Navigation

The sailing area

The sailing area in front of Nieuwpoort is not really open sea, as it is protected in all directions by sandbanks, some drying at low water springs.

Deep swell from the North Sea doesn't pass this barrier, but these shallow waters (not more than 20 meters over the whole sailing area) make short, steep waves, seldom exceeding 2 meters height.

The tides

The tidal range at springs exceeds 5 meters.  In these conditions, you can see the seagulls walking on the surface at the Trapegeer and Dijk banks, 7 to 10 miles in the West.  On the other banks, there is always more than 3 metres.

The harbour gives access at all states of the tides, except in the winter months, when the dock entrances may be very shallow before dredging works begin.

Launching may be hazardous at low water as most of the slipways are very slippery, some have a sill at +1 metre.  See tide tables.

Tidal streams

Strong tides generate strong tidal streams, running mainly parallel to the shoreline, setting to the ENE form HW-2 to HW+3, and WSW from HW+4 to HW-3.  In the summer months, these streams don't exceed 1.5 knots in spring tides, less than 1 knot in neap tides.

The tidal set across the harbour entrance may de dangerous between HW-1.5 and HW, especially when the wind blows from W to NW.

Unpowered yachts sould never attempt to leave the harbour without being towed in these times, and outgoing navigation should then remain in the middle of the fairway.

Weather conditions

Usual weather conditions in Nieuwpoort are strong SW'lies from March to June and from September to December.

In the summer months, strong SW'lies with rain are always possible, but there are also very large periods of light N to E winds, sunny weather, sometimes very warm.  In these conditions, sea breezes build up from 10 a.m. to reach N to NNW force 4, sometimes 5 in the afternoon, decreasing after 16 p.m.  Evening navigation in these condition requires an engine or a good anchor, food & drinks for a long night, especially when you are caught on the foul side of the area, against the stream.

A very good weather forecast is given by Meteo West-Vlaanderen.  Anyway, when something goes wrong, the SAR helicopter base is just 10 kilometres away, and Sea Kings are still flying when Micro's are no longer navigating!

Navigation hazards

There are no navigation hazards in the area, except some wrecks on the drying banks.

Buoys are very large and very heavy, and contact should be avoided in all conditions, take care when a strong tidal stream sets on the buoy.

Commercial navigation uses to avoid this overcrowded area in the summer, even trawlers are no longer using the area. The major danger is coming from other yachts, their routes may be easily predicted for foreign yachts on their summer cruise, locals are sometimes unpredictable.

Charts

Locals are using the Belgian "D11 Vlaamse Banken" chart.  This chart is at 1/100.000 scale.  However, the chart covers a very large area, where you will never sail on a Micro.  A better choice may be the chart Nr 101 at 1/60.000 scale, this chart covers an area from Dunkirk to Ostend and 20 miles off, more than needed for the Micro Cup.