This
summer we are hoping to carry out the cruise originally planned for the
summer of 2020.
In early June we hope to cross the North Sea to the
Netherlands and spend five weeks or so sailing in sheltered, probably
non-tidal Dutch waters. We will aim to take things gently with two or
three nights at each stop. By the middle of July I will have to be back
in the UK to edit the next edition of Cruising magazine, so Sam and I
will return by public transport – possibly Eurostar – leaving the boat
probably somewhere around the Ijsselmeer or Amsterdam. In early
September we hope to return to the boat and continue to cruise inland
waters for three or more weeks, sailing Kalessin back across the North
Sea to her home berth at Suffolk Yacht Harbour in late September.
All
of this depends of course on finding crew. I do appreciate how lucky we
were last year to be supported by wonderful friends and family, and that they may well
have other plans this summer. However any potential crew with a window in their
diaries would be very welcome on board for a short or long
period.
Transport
to the Netherlands is relatively easy. From East Anglia you can travel
on the Harwich/Hook ferry, either by car, which we have done many times,
or as a foot passenger with good rail connections to most of the
Netherlands. (We will aim to be close to a railway station if we know we
are expecting crew by train). From London there are Eurostar trains
several times a day direct to Rotterdam or Amsterdam. Or there are many
flights to Schiphol. It's also a good location to start or finish a
journey to/from elsewhere in Europe, if you have another holiday
planned.
The
Netherlands has now dropped its requirement for a pre-arrival test, so
all you need is proof of vaccination to be allowed into the country. Of
course, this may change.
Please let me know if you would like to join us and if so, which dates are best for you. If you don't have my email address, please comment below with a bit about yourself.
We really hope to see you this summer.
