It is that time of the year again. I don't mean the silly music in the shops and all that, I mean time for boat maintenance. Here are the projects for Winter 2013-2014:
New Mainsail
The old one was getting a bit baggy and somehow the cut of the clew seemed wrong, especially on the new mast and boom. Sometime during the Winter, the good people of Van der Werf will take measurements and make a new sail. No frills, not even sail logo, just a well shaped sail at a very good price.
Chainplate Replacement
I could see this one coming. After tackling the keel and beefing-up the rigging, the obvious weak-link is in the chainplates. Spidering cracks where the chainplates attach to the deck are an ominous sign that I either take care of this or risk having the expensive new mast topling over. I am planning to have the plates attached to the hull, rather than to the deck as they are now.
Winches
They are still doing well but because of the way they are installed they leak into the cabin. I'll keep the winches but will change the idiotic way they are installed. Also a new, small winch for the genoa furling is coming. This is a request of First-Mate who is usually in charge of furling the genoa. Also the cam cleats for the headsail sheets could do with replacement.
Headsail Cars and Rail
I am surprised the cars for the head sail sheets haven't ripped yet. They look really tattered. Also the screws that fix the rail are leaking. Have we been pushing them a bit too hard, maybe? Budget allowing, we will even have a set-up to trim the position of the cars.
Foredeck Cleats
Having just one big cleat in the middle of the foredeck does not work very well. I am planning to replace that with two smaller cleats close to the toerail. I'll use the opportunity to remove screws on the foredeck whose function has been lost in the darkness of ages.
Stern Locker
The space under the tiller is just wasted. I am planning to construct a locker there. This can be used to store the petrol jerry can (better than the current bucket in the port-side locker which has the vent hole close to the upper edge !!!) and a stern anchor which is a must both in the Med and in the Baltic. And if sailing in hairy conditions it can be filled with flotation, therefore reducing the volume of the cockpit.
Window Replacement
This one is a left-over from last Winter's plans. We had such a good Summer I forgot about it. The new rubber seals are still in the garage and the variable speed saw to cut acrylate is being used for other jobs. It has to be done this Winter, especially if we decide to take Mekicevica to the Baltic.
Saturday 23 November 2013
Monday 21 October 2013
The Season is Over
Mekicevica is out of the water and the season is over. The weather is still surprisingly warm for late October and we could have squeezed a few more days of sailing, but after 18 months in the water Mekicevica is tired and needs some TLC, especially below the water line.
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| First time out of the water since the 6th of May 2012. |
There were a few barnacles but on the whole the anti-fouling did do a good job. The coating of the keel, centre-plate and rudder worked a treat, and needs only a few retouches in a few critical spots.
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| Waiting for a good treatment with the pressure hose. |
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| Clean bottom, ready for Winter maintenance projects. |
It was a really good season. It had a late start, with the first trip on the 6th of May, but after that we did catch-up and logged a total of 34 days of sailing over exactly five months. Amazingly, we got rain while sailing only once. We did not go to any far destinations, but we got to know Zeeland a lot better. A new rig allowed us to sail in windier conditions, but we also learned when to look for shelter. The skipper had the first solo tours, which increased his confidence when sailing with First-Mate.
Time for maintenance projects and making plans for 2014. The Kvarner? Or the Baltic?
Sunday 6 October 2013
Return to Bruinisse
This weekend we need to bring Mekicevica from Zierikzee back to her berth in Bruinisse. We are so lucky that the wind is forecast to be moderate from the SW and high water around 1630. That means we'll have wind and tide with us. Moreover it is going to be warm for the time of the year.
We started the weekend with a delicious (and huge) Thai dinner in Zierikzee. On Sunday, I went for a morning run to warm-up and check the waves on the Oosterschelde. The wind is weaker than last weekend, but we have no appetite to repeat the experience.
Without any rush we managed to leave just after low water and motor down the harbour canal. It was interesting to note that even with Yoyo-Ma giving all of his 2.5HP we were slower going down the canal that last weekend using just half of the jib. That is how windy it was then.
Once out we hoisted full main and full genoa and off we go... very slowly. What a difference! Now the Oosterschelde had only the slightest of ripples. The only challenge was to estimate our course so that with our low speed over the water we did not drift into any obstacles, like the bridge pylons.
