Cruising the Standing Mast Routes of The Netherlands

Several hundred yachts make a beeline for The Netherlands each year as the only European country in which mast-up yachts can cruise extensively on the inland waterways, visiting such historic cities as Leiden, Delft and Amsterdam or the beautiful lakes of Friesland. The so-called Standing Mast Routes consist of over 1,000kms of accessible waterways, and while many yachts use them just as a convenient inland route to the Baltic, they represent an unrivalled cruising ground in their own right for any yacht with draught of up to 2.5m and mast height of up to 33.9m (depending on route). This new guide is published by the European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) of the Cruising Association (CA) and authored by Dutch CA members Machiel Lambooij and Remko Sinck. It contains advice on practical aspects of cruising the routes such as immigration and customs; sea approaches and access points; navigation and charts; information on bridges, locks and route distances; tidal/current and weather considerations; alternative routes and worthwhile detours; refuelling points and navigation rules. It also includes details and photos of the best moorings and facilities on the various routes; historic cities and towns; important local attractions and useful transport links. Like all EIWS guides, it will be regularly updated by CA members cruising in the country and includes a 15 per cent discount offer on first year's CA membership for purchasers joining online during the year.