Brusselsportsluis .?

Peter,

I was following you on marinetraffic for the last couple of hours or so. The minute by minute updates stopped with you about half way across the Wondelgem (?) port complex and I wondered if something had happened before realising it's probably where the last AIS land station is. Anyway, good to hear the report back, and I suggest you do what you've been told!

Paul
Lanson Duchess

Well Gentleman a very good question, the answer to which is that Peter was on time having arrived at Lindelei at 17.45, but sadly Peter and the crew were really to tired for the Pub. Thankfully the beer in the wheelhouse fridge was cold and as all on board were thirsty it was a few glasses of a good Belgian Golden Throat Charmer,  a quick bite and an early bed.

It had been a long voyage, up at 5.00 for departure from Asia Dock at 5.30 through the port in the dark to the Van Cauwelaertsluis in just under an hour to be admitted no 6 up the back. Out onto the Schelde at 7.45 making 8 kph against the last of the flood and then with slack water at 8.08 we held or tide at speeds at mid tide that reached a little over 15kph. Outside the Oostsluis Terneuzen at 11.45 for passage onto the canal once again with 5 big brothers within an hour. Down the canal through Portus Ganda, with a short stop to offer thanks and my respects to the resident Wise Man, then down through Brusselsportsluis, which only operates at at weekends at the moment, then off the old Schelde up to Ketelvaart to take the last spot on the pontoon 17.45.

And for some useful information I can confirm that from about the point where the Schelde becomes the Westerschelde there are now yellow buoys that mark the small boat Chanel out of the way of the big boys, of whom there were many ! Lastly I can confirm that if you have to passage through Antwerp Port in the dark it is best to do it on a Sunday when most hard working boatmen are thankfully still asleep.

on e again with thanks to the Wise Men of the DBA who contributed to this post.

Peter Johns
Joie de Vivre V
PS: I have just been told the Pub is tonight !

But did Peter get to the pub in time????

As e-newsletter co-editor, I'd agree; definitely 3000 words (plus restaurant review of the Irish pub).

I see marinetraffic has them approaching Sas van Ghent (?). Is this about right for now?

Paul
Lanson Duchess

Hi Balliol
Yes it’s yellow buoyed all the way to Flushing these days. We moor up in Coupure for winter and usually head North via Gent ,Terneuzen, Flushing Middleburg etc. a lovely open water cruise. Free at Lindenleie would be very nice, as an old sailing friend was want to say “ yachtsmen get the wind for nothing and want everything at the same price”.
Weather  and tide  both still look good for a wonderful voyage tomorrow morning. Through the port from Asia Dock to the lock leaving at 5.30 then into the lock at 6.30. Should be a memorable voyage, as was Sail Amsterdam 2025 in which we joined the Sail In and Sail Out and had a run through the IJ Haven, truly unforgettable.
Best regards
Peter. Johns
PS: Watch out Karen will be onto you three Wise Men for an article for the E-Newsletter !

Goede Reis! Hope all goes well and that you make the pub in time. We always enjoyed wintering on the Lindenleie, but that was many years ago before the moorings were developed (and all was free!).

I don’t know when you last travelled the Westerschelde but there is now a buoyed outer channel for smaller craft (yellow buoys) between Hansweert and Terneuzen (at least).

Balliol.

Hi Pete
Thanks for your words of wisdom. Tomorrow the high tide at Antwerp is at 8.08 and the sea will be calm, and the wind about 4 knots so the lock out of the port at 7.30 will be fine for a voyage to Terneuzen which should be pleasant, and quick. Brusselsportsluis is operating tomorrow, but just in case  will call Evergem to find out how long we might be held up there, should ve take the Ringvart. No doubt the river would be fine if the tide was with us, but it is not. Trust we are in the Irish Pub tomorrow night, and if Pete wanted to join us I would be happy to buy him dinner and a beer or two !

Thanks to all three “Wise Men” for your response to my post. I always read the Forum posts but hesitate to make any comment when in such distinguished company.

Best regards

Peter J

 

"Due to the drought, pleasure craft may only be used for lockage on weekdays together with commercial vessels. Since there are no commercial vessels present, pleasure craft will no longer be able to be used for lockage during the week. The duration of the restriction will be adjusted depending on the weather and water level."

"Fairway - Upper Scheldt passage Ghent No berthing from 1-1-2025 00:00 till 31-12-2025
In Ghent city center, there is a general mooring ban. Exceptions include commercial shipping and permits, authorizations, and concessions issued by De Vlaamse Waterweg (Flemish Waterway). This ban is indicated by signage at Locks K1, K2, E3, and Meulestede Bridge"
- Which doesn't affect Portus Ganda, Ketelvest or Lindelei moorings. 




