In Holland we thought the English Channel is to rough for De Vrouwe Linda and we were a bid concerned. You took the chance, and made it. Congratulations!
Absolutely right to be concerned, I wouldn’t like to be on the sea in weather that was in any way more challenging than that. I was scared at first when we went out! But I’m not sure whether I got used to it or the sea calmed down..... Though the swell was bad at Dunkirk..... Further information. (Hans skippered DeVrouwe Linda with Chris Kabel the previous owner for many years and has taken the boat all across Europe.) Enda and I took a chance and made it across without incident. We waited for the calmest conditions. We had on board all necessary safety equipment from life jackets to flares. The engine and fuel system was cleaned professionally, before the journey to ensure the engine wouldn’t cut out half way across. You do not need qualifications in a boat of less than 20 meters. But I wouldn’t recommend doing the crossing unless you know boats and you have done your research. Learn how to use VHF properly is a bonus. I have owned my narrowboat for six years and lived on the shores of a large lake in Ireland all my formative year’s. The channel is dangerous and people die every year making the crossing. I did not make this journey lightly. We were taking a risk and it worked out. It might not work out for you....
The weather was exactly what we wanted. There were lovely sunny days before but the wind was up. This was perfect. Although, I was still terrified when I went out into the swell at first, but got used to it.
Hi Simon, there will be videos soon, once i figure out how to make them. I’m trying out ways I want to present them and I think I’ve got a germ or an idea....
Loved this film. My barge was already in the UK when I bought her but I hope to do the trip the other way some day soon. It's also quite amazing the similar parts between my barge (Hoop Op Welvaart) and DeVrouwe Linda. 😊
The dramatic reconstruction was great. Glad you dropped the leeboards….I had to Google them a couple of episodes ago. Edna is very chill. I had no idea that you traveled at max Narrowboat speed……I obviously missed that part.
Oh yeah! Enda has seafaring in a past life in the Far East. The engine would go faster but I wasn’t risking overheating the engine. Although, the engine was serviced and the fuel tank upgraded and flushed, it’s still a 50 year old engine!😬 Depending on the tide it got up to 6 knots and down to 3 knots….
Wow that was fun to watch. It looked so murky when you set off. Plus your engine only seems to do about 4knots. A well earned pint I would say. Love your boat 😊
The weather was beautiful the day before, but a tiny bit windy and that’s what I wanted to avoid. I absolutely didn’t want to stress the engine slow we took it slow! Thanks for watching!
Good girl, that Linda. I have to admit I felt a bit of vicarious fear, because I know the channel and the North Sea can get very rough, and 4 knots left a lot of crossing time for the weather to get mischievous. Also, I thought the lee boards were comically ugly (so like the fins of a fish,) but it's funny how things that work well and make life better become beautiful to our eyes...or at least picturesque!
Hahaha! I think the lea boards look like ears! Mickey Mouse’s! We waited a few day in Dunkirk Marina for the best weather to cross. I figured, an over cast day would result in less wind in the afternoon. Also, by this stage our hands were tied as COVID travel restriction were being imposed the next day.
Hi Jeff, I'm VERY keen to get a barge that will be appropriate for both the UK and continental waterways. So I've been considering a wide-beam UK canal barge and was wondering whether or not lee-boards could be an option on such a boat for a channel crossing? :)
@@toptechsys Hi Geoff, Jeff here. I'm an armchair traveler only, unfortunately. Better to ask Canice. He and his Dutch mates will know everything you need. Best wishes for many years of happy boating!
I really love the lee boards on a barge - think they look great - but they really work too, especially under sail. (Hope you've got that absolute joy to come). Great crossing Canice, Linda did you proud. I wonder how she felt leaving her homeland? Thanks for sharing - Teresa
Hi, I'm VERY keen to get a barge that will be appropriate for both the UK and continental waterways. So I've been considering a wide-beam UK canal barge and was wondering whether or not lee-boards could be an option for a channel crossing? :)
Hi Canice, love the videos. Just letting you know that the video after this one #16 going up the Thames estuary is missing from your playlist. It took me ages to find it. RU-vid jumps you automatically from this one to #17. Cheers, Paul
I found it and popped it into the playlist. I hope RU-vid put it in the right order. Thank you for letting me know. And thank you watching the videos from the beginning!
I’m so in awe that you crossed the channel / North Sea, this will sound silly but I was hoping you would sail over and not motor. Also do you some kind or captains certificate on the sea? And finally you two must have nuts the size of coconuts to do that!!! My hat is well and truly off to the pair of you 👍👍😊😊😊
I would love to have crossed with the sails, that was the plan originally. However, things changed in February with the “no more touchings” and a serious dent has been put in my plans. But not to worry, it’s just a case of rigging it and learning to sail!!!! Also, as the boat is under 20 meters, it is classified as a small craft and you are free to go where ever you like. Though, in Europe if you sail they would like the equivalent of RYA day sailing course as qualification. Finally, I do not have nuts to speak of, I’m just an lucky idiot! Hahahaha
Lee boards are not designed as stabilisers, they should be used when sailing and only the board on the lee or downwind side is lowered, they are designed to stop the boat being pushed sideways by the wind.
That’s right. But the boat is much easier to handle in a cross wind, with at least one in the water. On the canal when precision is required, especially when it’s tight and twisty or near other boats, a leeboard keeps her straight.
All insurance companies do the same. All it means is that you won’t be insured, if you’re feeling adventurous! I’m told that Linda has been out in force 7 in the past. Not that I would ever want to be in that kind of weather. Very much a fair weather sailor.
