Z13-27: Edinburgh to Rotterdam – North Sea Passage (450 miles)

From Edinburgh, we set course south along the Scottish coast and across the North Sea towards Rotterdam. The weather, wind and tides will ultimately determine our route, but the plan is to complete the journey in manageable stages. Along the way, we combine beautiful coastal scenery and charming harbours with a genuine offshore passage, sailing day and night and learning about navigation, tides and busy shipping routes.

Past Bass Rock and along the Scottish coast

As we leave the Firth of Forth, we sail close past Bass Rock, weather and route permitting. This striking white rock rising from the sea is home to thousands of gannets. It is an impressive sight to see the birds circling above the rock and diving into the water. A remarkable start to our voyage.

Depending on the wind and tides, we then look for a suitable anchorage or continue along the coast. We may be able to anchor near Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island. This remarkable island off the coast of Northumberland is famous for its historic priory and rugged coastal scenery. Lindisfarne gained a dubious reputation in 793, when the Vikings raided the island in one of the earliest recorded Viking attacks on England.

A visit ashore depends on the tides, anchoring conditions and the time available. Tides and currents play an important role along this stretch of coast, making careful route planning essential.

On the first day, we generally avoid sailing through the night straight away. This gives everyone time to get used to the yacht, the crew and life on board. Whether we can anchor or need to continue sailing depends, of course, on the weather and the available options along the coast.

Whitby: a charming English harbour town

If the wind and tides are favourable, we continue to Whitby, one of the most appealing harbour towns on England’s east coast. The harbour, narrow streets and old fishermen’s houses give the town its distinctive character. High above the town stand the ruins of Whitby Abbey, reached by the famous flight of 199 steps. From the top, there are wonderful views over the harbour and the North Sea.

We aim to spend a day here, exploring the town and its surroundings, stocking up on supplies and preparing for the long passage to the Netherlands. It is a good opportunity to spend some time ashore before heading back out into the busy North Sea.

Crossing the North Sea: two nights at sea

From Whitby, we begin a passage of approximately 230 nautical miles to the Netherlands. We sail past busy shipping lanes, offshore installations and wind farms. As we approach the Dutch coast, maritime traffic becomes increasingly dense. Large cargo ships, fishing vessels and other commercial traffic require constant lookout and careful navigation.

During this passage, we sail through two nights. We use a three-watch system: three hours on watch followed by six hours off. This gives everyone sufficient time to sleep and helps the crew stay alert when it is time to return on deck. This is particularly useful during cold night watches, when knowing that a longer rest period follows makes the watch system easier to manage.

During our watches, we keep a proper lookout, monitor the surrounding traffic and use radar and AIS to maintain a clear picture of nearby vessels. Navigation lights are also an important part of the training. At night, you learn to identify vessels by their lights and assess their course. It is valuable practical experience for anyone who wants to become more confident sailing offshore.

Approaching Rotterdam

The final leg takes us towards the Dutch coast and eventually into Rotterdam. Here, the character of the voyage changes once again. The open North Sea gives way to one of Europe’s busiest shipping areas, with large commercial vessels travelling to and from the Port of Rotterdam.

We enter via the approach and the Nieuwe Waterweg, navigating among commercial traffic towards the city. Shipping movements are coordinated through different VHF traffic sectors, making it important to follow the correct traffic information and maintain a clear understanding of our position. Approaching Rotterdam at night is particularly impressive and provides valuable experience in navigation, lookout and radio communication.

Further inland, the landscape gradually gives way to Rotterdam’s modern skyline. We sail beneath the Erasmus Bridge and continue towards our home marina. There, we round off the voyage – and our sailing season – with a relaxed meal ashore.

This sailing voyage combines the adventure of a North Sea passage with the charm of the Scottish and English coasts. You will experience life on board over several days at sea, learn to navigate busy shipping areas and work with tides, and discover special places such as Bass Rock and Whitby. The impressive approach to Rotterdam provides a fitting end to this varied sailing adventure.

The route and daily distances depend on wind, weather and tides. The itinerary is therefore a guideline, and we may change it whenever conditions require.

The sailing distances are between 18 and 230 miles. 
The above schedule is subject to weather, wind and tide.

Edinburgh – rotterdam route

Information about this sailing holiday

Participants of this sailing holiday

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, because the skipper is just as much a part of the team that makes the voyage possible. Contrary to what many guests assume, the Bosun/cook on board Cherokee is actually the highest-paid member of the crew.

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.