From the heart of Rotterdam, we sail down the Nieuwe Waterweg to Scheveningen via the Erasmus Bridge on the first day. The start of the trip is relaxed, with a cup of coffee as we sail through four bridges, including the iconic Erasmus Bridge. It is fun and special to see Rotterdam from the water with all the busy shipping around us. The Nieuwe Waterweg is divided into VHF block channels to guide shipping, which is a learning aspect of this sea sailing training. Depending on the current, it will take about three hours of sailing until we reach the North Sea, a great opportunity to go over everything on deck.
In the evening, we make a sailing plan based on the weather reports, a hefty but instructive puzzle. We also learn how to interpret weather charts.
The next day we cross the English Channel to Whitby, a distance of 230 miles with busy shipping lanes, oil rigs and lots of shipping traffic. An instructive crossing where we sail through one to two nights, using radar and AIS, as well as practising with ship lights. We do this according to a watch system. Whitby is a beautiful and atmospheric old fishing port and if the wind is with us, we can still spend the afternoon here enjoying the pleasant English atmosphere and sights.
We sail on a 3-watch system, 3 hours on and 6 hours off. That way, you still get enough rest and are alert when your watch starts. Especially when it is colder (at night), this makes it easy to keep watch.
We will then sail further along the English coast up to Scotland. This means another night at sea, so again watch, active sailing and watching out for shipping, fishing and wind farms. The wind will determine the destination, but if we can, we will make a stopover in atmospheric Stonehaven. This sea sailing training ends in Inverness in the north of Scotland. We end the trip in a pub, with a meal and a beer.
In short, an educational sea sailing course because of the busy shipping lanes, strong currents and tidal puzzles, but above all, a wonderful sailing trip along a beautiful coast with nice ports.
Category E/A: Crossing with sea sailing training, where sailing also continues at night.