No. Not at all. The boat was searched by customs in the Marina, they found nothing. We just headed off. I did a similar journey over the summer and no problems from authorities.
A bit late I know😀 if you have put a bit of sail up it probably would have stopped the rolling a lot. Used to sail with a guy who had a Dutch botter which are more sea going vessels but it would roll like a drunk pig until the leeboard was down and the sail up.
I was terrified when I went into the swell first! But I was told to raise the foresail for that very reason by my Dutch friends and I smiled and agreed, but I knew that the sail was already in a garage in London and not on the boat! 😂😂😂 Next time the sail is coming on the journey!
No, just satnav on the phone. I had a chart and compass just in case. Not that I would have been useful to me. Once I got to the coast the navigable waters are clearly marked.
It has been done many times, but can be harrowing. You first need to cover the windows and any outlets to prevent water from getting in. And best to go as a group for safety. Hope for very calm weather as I did and you can do it. It would also be strongly advised to clean your fuel tank and bring extra fuel filters. I heard of two narrowboats tied to each other make the journey. I was relieved when I got to Ramsgate, so I can only image the relief one would have crossing in a narrowboat. I wouldn’t do it. I’d prefer to transport it on a ferry, much safer.
Ahoy there Canice! Congrats on your epic crossing BUT!.... I was really anticipating an in-depth(?) explanation of how your lee-boards are used in practice ? How easy/hard are they to stow, lower and use ... that sort of thing?... Sorry to be a bore, but I'm very green to all this nautical stuff you see ;) I'm VERY keen to get a barge that will be appropriate for both the UK and continental waterways. So I've been considering a wide-beam UK canal barge and was wondering whether or not lee-boards could be an option for a channel crossing? Would you recommend that I should try for a Dutch Barge instead ? Would a DB cope with our UK coastal waters, and could it be navigated across country to the canals/rivers up North? Cheers ;)
Hi Geoff, Thank you for watching the video! Leeboards are only necessary on a sailing boat. Although, we weren’t using the sails, I threw the leeboards in to counteract the metronome effect the swell was having on the boat. We had a mast sticking up and this raised the centre of gravity. The swell was hitting us on the starboard and the leeboards had a dampening effect. If the swell was hitting us straight on or from the rear the leeboards would been unnecessary and just slowing us down. They drop into the water in seconds as they’re on a winch. Getting beck up is a a bit of a workout😭. When I first bought Jorja my narrowboat, I knew nothing. So I opened up www.apolloduck.co.uk, and had a look at all the ads for boats. Anything in the specs I didn’t understand, I Googled. Slowly I built up a picture of the type of boat I wanted, within my budget. If you go for a narrowboat, all the canal network awaits. If you go for a wide beam you put a serious dent in where you can go because you won’t fit the locks. If you go for a big barge, the length will limit what locks you can use ands the height will limit the bridges you can go under. If you want to go in the sea you should choose a boat that is sea going. Loads of barges can do this and they usually are high sided. eg Luxemotor, bigger Dutch barges, etc. I took Linda over in August on one of the calmest days in the year. I wouldn’t attempt the crossing again unless the conditions were the same or better. Many people have crossed the channel in Narrowboats and UK Wide beams, but the weather needs to be perfect. In summary, The bigger the better for the sea and after that you need to decide which inland waterways you want to go on and the size of the locks will decide the size of the boat. If you have the funds, build a new boat, if you don’t, Apollo Duck has the most listings on one website for UK and Europe. I hope this helps. Canice
Hi James, it was 12.5 hour to make the crossing and my brain was fried at the end. In the next video we get to the destination...London. And restoration will resume!
I haven’t. It has been done but it would be pretty scary. Best to find another narrowboat and tie them side by side. That way if one engine stalls the other can take over. We didn’t go particularly fast and covered Dunkirk to Ramsgate (41 miles) in 12 hours, but Dover to Calais (21 miles)can me done in 8 hours.
As the boat is under 20 metres long it is not a requirement to have a transponder. The only time we were cruising at night was when we arrived in Limehouse on the Thames in London. The port authority have radar and can see everyone.
HI,my french is far better than my English so I write in french....video interressante et traversée heureuse ...pour information il y a encore moins de cent ans des tjalk de taille similaire a Linda,so called Dutch barge,partaient du fond du Zuiderzee pour ammener des anguilles vivantes a Londres....donc des bateaux avec vivier ouvert....il suffit d imaginer le roulis en cas de mer forte et....la tête des pauvres en anguilles en arrivant dans les eaux claires de la Tamise à LONDRES !
That’s insane! I was terrified and my boat was empty! I can’t imagine it full of water and eels! The East end of London was famous for jellied eels, so I can image there was money to be made in London.
Younger brother... From your description in our conversation after the crossing, I was expecting mountainous seas (a la Deadliest Catch) and music from The Onedian Line... Instead we gat 10 minutes of basically flat calm interrupted by one wake. I FEEL CHEATED... CHEATED I TELL YOU!!!
Hahaha! Older Brother! YOU WEREN’T THERE MAN! YOU WEREN’T THERE! Bare in mind, I’ve only been on canals and rivers, nobody told me about the swell.... Didn’t phase Enda one bit...
Wow! A lot to unpack there. You’re a very beautiful person and if you feel yourself having confusing thoughts, explore those thoughts and feelings and don’t suppress them. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with being gay.
