Cruising Association European inland waterways cruising guides updated for 2021

by Peta Stuart-Hunt 13 Jan 2021 02:51 PST

Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium © Cruising Association

Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes © Cruising Association

50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands © Cruising Association

Print and digital editions of the Cruising Association's (CA) main European inland waterways cruising guides have been published for the 2021 season; namely, Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium, Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes, 50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands, The German Rhine, and Cruising the River Moselle/Mosel have been published by the CA's European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS).

The publications also include a 25% discount offer on first year's CA membership to anyone purchasing one of the guides up to 31 December 2021. CA Members using the digital editions of the guides, which contain hyperlinks to the CA's proprietary CAptain's Mate app, can use the app to access the most up-to-date information on mooring locations.

Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium is a 216-page A4 guide, edited by Gordon Knight and now in its 25th edition. Described as their 'Bible' by regular users and yacht skippers planning routes to and from the Mediterranean, it contains a wealth of information on cruising routes, cruising preparations, supplies, equipment, licences and documents, useful addresses, books and websites as well as listing around 250 mooring places throughout France and Belgium with comments upon facilities, depths, prices, closest shops and restaurants and nearby attractions.

Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes is a 66-page guide, first published in 2019, providing detailed navigational information on 14 different routes by which yachts can transit the Netherlands. Written by CA members Andy Mulholland and James Littlewood and edited by Gordon Knight, the guide covers nearly 1,000kms of waterways from Vlissingen near the Belgian border to Delfzijl close to the border with Germany. Available in A4 size and printed in full colour throughout, the guide includes maps, distance tables, lock and bridge opening hours and colour photos to help skippers plan alternative routes.

50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands is a 246-page A4 guide, written by CA members Andy and Gwen Mulholland and edited by Gordon Knight, which was first published in 2020. It provides detailed information on over 50 cruising routes in the 12 different provinces of the Netherlands. It includes step-by-step navigation details for each route; bridge and lock opening procedures and times; descriptions of moorings and facilities; useful sources of information on every aspect of Netherlands cruising; a glossary of important Dutch terms and tips offering unique insights into particular locations.

The German Rhine is a 20-page, full colour A4 guide, written by CA members Dr Roger Edgar and Rob Thomas and edited by Gordon Knight. First published in 2018, it covers about 700 km of the river starting from the border close to the Swiss city of Basel downstream to Nijmegen just inside the Dutch border. As well as a helpful introduction to the hazards and highlights of cruising this beautiful river, the guide includes a detailed list of mooring points, fuel stations, ports and harbours along the river and a list of useful websites and sources of commercially published information.

Cruising the River Moselle/Mosel: The river, which runs for 394kms from Neuves-Maison in France through Luxembourg and Germany (where it is known as the Mosel) to finally join the Rhine at Koblenz, has hitherto been poorly served with cruising guides to what is widely regarded as one of Europe's most beautiful waterways. This 54-page, full colour guide is the first to provide comprehensive information on this cruising route in English.

Aimed at motor yachts with a draught of 2.5m or below and capable of reducing air draft to a maximum of 4.4m, the guide includes step-by-step navigation details for the river, including distances; bridge heights; lock dimensions and VHF channels; descriptions of moorings and facilities, and information on the sights, culture and visitor attractions along the route.

This guide is written by CA members Andy and Gwen Mulholland, who have cruised extensively over the past decade in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, and edited by Gordon Knight.

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