Going on a very broad reach, we found that dowsing the main and using only the full genoa was more efficient than struggling to prevent it from collapsing in the wind shade of the main. This is a peculiarity of the new rig with swept-back spreaders.
As we approached the Keteen and prepared to turn a bit more into the wind, it also started to freshen a bit, so we hoisted the main again. We cut a lot of the corner out of the shipping lane, as we were on a rising tide and on port tack, so it would not be serious if we happened to touch the bottom. We didn't and it was all plain sailing towards the Grevelingen lock, with the wind gradually veering North. We were lucky to be so well timed that we only started to be headed as we were almost in front of the lock, so we did not even have to change course to douse the main.
Soon Mekicevica was settled back on her berth and the crew enjoying a drink and dinner in Bruinisse.
We started the weekend with a delicious (and huge) Thai dinner in Zierikzee. On Sunday, I went for a morning run to warm-up and check the waves on the Oosterschelde. The wind is weaker than last weekend, but we have no appetite to repeat the experience.
Without any rush we managed to leave just after low water and motor down the harbour canal. It was interesting to note that even with Yoyo-Ma giving all of his 2.5HP we were slower going down the canal that last weekend using just half of the jib. That is how windy it was then.
Once out we hoisted full main and full genoa and off we go... very slowly. What a difference! Now the Oosterschelde had only the slightest of ripples. The only challenge was to estimate our course so that with our low speed over the water we did not drift into any obstacles, like the bridge pylons.
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| Passing under the Zeeland bridge in light airs. |
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| Classic Dutch boat on the Oosterschelde. |
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| A small Dutch boat going down the Keteen. |
On Sunday, as forecast, there was more sunshine but no wind whatsoever. So we decided to go home. A short weekend, but very, very satisfying. The arranged date to take Mekicevica out of the water is approaching quickly. Could this have been the close of the season?
Sunday 29 September 2013
Trapped in Zierikzee
One of the two-day tours from Bruinisse we have not done this year is a visit to the beautiful town of Zierikzee. This weekend we have a forecast of sunny weather and East wind. The low water on the Oosterschelde will be at the end of the afternoon. Perfect to get to Zierikzee with wind and tide, not so great to return. Especially since the forecast is for rather strong wind (5Bf or even 6Bf on Sunday).
We decide to go anyway. After all, Mekicevica has beaten against 5 Bf wind before, and as the tide will be with the wind we may be slow but the waves should not be too large. How bad can it be? Pretty bad, actually. Read on...
On Saturday we had a late start, as the mornings started to be fresh and make it tempting to stay a bit longer in the sack. Then passing the Grevelingen lock took forever. We just missed one opening and had to wait. Once in, as usual we headed for the gaps in the front where bigger boats can't fit, so we did not get completely what was the commotion at the back. We could only see a tall mast doing a U-turn in the lock with painful noise of polyester breaking against concrete. Ouch!
It was about 1315 when we finally got going. With the tide turning against the wind in three-hours time and more that 10 NM to go, it was starting to feel tight for little Mekicevica. But with a fresh breeze from a bit N of East, and the tide with us we were doing about 4.5 kn over ground.
Passing under the Zeeland bridge was the usual unnerving affair, with strange winds that sent our sails all over the place. But we quickly resumed the good pace and soon we were motoring along the canal leading to Zierikzee harbour, straight into the wind.
The harbour master welcomed us on his RIB and assigned us a place alongside the most unusual boat, with lots of home-made contraptions, the purpose of which was probably obvious to the owner but to no-one else.
After a bit of sightseeing we found a very good, simple restaurant where they served delicious, home-made ćevapčići.
We decide to go anyway. After all, Mekicevica has beaten against 5 Bf wind before, and as the tide will be with the wind we may be slow but the waves should not be too large. How bad can it be? Pretty bad, actually. Read on...
On Saturday we had a late start, as the mornings started to be fresh and make it tempting to stay a bit longer in the sack. Then passing the Grevelingen lock took forever. We just missed one opening and had to wait. Once in, as usual we headed for the gaps in the front where bigger boats can't fit, so we did not get completely what was the commotion at the back. We could only see a tall mast doing a U-turn in the lock with painful noise of polyester breaking against concrete. Ouch!