"

All the central Gent locks, particularly Brusselspoortsluis, are probably closed during the week in September to save water but open at weekends, on my latest information, but locks may open if asked. 

Coming from Terneuzen, you'll need to call 09/241 31 24 for the railway bridge, then use VHF20 when you see the Gent centre skyline ahead  to pass through Brusselspoortsluis and a bridge or two.

It may be quicker but not so interesting to go via Evergem and the Ringvaart and follow the Leie into Gent.  It is maybe an hour and a half from PG to Lindelei if you take the Muinkschelde and Ketelvaart.  If you stop in PG it is 30 min walk to Foley's Irish bar or 10 minutes to better restaurants.

IF the tide is right I would use the Bovenschelde as Balliol says and stop at a very good pub on the way but that's anotner story.

Hi Colin
Thank you for your post which has reminded me “ that it’s not the destination, it’s the glory of the journey “ and riding down tide at 16 k per hour will be a glorious journey indeed. 70 tons might ride happily for 18 hours at Linkeroever, but sadly 29 tons of 15 meter Piper not so much.
For me it’s the tide that dictates the route, and the weather of course.
Now I only need Pete to suggest the river route and you boys might talk me out of the estuary.!

Antwerp port have made life difficult for those who want to go out either way onto the river, as it’s 10.4 kilometers from Willemdok to the lock onto the river. Earliest opening of London bridge out of Willemdok is 6.00, and the gate into the lock will be closed at 7.00. Next opening of London bridge is 8.30 with the next locking at 9.00 then 11.00. So most of the morning is lost simply transiting the port. And so Willemdok is half empty and there has only been one overnighter during the week we have been here. I guess I must be the silly one coming in the first place.

best regards
PJ

Don't forget one can stay on the inside of the Linkeroever ferry pontoon for 18 hours to catch the optimal tides. We always sit there. 

Hi Balliol
Thanks for your expert advice on our proposed voyage to Gent via Terneuzen was decided on because the weather looks very favorable with calm water and winds that should not exceed 4 knots, and a high tide at a Antwerp at 8.08 on Sunday. We will leave Willemdok Saturday evening, hole up in Asia Dock with an exhaust fault I will have to fix overnight, then leave at 5.30 Sunday for the 10 kilometer run through Antwerp harbour and out through the lock, which closes its gate against outgoing traffic at 7.00. So onto the river about 30 minutes before slack water, and down with the tide.
The lock at Terneuzen is certainly a problem but in the past I have always been able to talk them into letting me tuck in right at the back of the lock. I usually hang around close to the lock, so I think they are pleased to be rid of me, particularly if they see me rolling about with the wind on my beam.
i phoned the Haven Master at Portus Granda and he tells me that Brusselsportsluis is working on weekends but is closed through the week ! The whole voyage is about 98 kilometers which with help from the outgoing tide should take no more than 10 hours right to the door of the Pub .I like the Westerschelde, and as a sailor at home I enjoy the navigation on the open water.
the problem with going the other way is the tide which would make it a two day journey for us.

i will be very interested to hear what Pete has to say on the matter.
Best regards
PJ

I’m wondering whether you wouldn’t be better going Antwerp to Gent up the Boven Zeeschelde? I am not a great lover of the BZ downstream, but upstream is not as I recall an issue if you get the tides right. I have never done the Schelde from Antwerp downstream to Hansweert so don’t know what that is like.

My point really is that if you go up the Boven Schelde from Antwerp, possibly holding at Dendermonde on the way, then you have nothing in your way between Antwerp and the Lindenleie apart from Sluis Merelbeke, which in my experience is fairly efficient. If you go down the Schelde from Antwerp you have potential weather issues on the Westerschelde, sometimes long delays at Terneuzen and then the issues you mention penetrating into Gent from the north.

I suspect my suggested route will be more reliable if you are intent on booking a table! Pete Milne may be along shortly and he will be more up to date on the options.

Balliol.

We will transit from Antwerp to Gent on Sunday the 28th September hopefully with the tide on the Schelde, West Schelde estuary, the Terneuzen canal, through Portus Granda and the Brusselsportsluis to Lindelei, and late dinner at the Irish Pub by the port. All looks good save for Brusselsportsluis which seems to be closed through the week. Sadly I can find no information on weekend operation. Ii wonder if anyone can give me a phone number or any contact for confirmation of the lock operation ?

if Brusselsportsluis is not operation we will go hound on the ring canal and the Leie and have an even later dinner at the pub.