Several hundred boat owners take to the inland waterways of Europe every year, either for a change of cruising ground, a shortcut to the Med or Baltic or simply as a retreat from the rigours of sea sailing.
However, answers to key questions - such as What’s it like? Where are the best places? Do you need qualifications? Are there rules and regulations? What sort of boat is suitable? What preparations are required? Where can I go for maps and guides and further information? – are not always easy to find.
The European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) of the Cruising Association sets out to answer these questions and more with the launch of a new guide entitled, An Introduction to the European Inland Waterways.
Designed to provide all the information needed to embark on the Continental inland waterways, the guide is written by members of the EIWS and edited by Gordon Knight. The new guide is aimed at yacht and motor boat owners and includes advice on choosing or adapting a boat, qualifications needed, preparing a boat for transiting rivers, canals and locks, navigating safely, obtaining supplies along with communications and transport.
Separate chapters on the four main cruising countries - France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands - describe the principal inland cruising routes and their attractions and list numerous additional sources of information from official bodies and tourist organisations. There are also links to useful free apps. The guide also provides a brief taster of the attractions to be discovered further afield in countries such as Poland, Sweden and Norway.
The 100-page, full-colour guide can be purchased in print for £17.50 plus P&P from the CA's inland Waterways Section online bookstore and downloaded as a PDF (free to members) from the CA Shop at the same price.
Membership Discount Offer
If you are thinking of joining the CA, the guide includes a special 20% off discount code for the first year's CA membership when paying by Direct Debit. This discount is included with all guide purchases up until 31 December 2024 and must be redeemed during 2024.
European Inland Waterways Guides
In addition to the new guide, the CA’s EIWS also produces six further guides to Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium, Through France via the Inland Waterways, Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes, 50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands, The River Moselle/Mosel and The German Rhine, 17 guides to moorings on the French rivers and canals, a series of free Guidance Notes to cruising the European Inland Waterways as well as a guide to Cruising the Dutch Islands of the Waddenzee.
Further information is available on the CA’s EIWS webpage.
4 April 2024