An Introduction to the European Inland Waterways: A beginner's guide to boating on the inland waterways of Continental Europe

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 with advancing years. However, sources of information are scarce to answer such key questions 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? This new guide is designed to provide all the information needed to embark on the continental inland waterways. Written by members of the Cruising Association's European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) and edited by Gordon Knight, the guide is aimed at both yacht and motor boat owners and includes advice on choosing or adapting a boat; the qualifications needed; preparing a boat to tackle the rivers, canals and locks; navigating safely; obtaining supplies and coping 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, plus useful free apps to supplement them. Finally, it provides a brief taster of the attractions to be discovered further afield in countries such as Poland, Sweden and Norway. It also includes a 15 per cent discount offer on first year's membership for purchasers joining the CA online during the year.

Gordon Knight produces on behalf of the European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) of the UK's 6,400-member Cruising Association a series of 25 illustrated guides to the inland waterways of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. These include major guides to 'Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium'; 'Through France via the Inland Waterways'; '50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands'; 'Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes'; 'Cruising the River Moselle/Mosel'; Cruising the Dutch Islands of the Waddenzee and 'The German Rhine'. He also produces a series of 17 illustrated mooring guides to the French canals and rivers. For details of all these publications, see https: //www.theca.org.uk/public/sections/eiw.