It was about 1315 when we finally got going. With the tide turning against the wind in three-hours time and more that 10 NM to go, it was starting to feel tight for little Mekicevica. But with a fresh breeze from a bit N of East, and the tide with us we were doing about 4.5 kn over ground.
Passing under the Zeeland bridge was the usual unnerving affair, with strange winds that sent our sails all over the place. But we quickly resumed the good pace and soon we were motoring along the canal leading to Zierikzee harbour, straight into the wind.
The harbour master welcomed us on his RIB and assigned us a place alongside the most unusual boat, with lots of home-made contraptions, the purpose of which was probably obvious to the owner but to no-one else.
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| Mekicevica in Zierikzee harbour. |
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| A view of Zierikzee. |
Sunday morning was sunny but, as forecast, even windier. So prepare a reef in the main and off we go, doing most of the canal out of the harbour under head-sail.
Approaching the Oosterschelde we could see big yachts pitching like rocking horses. We still got out, put up the main sail and we were in it. The waves were about one meter high, some of them breaking. That does not sound a lot, unless you are in a 19ft boat with a freeboard of about 30 cm. Down below everything that was not well tied was flying about and in the cockpit the crew were getting soaked and holding on for dear life. We had to give up. Rolled-up the jib, gybed (not easy under these conditions) and made our way back to Zierikzee. The harbour master saw us coming back and lead us to a sheltered place to keep Mekicevica until next weekend. Pity that we missed what could have been a day of sailing in the sunshine, but I believe the conditions were beyond the limits of little Mekicevica.
And this way we have the perfect excuse to go sailing again next weekend.
Sunday 22 September 2013
Tribute to the Dumbusters
Off to Bruinisse on Friday evening, and to put us in weekend mood we went out for a beer. We found a real authentic place frequented by the local fisherman, drinking beer and chatting in "Zeeuwse".
The weather these days is affected by the Azores High, which seems to have come on a city break to the Netherlands. So we are having Azorian weather: lots of cloud but little rain and occasional sunny spells. Only maxima of 18 - 20°C, instead of the 25°C year-round that are standard in Azores. On Saturday morning we had a perfect wind for relaxed cruising: 3 Bf and from the SW, so broad- to beam reach all the way out. The Grevelingen lock was much quieter than in mid-Summer and we sailed the short distance to the Krammer lock. The only drawback of the out-of-season sailing is that some not-too-large ships start to use the locks that in season are meant for yachts. So we had some big monsters with us, both in the Grevelingen and Krammer locks. In the latter we were even blown away by their propeller wash making the manoeuvre in the lock a bit complicated.
All the way we were in the company of Joris, a 19-footer sailed single-handed by an elderly gentleman. Both boat and skipper had that look of more care for function than looks that is a sign of experience.
Once on the Volkerak, we continued the relaxed sailing. The crux of the trip was going to come after the Nordplaat. Here we would need to cross the shipping lane to get to the South side of the Volkerak to enter the Steenbergse Vliet, leading to our destination. We were lucky to have a lull in the intense shipping traffic and could make a fast, straight course, close-hauled in the moderate SW wind.
Than it was a matter of motoring, past the lock and the automatic pedestrian bridge, through fields and farms towards Steenbergen.
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| Waiting for the pedestrian bridge at the entrance to Steenbergse Vliet. |
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| Approaching Steenbergen. |
Sunday morning was grey with occasional light rain. While we waited for the morning grey to clear (it never did) we went for a run and explore Steenbergen's claim to fame. This is where the famous RAF pilot Guy Gibson crashed his Mosquito plane and lost his life. Guy Gibson was the young commander of the operation Chastise that attacked several German dams during WWII. The squadron is to this day known as the Dambusters.
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| Street named after Gibson. Nearby there are a Mosquitostraat, Warwickstraat (named after the co-pilot), a Dambustersstraat, and a Lancasterstraat (after the planes used by the Dambusters). |
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| The exact spot where the plane crashed is marked by a simple monument in front of an industrial building. |
A very pleasant trip to close the Summer in Zeeland.
Sunday 8 September 2013
The Other End of the Grevelingen
We are having great, late-summer weather, with temperatures still reaching 30°C at times. This cannot last forever, so let's use it for another weekend of sailing while we can.
