Northeast doppler radar 1800 mile6/17/2023 ![]() ![]() Getting back to the UK can be done in many different ways. You can sail from here all the way to Oslo. The waters here are very calm: you can moor alongside a rock if there’s room enough – it is a very popular cruising area. Keep following the south coast of Norway until you reach the Blindleia archipelago on the south-east coast, with its thousands of islands. Don’t forget to climb Preikestolen (Pulpit rock) when you reach Stavanger. Once you’ve enjoyed cruising there, head back south. Try sampling fårikål, the national dish with mutton and cabbage. Once across the polar circle at 66°N the Lofoten Islands await: a spectacular cruising area with dramatic vistas from every angle. The warm Gulf Stream makes the central Norwegian west coast, with its beautiful scenery, a very pleasant cruising area. If starting from the UK East Coast, make your way north as far as convenient – perhaps to Peterhead – then cross directly to Bergen, enabled by the prevailing south-westerly winds.Īfter exploring Bergen’s spectacular historic city centre, you work your way north, visiting fjords and remote islands, until you reach the Lofoten archipelago. The focus is on Norway, with ample time to explore its magnificent west coast. This itinerary is for hardy cruisers who don’t mind making longer trips in the long daylight hours of the north, as well as some overnight passages. Total miles This itinerary is roughly 1,800 miles, with an average of 20 miles per day. The prevailing winds are south-westerly, so make sure you have plenty of time to wait for a weather window on the last legs of this trip. This offers the choice of some interesting cities to visit: Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö and Gothenburg. The other option is to loop back to the Nord Ostsee Kanal (often known as the Kiel Canal). Along the west coast of Denmark you can work your way south to the Netherlands, Belgium and France for a final crossing back to Ramsgate. To get back to the UK, you have two options: to sail north in the Kattegat to Hals, Denmark, where you enter the Limfjord. The Staande Mast Route, or Fixed Mast Route, is a 115km-long canal from Amsterdam to Willemstad via three sets of locks and 40 swing bridges, suitable for yachts with draught of no more than 2.5m. The summer days are long, so it’s realistic to plan to cover up to 60 miles on a day sail – plenty of time to enjoy the region’s summer festivals. Another option is to head north-east to Sweden where Malmö and Gothenburg offer excellent facilities. Or you sail north to Denmark, to sail around in the stunning archipelagos and visit the modern city of Copenhagen. Beautiful cities like Germany’s Rostock or Polish Szczecin are within reach. You can go east to the northern German and Polish coasts with their very protected cruising areas, for instance near the island of Rügen. In the north you can work your way to the entrance of the Nord Ostsee Kanal on the banks of the Elbe river.Īfter motoring 60 miles on the channel, you are in the Baltic and immediately spoilt for choice. Then on to Germany, via the Wadden islands chain. Try the delicious Dutch stroopwafels (syrup waffles) when you’re there. Here your track heads inland on the famous Staande Mast Route, which leads you diagonally through the Netherlands, where you pass some interesting cities like Gouda, Haarlem and Amsterdam. Follow the Belgium coast, enjoying all the Belgian culinary delights of moules-frites and more, until you get to Flushing in the Netherlands. This itinerary starts in Ramsgate, Kent, from where you cross to France via Calais. Incredible though it might seem, with careful planning you can visit seven countries in 90 days while only sailing in relaxed day trips. This may involve sailing three or four days to the English east coast, but once you’re there you can maximise your 90 days from the best possible starting point on continental Europe. If you decide to sail north from the UK, it pays to start from a port that gets you as close to your European destination as possible. Would your ideal cruising adventure see you head north to enjoy long days on the water where the sun never sleeps? Or does the warmth of the Mediterranean hold more appeal? We have six itineraries to show how it can be done for maximum cruising enjoyment with minimal paperwork. Exploring the many cruising areas in Europe within the 90-day Schengen limit requires some careful planning, but there are literally hundreds of scenarios to choose from. Whether you need to fit around work, school, or Schengen zone requirements, three months of sailing in Europe can make for a summer to remember. ![]()
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