Alternating the wild force of the open sea with the bucolic peace of the rivers, picking flowers from the deck of your sailboat, this may seem impossible? Think again! Embark on the Channel and discover 3 original cruise ideas.
The only requirements are: a powerful engine, long enough mooring lines, good fenders and not being afraid of port maneuvers. You will have to anticipate the strength of the current in the rivers and locks, the narrowness of the marinas and learn how to slip between the mooring piles typical of the northern countries.
The Caledonian Canal
This canal crosses Scotland by connecting the North Sea to the Hebrides Sea. It starts in Inverness by crossing the famous Loch Ness and ends in Fort William near Oban. Its length is 96 km, it has 29 locks including Neptune's Staircase: 8 consecutive locks that raise the sailboats to 19,50m of altitude. Take a few days to enjoy the majesty of the Highlands, the lochs, the ruined castles and the exuberant vegetation along the lakes.
The Netherlands: The standing mast route
The whole western part of Holland is carved by numerous canals allowing to sail from the Belgian coast to the island of Terschelling without having to dismast. Many marinas allow you to stop in the heart of beautiful cities, including Amsterdam of course.
You will need to get the Dutch nautical guides to prepare your route, as there are many options available. Depending on your draught, you may not be able to use all the channels. You will find a well-documented sailing report for this route on the sailingkerguelen website.
The Göta kanal in Sweden
This canal allows you to cross Sweden from west to east, or vice versa. From Gothenburg on the Kattegat to Söderköping on the Baltic Sea via Lake Vättern. It is 190 km long, has 58 locks, 30 opening bridges. The first part is quite bucolic. The second part of the canal called Trollhättan canal is less interesting, more industrial, but it's quite a shortcut!
