønne and Alinge, island of Christiansø
- In the South of Sweden: island of Utklippan, Kristianopel, Kalmar, island of Öland / Borgholm
In the Swedish archipelagos:
Solberga Näset / Slälevik (south of Oskarshamn)
Utlangö
Förö Island / Storaförö
Ranglöholmen
Västervik
Bokö Island / Hamnvik - Harstena
- Styrsö
Arkösund
Hässelö (northeast of Öxelösund)
Ringsön Island / North
Torö / South
Nynäshamn
Distance travelled (according to our Loch…)
- 2055 nautical miles
Engine operation
- 229 hours
Weather report
As in much of Europe, we mainly experienced stormy weather. The storms didn't break out often (but a few were quite spectacular!) and there was very little rain, but the temperature was abnormally high and the atmosphere oppressive, with relatively weak winds. When we did have wind, it was very often from the north or northeast, therefore against us, but we experienced very few strong gales. And this went on for three and a half months!
RM crossed
The boats participating in the AvRM gathering at the start of their cruise: Spirit of Golang in Yarmouth (RM 1260), Sylvie (RM 1200) in Bembridge Harbour and Brighton, Blackbird (RM 1070) in Stockholm
The locks passed
- 7 in the South of the Netherlands: Vlissingen, Veere, Zandkreek Sluis, Krammer Sluis, Philipsdam / Volkerak Sluis, Stellendam / Goeresse
- 6 in the North of the Netherlands: Ijmuiden / Kleine Sluis, Amsterdam / Oranjesluis, Lorentzsluizen, Harlingen / Tsjerk, Hiddessluizen
- 2 in the Netherlands, between Harlingen and Lauwersoog: Willen Loresluis (before Lauwersoog), Robbengatsluis (after Lauwersoog)
- 2 in Germany: Kiel Canal West Lock: Brünsbüttel, East Lock: Haltenau
- 2 south of Stockholm: Slussen lock in Stockholm and Södertälje lock
The bridges that rose, that turned, tilted… to let us pass:
- 6 in the South of the Netherlands: Middleburg (twice), 2 bridges of Zandkreek Sluis, bridges of Krammer Sluis and Volkerak Sluis, Haringvliet
- 4 in the North of the Netherlands: Amsterdam / Schellingwouder Brug, 2 Lorentzsluizen bridges, Harlingen bridge / Tsjerk Hiddessluizen,
- 22 in the Netherlands, between Harlingen and Lauwersoog: Koningsbrug, Kiestzijl brug, Frisia Brug, Stationsbrug Frareker Brug, Dronrijp toggle brug, Ritzumazijl toggle brug, Slauerhof brug, Verlaatsbrug, Vrouwenpoortsbrug, Noorderbrug, Eebrug, 2 Budaard bridges, Klaarkampsterbrug, 3 bridges in Dokkum, 3 bridges between Dokkum and Willen Loresluis. Robbengatsluis Bridge before reaching the North Sea
- 3 south of Stockholm: bridges before and after the Slussen lock in Stockholm, Mälarbron (between Lake Mälaren and Södertälje)
Navigation highlights
- The first crossing between Aber Wrac'h and Plymouth, which made us quite seasick; the arrival in Ijmuiden in a fog so thick you could cut it with a knife; the seaweed around the starboard keel "harvested" while sailing in the Markermeer (3m depth on average); the channels leading out of the Netherlands towards the North Sea, with very shallow waters for several nautical miles that unintentionally create short, rough seas; the circling around at night between cargo ships and sandbanks off Friesland to wait for a favorable current to enter the Elbe; the entry lock into the Kiel Canal with a following wind and a full lock
- Crossing paths with cargo ships and ferries in this region is unavoidable. Special mention goes to the Costa Mediterranea off Dover, the LS Anne which altered its course slightly to avoid us off Calais, the Turquoise ferry (280m) which was leaving the port of Ijmuiden as we were entering and which we didn't see due to fog, and the cement carrier Östenvik which we encountered near Stockholm in a 30m wide channel under construction…
Crossbred animals:
- Dolphins have been sighted 5 or 6 times in the English Channel (both large and small) and once in Denmark.
- Seals have been seen on several occasions between Newlyn and Utklippan, in small numbers in the harbors, and in large groups at Christiansø and Utklippan.
- A swimming deer, upon arriving in Västervik, but also deer, fallow deer… on numerous occasions on the islands of the archipelago (but no moose…)
Bobology
- We consulted a dentist in Falmouth, and two doctors in Sweden (Kalmar and Saltsjöbaden near Stockholm), without difficulty.
- We were fortunate to have internet connections that allowed us to at least check our emails and get the weather forecast almost every time we anchored!
- The most disorienting (almost hostile): Belgium
- The most appealing option for someone with celiac disease: Cornwall, Britain
- Few problems on board: a small leak at the start of the cruise, the onboard computer's CMOS battery needed replacing, the headsail furlers were too stiff, and towards the end of the cruise, a windlass was malfunctioning (a relay issue?). We particularly appreciated our new sun awning!
- And we had a grandson during our voyage!
