The newly updated 2020 editions of the Cruising Association's three main inland waterways cruising guides, Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium, Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes and The German Rhine, have been published by the CA's European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) in time for the Christmas season.
All three editions reflect the 200+ updates that have been posted by EIWS members up to October 2019 on the CA's unique CAptain's Mate app. The publications also include a 25% discount offer on the first year's CA membership when paid by DD to anyone purchasing one of the guides up to 31 December 2020.
Members have access to the online editions of the guides, which contain hyperlinks to the CAptain's Mate app, enabling users to access the most up-to-date information on mooring locations.
Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium is a 212-page A4 guide, edited by Gordon Knight and now in its 24th 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 on facilities, depths, prices, the closest shops and restaurants and nearby attractions. The new edition also includes details of locations where fuel may be obtained either alongside or within easy jerry can distance. £25 (plus p&p).
Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes is a 48-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. £10 (plus p&p).
The German Rhine is a 20-page, full colour A4 guide, first published in 2018, to moorings along the German Rhine. 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 and was compiled by EIWS members Dr Roger Edgar, who has cruised the area extensively, and Rob Thomas, who lives in Germany on the Rhine. 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. £5.95 (plus p&p).
In addition to these three guides, the CA's European Inland Waterways Section also produces full colour photo-guides to moorings and other facilities on 12 French inland waterways. For further information visit the Section's web page, here for non-members or here for members.
All three are available via the Cruising Association online shop at or from the print-on-demand publisher Lulu.
13 November 2019
