Renting a sloop on the Hollandsche IJssel for half a day
4 h€ 120-200 Calm
Four hours of sailing on the Hollandsche IJssel from Gouda or Capelle aan den IJssel in an open sloop with no boating licence required. What it costs and which part of the day has the calmest waters.
Half a day on the Hollandsche IJssel fits nicely into a morning or a long afternoon. From Gouda or Capelle aan den IJssel you can do a loop in four hours, going past Haastrecht or towards Krimpen, depending on wind and current. An open sloop for six people usually costs 120 to 200 euros for four hours, excluding the deposit. No boating licence is needed as long as the sloop stays under fifteen metres and cannot go faster than twenty kilometres per hour, so it is perfectly suited for those who have never sailed before.
The morning is the quietest, with little commercial shipping and calm water. Ask the rental company in advance for a route map showing the mooring spots and the Waaiersluis near Gouda. In July and August, book at least a week ahead. A lunch stop in Oudewater only works for a full day; for four hours, a terrace stop on the way out is plenty.
Checklist
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Boekingsslot ochtend of middag gekozen
Bevestigingsmail in je telefoon
Borg klaargezet of pinpas mee
Waterfles en snacks ingepakt
Weersbericht ochtend gecheckt
Routekaartje van verhuurder gevraagd
Book a half-day sloop between 9 and 13:00 or 13:00 and 17:00 with a rental company in Gouda or Capelle aan den IJssel.
Follow the rental company's briefing, practise mooring and ask where the current is strongest.
Sail upstream for the first hour, so the return trip is easier with the current behind you.
Moor at a jetty with a terrace for a coffee or a sandwich; half an hour is enough to properly unwind from the pace of the city.
Allow for the return time, cruise at half speed for the last half hour and charge your phone with the on-board charger for a navigation check.
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For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Choose the morning slot for the calmest water and the least commercial traffic.
- Bring a waterproof bag for your phone and keys.
- Stock up on drinks and snacks beforehand, there are no shops on the water.
- Check the weather forecast the evening before; at wind force five, cancelling is the smart move.
- Ask for a whisper motor if children are coming along, it makes a big difference to the noise level.
Variations
- - Start in Capelle aan den IJssel richting Krimpen voor een meer industriële sfeer.
- - Combineer met een lunch in Gouda aan de Markt na inleveren.
- - Doe de halve dag in groep en huur twee kleine sloepen in plaats van één grote.
- - Plan een sunset slot van 18 tot 22 uur in juni of juli.
by PlayTryBe team