Friday was spent messin' about in the boat and in the afternoon a mighty shower came down, with hail and thunder. I nearly gave up and headed home, but I am glad I didn't because it turned into a fine evening.
Saturday morning started cloudy, but blue patches to the West promised better weather to come. However, with light winds and unfavourable tides on the Oosterschelde, we decided to stay in the Grevelingen. The usual plan: let's head NW and see how far we can get.
With main sail and full Big Jenny the genoa, we sailed away on a beam reach and quickly leaving Bruinisse behind. If it keeps like this, we thought, we'll make it all the way to Scharendijke. This is the harbour on the N end of the Grevelingen, as far from Bruinisse as we can get this side of the lock. Previous attempts to get there were foiled by weak winds and we ended-up in Brouwershaven by the umpteenth time. Not this time! the wind even freshened-up a bit and veered more W, such that we even had to put a few rolls on the genoa to beat up the Geul van Bommenrede.
By the time we were tied up at Scharendijke the sun was fully out and we went for a walk over the Brouwersdam, the dyke closing the Grevelingen from the North Sea.
In fact, it is not completely closed, there is a constant stream to keep the quality of the water. The turbulent waters make this a favourite spot for fish, fisherman, and seals.
Despite the fact that Mekicevica spent the 2012-13 Winter in Scharendijke and with all the keel works I practically lived at the boat yard, we had never been to the town. We were surprised that it has few but very good cafes and restaurants. We selected Zee and Meer where we were served a delicious dinner of fish and mussels prepared in a very original and delicious way. Highly recommended!
Friday was spent messin' about in the boat and in the afternoon a mighty shower came down, with hail and thunder. I nearly gave up and headed home, but I am glad I didn't because it turned into a fine evening.
Saturday morning started cloudy, but blue patches to the West promised better weather to come. However, with light winds and unfavourable tides on the Oosterschelde, we decided to stay in the Grevelingen. The usual plan: let's head NW and see how far we can get.
With main sail and full Big Jenny the genoa, we sailed away on a beam reach and quickly leaving Bruinisse behind. If it keeps like this, we thought, we'll make it all the way to Scharendijke. This is the harbour on the N end of the Grevelingen, as far from Bruinisse as we can get this side of the lock. Previous attempts to get there were foiled by weak winds and we ended-up in Brouwershaven by the umpteenth time. Not this time! the wind even freshened-up a bit and veered more W, such that we even had to put a few rolls on the genoa to beat up the Geul van Bommenrede.
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| We meet this boat often, and always find her worth a photo. |
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| View on the Grevelingen from the Brouwersdam. |
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| Seals hunting their dinners where water comes into the Grevelingen. |
During the night it rained again, and Sunday started a bit dull and with little wind. It did pick up a bit and we left Scharendijke making good progress, on a broad reach in a SW breeze. We started to think that we would make Bruinisse on the same tack. Then the wind died.
The rest of the day was a variation of motoring for a bit, sailing for a bit, then becalmed. Repeat.
The wether was also on and off, some nice sunny spells, and some brief, weak showers.
Just before Bruinisse we could sail a good while in an afternoon breeze, unfortunately from the SE.
It was a long return back (five hours!) but still pleasant. How many more such weekends will we have this year, we wonder.
Sunday 1 September 2013
Late August Cruising
Wednesday, 28th of August: Solo sailing to Sint-Annaland
First-Mate still has a few days of annual leave to use before it gets busy at work again. So off we go to a long weekend of sailing.
In terms of weather the late summer is making-up for the lousy start, and with a forecast of Northerlies till Friday and Southerlies on Saturday and Sunday, the conditions are just right for a trip to the unexplored bits of the Oosterschelde. Little we knew of how wrong this forecast was.
To spare First-Mate the boring bit I am bringing the boat to Sint-Annaland on Wednesday. It also gives me an excuse for a little extra sailing, which for me is never boring.
This time wind and tides were just right. Leaving Bruinisse around 12:30, I could down the Keteen on a broad reach and with the tide. The timing was perfect and I turned up into the Krabbenkreek at the turn of the tide. To make it even better, just then the N wind backed a bit, so I could continue on a beam reach. Feeling really lucky, I approached Sint-Annaland under the approving gaze of two seals who were sunbathing on the Northern shore. I barely resisted the temptation to sail into the harbour.
