TADORNA the SHELDUCK

Vessel Name: Tadorna the Shelduck
Vessel Make/Model: Etap 32i
Hailing Port: Nieuwpoort (Belgium)
Crew: Eric & Sylvia
About:
Born on the tidal river Scheldt near the port of Antwerp, climbing mountains was not an option, so we went sailing. After exploring the Antwerp roads in a dinghy we went for a bigger boat and sailed down the estuary -just like the shelduck- to the Southern North Sea. [...]
Extra:
Having your home port at the only 65 km long belgian coast, if not to be locked on to your berth, your ship should carry some courtesy ensings. The ports of Dunkerque (France), Ramsgate Harbour (UK) and Flushing (the Netherlands) are all within a range of 50 miles. Teniendo su puerto de amarre en [...]
Home Page: https://sites.google.com/site/cvotadorna/
15 September 2022 | Port of Antwerp-Bruges
13 April 2018 | Nieuwpoort
11 September 2017 | Belgian Coast
09 February 2017
05 April 2015 | Dover Strait
27 October 2013 | Zierikzee (Nl)
13 July 2011 | Ramsgate (UK)
12 December 2010 | Boulogne
04 December 2010 | Dieppe
24 November 2010 | Le Havre
13 November 2010 | Nieuwpoort
05 November 2010 | Deauville
20 October 2010 | Fecamp
20 September 2010 | Dieppe
26 August 2010 | Boulogne-sur-Mer
13 August 2010 | Dunkirk (France)
02 June 2010 | Burghsluis
18 May 2010 | Yerseke
04 May 2010 | Willemstad
26 April 2010 | Middelharnis
Recent Blog Posts
15 September 2022 | Port of Antwerp-Bruges

Waterbus

Last summer the former crew of Tadorna took a ride on the river Scheldt on board the Waterbus from Kruibeke (5 miles upstream Antwerp) to Lillo-Fort, the turning point of this passenger shuttle near the Dutch border. The fast passenger service calls at different locations both at the right bank (e.g. Antwerp Roads) and the left bank (e.g. the popular beach resort of St. Anneke), so it gives a broad view on the locks, chemical and container terminals and the newest tidal dock, the Deurganckdock, just opposite Lillo-Fort. As her name says, the fast catamaran has the speed of a bus, so you might perhaps miss the relaxed feeling of smooth sailing. Nervertheless we can strongly recommend the trip to all those who have a heart for being on the water (as retired sailors do) and love the Port of Antwerp. (the picture shows the entrance of the drying small yacht harbour of Lillo-Fort)

13 April 2018 | Nieuwpoort

The Old Sailor

Older and wiser,

11 September 2017 | Belgian Coast

Sirius

Encounter off the Belgian coast with the brand new multi-purpose vessel 'SIRIUS' the Flemish Maritime Authority put into service earlier this year. Also thanks to an audit on board this new purchase, Bureau Veritas was able to deliver the ISM-certificate (International Safe Management code for ship management and protection of the environment) to the owner.

09 February 2017

Hibernating

Tadorna has been well put ashore and is actually hibernating. She will be soon get overhauled and put into the water again. We're all hoping for a nice season and fair winds. Sea-you on the water.

05 April 2015 | Dover Strait

Back on Track

Thanks to the fair weather of this years' early spring, the annual overhaul after winter storage on land went on very smoothly. So since March 18, Tadorna is back on the water again, all shipshape and ready to sail the Channel and the North Sea for yet another season (she's already waving the flag of the seven seas: bright golden stars above blue water).

27 October 2013 | Zierikzee (Nl)

Zeeland

In august 2013 Tadorna paid a visit to Zeeland, the south western most province of the Netherlands, situated between the estuaries of the river Maas (Rotterdam) and the River Scheldt (Antwerp).

Waterbus

15 September 2022 | Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Last summer the former crew of Tadorna took a ride on the river Scheldt on board the Waterbus from Kruibeke (5 miles upstream Antwerp) to Lillo-Fort, the turning point of this passenger shuttle near the Dutch border. The fast passenger service calls at different locations both at the right bank (e.g. Antwerp Roads) and the left bank (e.g. the popular beach resort of St. Anneke), so it gives a broad view on the locks, chemical and container terminals and the newest tidal dock, the Deurganckdock, just opposite Lillo-Fort. As her name says, the fast catamaran has the speed of a bus, so you might perhaps miss the relaxed feeling of smooth sailing. Nervertheless we can strongly recommend the trip to all those who have a heart for being on the water (as retired sailors do) and love the Port of Antwerp. (the picture shows the entrance of the drying small yacht harbour of Lillo-Fort)

The Old Sailor

13 April 2018 | Nieuwpoort
Older and wiser,
With memories and friends,
I swallowed the anchor,
Said farewell to the sea.

As I came ashore
In peace and at ease,
Still left there to be
Out on the water
The essence of me.

(Tadorna has been sold. She left her home port Nieuwpoort for the Netherlands, and will go on sailing the Dutch estuaries and the Southern North Sea with a fresh and motivated crew. We wish her all the luck and fair winds !)

Sirius

11 September 2017 | Belgian Coast
Encounter off the Belgian coast with the brand new multi-purpose vessel 'SIRIUS' the Flemish Maritime Authority put into service earlier this year. Also thanks to an audit on board this new purchase, Bureau Veritas was able to deliver the ISM-certificate (International Safe Management code for ship management and protection of the environment) to the owner.

Hibernating

09 February 2017
Tadorna has been well put ashore and is actually hibernating. She will be soon get overhauled and put into the water again. We're all hoping for a nice season and fair winds. Sea-you on the water.

Back on Track

05 April 2015 | Dover Strait
Thanks to the fair weather of this years' early spring, the annual overhaul after winter storage on land went on very smoothly. So since March 18, Tadorna is back on the water again, all shipshape and ready to sail the Channel and the North Sea for yet another season (she's already waving the flag of the seven seas: bright golden stars above blue water).

Zeeland

27 October 2013 | Zierikzee (Nl)
In august 2013 Tadorna paid a visit to Zeeland, the south western most province of the Netherlands, situated between the estuaries of the river Maas (Rotterdam) and the River Scheldt (Antwerp).
As, in February 1953, Zeeland was devastated by a terrible flood, the Dutch decided to build new coastal defences to shorten the amount of coastline exposed to the sea. This so called Delta Works interconnected the isles by dikes and bridges, and closed most of the estuaries by dams, thus creating a sailors' paradise of artificial lakes and sheltered waters still open to the sea.
The Eastern Scheldt Estuary was not completely dammed up, but closed by a storm surge barrier (the 'Oosterscheldekering'). This masterpiece of civil engineering should be closed during storms or extremely high tides, but in normal conditions it allows a reduced tide to come in, so that local mussel and oyster-farmers can maintain their activities.
Tadorna entered the Zeeland-waters by the lock ('Roompotsluis') in this barrier and made a first call at Roompot Marina at the south side of it. The barrier, three kilometres long and consisting of 65 concrete pillars, is really worth a visit, as it is by far the largest and most impressive structure in the Delta Works.
The next stop was Zierikzee, the sailing capital of the region, where we tied up at the picturesque town quay. Most of the time you have to take it for granted to raft up, but in reward you will be only one step away from the busy historic town centre, and carillon chimes out from one of the city gates will wake you up in the morning.
The open air museum in the old harbour next to the market place shows a collection of historic ships and in the city harbour visiting sailing heritage keeps a reserved berth, as you can see in the picture.