Onderwerp: Winter Sailing in Nl, crazy?

We live in Utrecht and we are looking into buying an old 8m-10m boat to sail all yearround around the Ijmeer, Markermeer & IJsellmeer.

Is it realistic or a crazy idea because of the cold weather/ rain?
Any suggestion on yacht brokers?
Any nice Marinas to have the boat the full year?

Thanks
Nicolas

Weather or not its a good idea, I can't tell in advance (pun intended)

Our winter weather is notoriously fickle. There may be years without significant ice build up, but then one winter there might be horrid ice formation. It wouldn't do to get caught up in that.
On the other hand, with heating and insulation I'm sure its doable. Just be sure to have a haul-out plan ready and bespoke with the crane operator / boat yard.

We have had some of our best sailing in winter. There are only some marinas open (with shore power etc) so you have to be more self-reliant. In winter we do tend to pick the quiet weekends weather-wise.

Most marina's allow yachts to berth year round, though some without services during winter. Ask around.

Also, you need to take care your engine and water systems are winter-proof, although this usually is only a problem during prolonged freezing periods.

DennisMe schreef :

My God you have never sailed in winter i believe.....
The winter is the season for a good sailing trip.

Google :

I have but in Alicante, Spain....... sunny and 15-20 degrees in winter. Now that im living in the NL I want to make sure I continue with my passion....... also in winter.

If you live in Utrecht I am unsure why you would choose the Markermeer; we have great asphalt and 10 minutes more travel gives you better options as in summer the markermeer is full of plants.

Both Lelystad and Enkhuizen have a winter sailing competition. There is active winter sailing in Scheveningen (salt water, no ice)

Both Enkhuizen and Lelystad give you the option to sail either the markermeer or the Ijsselmeer.

Problematic ice conditions are rare and with some easy preparations not very dangerous for the boat.

If you hate your money and want to get rid of it, bring it to me instead of a yachtbroker. There are plenty of second hand channels for direct trading.

Great call. I have checked it and from Utrecht to Lelystad Haven is 51min and from Utrecht to (for example) Marina Muiderzand is 35min. Could be a valid option.
Enkhuizen is too far away (1h20min) and also Scheveningen (1h 4min)

The option of the yachtbroker is to get some guarantees that the boat is in good condition.
Thanks!

NicolasdRW schreef :
www.wsvnb.nl/wedstrijden/goofies-race
wsvbiesbosch.nl/cms/wedstrijde...nterwedstrijden.html

NicolasdRW schreef :
That's not a guarantee. Dutch salesmen are famous for being able to sell you all the crap that they can find, and make you pay a premium for it. Responsibility for checking the condition of the boat is completely on the buyer.

NicolasdRW schreef : What you need is a Yacht Expert who will inspect the ship inside out before you buy it. In Dutch we call this inspection an “aankoopkeuring”.

This is however not a free service.

Thanks for the reply and advice. Do you know any good one?

@boarderbas: hardly any plants seen this summer and in winter none at all.

maybe that is of interest when you have found a boat to your likings.
But you were looking for an old 8-10m yacht and that sounds like you are on a low budget quest. Costs for an expert may be out of proportion then.

There's a lot to find, try sites like botenbank.nl

About sailing in winter: Just do it!
And think about a Christmas and New Year stay on Terschelling with 120 -or so- crewed yachts.

Bootkeuringfriesland.nl i can recommend for the market you are looking for to survey. He did various surveys for me and looks from top to bottom
Survey around €300