First-Mate joined me in the evening for dinner on board.
Thursday, 29th of August: Lazying in the Krabbenkreek, then beating to Stavenisse
During the night the wind died down, which made for good sleep. In the morning there was only the slightest breeze from the SW. So we went a bit up the Krabbenkreek to wait for the wind at anchor.
At first we managed to sail, but as the ebbing tide picked-up we found ourselves moving over the water but going backwards over the ground. No choice but to motor.
After a couple of hours of lazying in the sun watching the birds and the shore coming towards us, we decided to use the last of the tide to go just a couple of miles down to Stavenisse. By then the SW wind had picked-up enough to allow us to beat down the Keteen dodging the huge ships. As intended, we entered the harbour canal one hour after low water, with just enough water for Mekicevica to get in. It was a bit unnerving to motor along nothing more than a narrow water-stream.
Another dinner on board and a good night sleep in the sheltered and quiet Stavenisse harbour.
Friday, 30th of August: How did this all fit in one day?
The settled weather was due a feeble high pressure, the slightest shift of which can trick the meteorologists and cause the wind to change direction. In the morning the wind forecast had changed. It is now still SW on Friday, but N on Saturday and Sunday. To avoid more beating, we changed the plans and decided to head North for the Volkerak.
Once out on the Keteen we found ourselves in fog. Luckily, the light wind was such that we could keep out of the shipping lane. By the time we passed in front of Bruinisse the fog had cleared.
After a long wait at the Kramersluis we continued up the Volkerak. In the first part, there is plenty of water out of the shipping lanes, even an island between the yachts and the big beasts. But after a while, our paths merge. It was nerve racking to sail downwind, trying at the same time to prevent accidental gybes, the genoa from collapsing behind the main sail, and avoid the oncoming ships. After a couple of scary situations, we rolled the genoa. Now we had less speed, but at least it was easier to keep a course.
Soon we could leave the shipping lane and sail towards the separate lock for yachts.
We hoisted the genoa immediately out of the Volkerak lock and slowly sailed towards the beautiful harbour of Willemstad, which is in the former moat of the 16th century star-shaped bastion.
In nine hour of sailing we sailed out of a quiet harbour in fog, then a mixture of cloud and sunshine, two locks, dodging shipping, and finally leisurely sailing towards a beautiful city. This deserved a celebration with dinner out!
Saturday, 31st of August: Beating into gusty winds on the Volkerak
Another trick of the weather: now the wind is not from the N but NW. And rather strong and gusty as well. Leaving Willemstad was much less peaceful than the arrival: motoring into a fresh breeze and choppy waters. We were not helped by a German stink pot than decided to pass as close to us at possible at full speed, making such a wake that we rocked from side to side and even had a wave breaking into the cockpit. Bastard! What for? When we tied up to wait for the lock he was motoring to and fro without tying up, so that he could rush in before everybody else. Is it my impression, or the further North we go into the Great Rivers, the more often we come across this sort of idiots?
Out of the lock we hoisted a reefed sail, unrolled a tiny bit of the jib and made fast progress down the Volkerak. We started thinking we would arrive too early at our next destination, Oude Tonge. Then the wind backed further to the West and became incredibly gusty and variable. It was hard work to beat in these conditions, while trying hard to keep out of the way of the ships.
Needless to say that with all this beating we did not arrive too early. We even had to motor the last bit to negotiate a narrow passage straight into the wind.
We got to the sheltered harbour of Oude Tonge just in time to catch the supermarket open.
Sunday, 1st of September: More beating and locks
After a proper Sunday lay-in we started the last, short day of our cruise: the return to Bruinisse. It was still blowing hard from the WNW and we had to beat, but at least here we can mostly keep out of the shipping lane. Moreover Mekicevica and crew are in great sailing shape and found the beating very enjoyable. We arrived back at our berth in Bruinisse smiling and thoroughly happy with our cruise.
First-Mate still has a few days of annual leave to use before it gets busy at work again. So off we go to a long weekend of sailing.
In terms of weather the late summer is making-up for the lousy start, and with a forecast of Northerlies till Friday and Southerlies on Saturday and Sunday, the conditions are just right for a trip to the unexplored bits of the Oosterschelde. Little we knew of how wrong this forecast was.
