Flying Fish Articles

REPORT ON A CRUISE TO THE BALTIC & SOUTHERN NORWAY

SUMMER 2006 IN MOONLIGHT OF DOWN BY JOHN & PAT DRISCOLL

Ventspils. 57° 23.64’N 021° 32.04’E

Coasted north past Liepeda out side all charted wrecks and obstructions.

Entered Ventspils by the S approach channel which is equipped with a very conspic. leading light system. Three synchronised occulting red lights.

There are two synchronised occulting red lights marking the N channel.





Approach straight forward per pilot book. The two sets of synchronised leading lights are the best seen. The ’Yacht Port’ is on the S side of the harbour and the entrance is conspicuously signed. It is in the SW corner of the fishing harbour. Mooring is to stern buoys, bows to quay. The stern buoys have long stems topped by a loop for easy attachment. The left hand, S half of the quay is faced with wooden staging with bollards that can easily be lassoed. The right hand , N half of the quay has a higher wooden staging that has staples set in concrete to the rear of the staging. Needs a person ashore to deal with the lines.


Marina has a duty harbour master 24 hours. He calls border control.

Entry/Exit procedures carried out in HM office. Officials pleasant, courteous and efficient. Water situation not ascertained as reported to be of doubtful quality. No diesel pump. Should imagine diesel would be available some where in the fishing harbour. Showers and toilets but not checked.


A scheduled mini bus service (approx. 40 min intervals) runs to the town centre. Time table from HM. Small supermarkets in town and a market with good local fresh produce.