Z10-26: English Channel Crossing to London (420 miles)

Rotterdam – London – Rotterdam | via the Medway and Ramsgate

From the heart of Rotterdam, we set off through the Erasmus Bridge and down the Nieuwe Waterweg towards Maassluis. A relaxed start to the journey — a cup of coffee, four bridges, and a great view of Rotterdam’s skyline from the water. It’s fascinating to see the busy port city from this perspective. The Nieuwe Waterweg is divided into VHF traffic zones to guide shipping safely to sea. Depending on the tide, it takes about three hours to reach Maassluis — a good moment to settle in, go over the deck routines, and enjoy a tasty lunch together. In the afternoon, we’ll make our passage plan based on the latest weather forecast and prepare for the Channel crossing the next day.

The Crossing – 140 miles to England

We sail across the English Channel towards the east coast of England, about 140 nautical miles. Along the way, we navigate through busy shipping lanes, past wind farms and cargo ships — a fascinating and instructive experience.
We use a three-watch system (3 hours on, 6 hours off), ensuring everyone gets enough rest and stays alert. At night we rely on radar and AIS to track traffic and stay clear of other vessels.

With fair winds, we reach the English coast the following day and anchor on the River Medway to wait for the right tide before continuing up the Thames towards London. This is a special and historic moment on our voyage: in 1667, Dutch Admiral Michiel de Ruyter led his fleet up this very river in the famous Raid on the Medway. He took the English navy by surprise, burned several warships, and towed the flagship Royal Charles back to the Netherlands as a trophy.
Today, the river is peaceful — we drop anchor among seabirds and enjoy the calm surroundings.

That evening or the next day, we sail further up the Thames, heading into the heart of London. It’s an unforgettable sight: the river gets busier, the skyline rises, and finally we pass under the iconic Tower Bridge into St. Katharine Docks — our mooring right in the city centre. Time for a hearty meal, a pint at the pub, and a good night’s sleep.

Exploring London – A day ashore

We spend a full day in London, giving you time to rest and explore this incredible city. Waking up with a view of Tower Bridge is a unique start to the day. From the dock, it’s a short walk to the Tower of London — a must-see. Cross Tower Bridge and stroll along the South Bank to Borough Market, a vibrant food market full of local flavours, aromas and street music. On the way, you’ll pass the HMS Belfast, an impressive warship now open as a museum.
In the evening, we might gather at The Dickens Inn, a cosy wooden pub overlooking the marina. The illuminated Tower Bridge makes a perfect backdrop for an evening stroll — a well-earned reward after the Channel crossing.

The Return Voyage – via Ramsgate to the Netherlands

Before we start our journey home, we may stop again for the tide and spend a night in Ramsgate. This charming harbour town, with its Georgian architecture, welcoming pubs and elegant marina, perfectly captures the British seaside spirit. After preparing for the crossing back to Rotterdam, there’s time to enjoy a pint or take a walk along the pier with views of the white cliffs of Kent.

On the return leg, we cross the Channel once more — 160 miles and another night at sea. This time we navigate the shipping lanes in darkness, among the glow of passing vessels. Far ahead, the sky turns orange above the Maasvlakte as the Dutch coast appears on the horizon. With favourable winds, we approach Rotterdam at night — an unforgettable experience. Passing between the large ships, guided by continuous radio chatter from vessel traffic control, the city’s skyline gradually unfolds: the Euromast, the Hef, and finally the iconic Erasmus Bridge — the gateway home. After clearing the last bridges, we quietly enter Rotterdam’s historic Oude Haven, mooring among the classic ships. A perfect and atmospheric end to an adventurous sailing journey.

The above schedule is subject to weather, wind and tide.

Read more about our Sailing holidays to the United Kingdom (U.K.)

Information about this sailing holiday

Participants of this sailing holiday

(Minimum 3, max 5 participants)

Sailing holidays Prices 

The price is the rental cost for the ship with crew, including food and drinks on board, hence full board. The price mentioned is per person.

Included in the price:

– Food and drinks on board.
– Fuel, water, shore power, harbour fees and tourist tax.
– 1 towel set and bedding incl. duvet and, of course, a life jacket.
– For after sailing there is also wine and beer on board, based on average use. Should we run out, then you can purchase more yourself.

Not included:

– Your transfer, meaning your journey to and from the ship
– Sailing clothes and boots, you can rent these from us if you would like.
– Possible shore excursions such as renting a van, or visiting a museum etc.
– Food and drinks ashore, the last evening we will go out for dinner and this will be at your own expense. ( Should you wish to treat the crew as a thank you for a lovely sailing holiday, it would of course be greatly appreciated!)
– Optional tips. These are, of course, entirely voluntary, but always appreciated. Any tips are shared between the skipper and crew, as some guests assume that a tip is primarily intended for the Bosun, while the skipper is just as much a part of the team that makes the voyage possible. Contrary to what many guests assume, the skipper on board the Cherokee does not receive the highest salary.

Duration & Time on Board

The listed trip duration refers to full calendar days. Since you embark on the first evening and disembark on the final morning, your actual time on board is on average about 1.5 days shorter. We use this format to keep our trips comparable with other providers – but we like to be transparent about the real time you’ll spend on board.

Sailing holidays discount

Customer Discount:
If you book a second sailing holiday with us within a year, you’ll get 2.5% off the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays group discount:
If you book a sailing holiday as a group (more than 3 passengers), you will receive 2.5% discount per person on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays youth Discount:
If you are under 29 years old, you will get 5% discount on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays discounts can not be combined with each other.

Bonus Discount:
€25 extra discount when you choose a vegetarian menu on board.

Private charter

You can also rent the ship and crew for a privat charter. Then multiply the price with 7. For a private charter, you can choose one of the offered sailing holidays, provided there are no other bookings for that sailing journey. If you would like more information on private charter, please contact us.

Sailing holidays with your own private cabin

If you are a solo traveler and would like the comfort of a private cabin (room), you can reserve it for 1.6 times the price (for crossings, it will be 1.9x).

Extend your sailing holidays with an extra day B&B

On some of our sailing holidays, it is possible to book an extra overnight stay on board based on Bed & Breakfast (B&B, so without dinner) for € 125 per person. This automatically applies when booking multiple trips in a row.

Sailing holiday categories

Category A:
Offshore crossings, includes also sailing throughout the nights. Passengers will also be grouped in the watch system.

Category B:
Offshore sailing holidays, there will be no sailing throughout the nights, but occasionally a late arrival at the harbour (or an early departure), depending on the weather.

Category C:
Relaxed sailing holidays with shorter sailing distances, including more time for sightseeing and sometimes a nice land excursion.

Category D:
Sailing holiday specials, from ‘Sailing holidays with Yoga’ up to expedition sailing. Not every season available.

Category E:
Sailing holiday’s with extra sailtraining.

Category F:
Sailing holidays with also small children on board.