To spare First-Mate the boring bit I am bringing the boat to Sint-Annaland on Wednesday. It also gives me an excuse for a little extra sailing, which for me is never boring.
This time wind and tides were just right. Leaving Bruinisse around 12:30, I could down the Keteen on a broad reach and with the tide. The timing was perfect and I turned up into the Krabbenkreek at the turn of the tide. To make it even better, just then the N wind backed a bit, so I could continue on a beam reach. Feeling really lucky, I approached Sint-Annaland under the approving gaze of two seals who were sunbathing on the Northern shore. I barely resisted the temptation to sail into the harbour.
First-Mate joined me in the evening for dinner on board.
Thursday, 29th of August: Lazying in the Krabbenkreek, then beating to Stavenisse
During the night the wind died down, which made for good sleep. In the morning there was only the slightest breeze from the SW. So we went a bit up the Krabbenkreek to wait for the wind at anchor.
At first we managed to sail, but as the ebbing tide picked-up we found ourselves moving over the water but going backwards over the ground. No choice but to motor.
After a couple of hours of lazying in the sun watching the birds and the shore coming towards us, we decided to use the last of the tide to go just a couple of miles down to Stavenisse. By then the SW wind had picked-up enough to allow us to beat down the Keteen dodging the huge ships. As intended, we entered the harbour canal one hour after low water, with just enough water for Mekicevica to get in. It was a bit unnerving to motor along nothing more than a narrow water-stream.
Another dinner on board and a good night sleep in the sheltered and quiet Stavenisse harbour.
Friday, 30th of August: How did this all fit in one day?
The settled weather was due a feeble high pressure, the slightest shift of which can trick the meteorologists and cause the wind to change direction. In the morning the wind forecast had changed. It is now still SW on Friday, but N on Saturday and Sunday. To avoid more beating, we changed the plans and decided to head North for the Volkerak.
Once out on the Keteen we found ourselves in fog. Luckily, the light wind was such that we could keep out of the shipping lane. By the time we passed in front of Bruinisse the fog had cleared.
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| Approaching Bruinisse as the fog started to clear. |
Soon we could leave the shipping lane and sail towards the separate lock for yachts.
We hoisted the genoa immediately out of the Volkerak lock and slowly sailed towards the beautiful harbour of Willemstad, which is in the former moat of the 16th century star-shaped bastion.
In nine hour of sailing we sailed out of a quiet harbour in fog, then a mixture of cloud and sunshine, two locks, dodging shipping, and finally leisurely sailing towards a beautiful city. This deserved a celebration with dinner out!
Saturday, 31st of August: Beating into gusty winds on the Volkerak
Another trick of the weather: now the wind is not from the N but NW. And rather strong and gusty as well. Leaving Willemstad was much less peaceful than the arrival: motoring into a fresh breeze and choppy waters. We were not helped by a German stink pot than decided to pass as close to us at possible at full speed, making such a wake that we rocked from side to side and even had a wave breaking into the cockpit. Bastard! What for? When we tied up to wait for the lock he was motoring to and fro without tying up, so that he could rush in before everybody else. Is it my impression, or the further North we go into the Great Rivers, the more often we come across this sort of idiots?
Out of the lock we hoisted a reefed sail, unrolled a tiny bit of the jib and made fast progress down the Volkerak. We started thinking we would arrive too early at our next destination, Oude Tonge. Then the wind backed further to the West and became incredibly gusty and variable. It was hard work to beat in these conditions, while trying hard to keep out of the way of the ships.
Needless to say that with all this beating we did not arrive too early. We even had to motor the last bit to negotiate a narrow passage straight into the wind.
We got to the sheltered harbour of Oude Tonge just in time to catch the supermarket open.
Sunday, 1st of September: More beating and locks
After a proper Sunday lay-in we started the last, short day of our cruise: the return to Bruinisse. It was still blowing hard from the WNW and we had to beat, but at least here we can mostly keep out of the shipping lane. Moreover Mekicevica and crew are in great sailing shape and found the beating very enjoyable. We arrived back at our berth in Bruinisse smiling and thoroughly happy with our cruise.
Sunday 25 August 2013
Mekicevica's Crew in Another Boat
After escaping the lousy weather, Mekicevica's crew spent the Sunday trying the curious sport of rafting in artificial whitewater. Yes, there is such thing: near Arras in Northern France they used part of an old canal to build a whitewater stream by pumping water through a circuit of plastic obstacles.
It was much harder work that expected. Also a lot of fun, even when we managed to capsize the raft and the whole crew of six went tumbling down to the calm waters at the end.
Still not a sport I will rush to take up. At the end of the circuit it connects to one of the French canals. We considered hijacking the raft and making our way to the Canal du Midi, Marseille, and the Mediterranean...
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| Rafting in artificial whitewater. They are not paddling upstream, just struggling to keep the thing pointing in the right direction. |
Still not a sport I will rush to take up. At the end of the circuit it connects to one of the French canals. We considered hijacking the raft and making our way to the Canal du Midi, Marseille, and the Mediterranean...
Saturday 24 August 2013
A Failed BBQ on the Grevelingen
After nearly three weeks without sailing, Mekicevica and crew are starting to get the jitters. Moreover, with the end of the season approaching we desperately need to use every opportunity. The trouble this weekend was the weather forecast that kept changing, and our plans changing with it. Finally we decided that even if we got a bit of rain now and then it was worth trying to make a BBQ on one of the islands of the Grevelingen.
On Friday, I set off on my own to sail towards Brouwerhaven. Against the latest version of the weather forecast, there was not a cloud in the sky and it was nicely warm. The only problem was that the SE wind was very, very light, sometimes stopping completely. I almost fell asleep at the tiller.
On one of the occasions that there was some wind, I took the opportunity to practice heaving to.
With all this, by the time First-Mate called saying she was living work, I was only half way.
Here is a story for Top Gear: one Ford S-Max leaves the Kempen towards Brouwershaven trying to beat a 19-foot sailing boat that is now half-way up the Grevelingen towards the same destination. Given the traffic jams on the Antwerpen ring and the light wind, it was never going to be an exciting race. Especially since the wind finally died completely and I had to motor the last three miles. As I was turning around the buoys to enter the harbour I saw a familiar S-Max coming down the ramp to the water front. Nobody won!
By then it was getting late and the pontoons on the island seemed rather full, so we just headed for the first island with the curious name of Dwars in de Weg (Across the Way) which describes what once sailors arriving from Brouwershaven from the North Sea felt about the island. The SE wind started picking up again; probably just the evening breeze, we thought.
We managed to squeeze into a place, well sheltered from every direction but SE. Then it turned out I had forgotten a bag with half of the provisions. Luckily, I still had wine, meat, and the instant BBQ, so we could have some sort of dinner.
During the night the SE wind started to increase and building up waves that came right into us. It was a very disturbed night that felt like trying to sleep in a washing machine. To make matters worse, in the morning it started to rain. We got up feeling very tired and just motored to the next island - Stampersplaat - hoping to find a sheltered place where we could have breakfast, some rest and hope for the rain to clear. It eventually stopped raining, so we changed the head sail and even considered reefing the main for the expected beat towards Bruinisse. At first we had a nice breeze more Easterly than we tough, meaning we would be able to make it with just a few tacks. Then the rain came back in force and killed all the wind. Soon, a wet and tired crew decided we just wanted to arrive and have a hot shower, so we motored most of the way back. Not a successful trip at all. At least it made us realise that all of this season we had managed to avoid sailing in the rain... and how much we dislike it.
On Friday, I set off on my own to sail towards Brouwerhaven. Against the latest version of the weather forecast, there was not a cloud in the sky and it was nicely warm. The only problem was that the SE wind was very, very light, sometimes stopping completely. I almost fell asleep at the tiller.
On one of the occasions that there was some wind, I took the opportunity to practice heaving to.
With all this, by the time First-Mate called saying she was living work, I was only half way.
Here is a story for Top Gear: one Ford S-Max leaves the Kempen towards Brouwershaven trying to beat a 19-foot sailing boat that is now half-way up the Grevelingen towards the same destination. Given the traffic jams on the Antwerpen ring and the light wind, it was never going to be an exciting race. Especially since the wind finally died completely and I had to motor the last three miles. As I was turning around the buoys to enter the harbour I saw a familiar S-Max coming down the ramp to the water front. Nobody won!
By then it was getting late and the pontoons on the island seemed rather full, so we just headed for the first island with the curious name of Dwars in de Weg (Across the Way) which describes what once sailors arriving from Brouwershaven from the North Sea felt about the island. The SE wind started picking up again; probably just the evening breeze, we thought.
We managed to squeeze into a place, well sheltered from every direction but SE. Then it turned out I had forgotten a bag with half of the provisions. Luckily, I still had wine, meat, and the instant BBQ, so we could have some sort of dinner.
During the night the SE wind started to increase and building up waves that came right into us. It was a very disturbed night that felt like trying to sleep in a washing machine. To make matters worse, in the morning it started to rain. We got up feeling very tired and just motored to the next island - Stampersplaat - hoping to find a sheltered place where we could have breakfast, some rest and hope for the rain to clear. It eventually stopped raining, so we changed the head sail and even considered reefing the main for the expected beat towards Bruinisse. At first we had a nice breeze more Easterly than we tough, meaning we would be able to make it with just a few tacks. Then the rain came back in force and killed all the wind. Soon, a wet and tired crew decided we just wanted to arrive and have a hot shower, so we motored most of the way back. Not a successful trip at all. At least it made us realise that all of this season we had managed to avoid sailing in the rain... and how much we dislike it.
Sunday 4 August 2013
A Mini Summer-Holiday on the Oosterschelde
Wednesday 31st of July: Delivery to Stavenisse
A forecast of sunshine, hot weather and moderate southerlies is too good to miss. So I managed to persuade First-Mate to take Thursday and Friday off and spend a few days sailing the bits of the Oosterschelde still unknown to Mekicevica and crew. To make the proposition more attractive, I even offered to bring the boat to Stavenisse on Wednesday, so that the boring bit of passing the Grevelingen lock and motor down the Keteen looking-out for shipping would be done before she came aboard.
Except for the part when I just missed one opening of the lock and had a long wait, it was not boring at all. Once in the lock, I tried to be creative in finding ways to tie-up single-handed and ended-up making a mess. Anyway the lock was nearly empty, and I used an old skipper's trick: when a manoeuvre goes wrong, keep a straight face and pretend that was exactly how you wanted to do it.
Adding excitement to the day, Yoyo-Ma the Outboard Engine has a range of only about four miles and I was planning to do about seven. Running out of fuel in front of a container ship was not an attractive proposition, neither was stopping to tank in the choppy waters created by a southwesterly blowing right up the Keteen against an ebbing tide. So I had to plan fuelling stops carefully. For the first stop I briefly took shelter in the Bruinisse "vluchthaven" (shelter harbour). After that it got really choppy. I had to admire the couple in a Waarschip 700 valiantly beating in these conditions.
I did a second, last stop by heading a bit up the Krabbenkreek. After that the tide turned and, although we were then going against wind and tide, the water was much smoother and we made much better progress.
The entrance to Stavenisse harbour is not easy to spot, and only one hour after low water it looked so narrow and shallow I had to keep telling myself that I did get the calculations right and there was about 1.2m of water.
First-Mate joined shortly after I had tied-up at the visitor's pontoon and we had dinner al-fresco getting ready for a few days of sailing.
Thusrday 1st of August: Easy Sailing to Burghsluis
We woke-up under a bright blue sky and light southeasterly wind. Moreover low water will be around 6pm, so that with a leisurely start we will have wind and tide with us on our planned tour to Burghsluis.
Out of the Stavenisse harbour canal, we briefly needed Yoyo-Ma's help to get us out of the way of the shipping and then it was all plain sailing.
We passed under the Zeeland bridge, than in front of Zierikzee and goose-winged into the channel north of the Roggenplaat that leads to Burghsluis. I was told that this northern bit of the Oosterschelde is normally very quiet, but due to the favourable combination of wind and tide it was busier than normal. In the Burghsluis marina the volunteers of the sailing club were doing a great job in coping with the extra number of visiting yachts, and found us a nice, sheltered place rafting along a 22-footer.
After a refreshing plunge in the very clean water of the marina, shopping and shower we headed to Burgh-Hamstede on rented bikes for sight-seeing and dinner.
Friday 2nd of August: Across the Roompot
The wind, weather and tide fairies are being really nice to us: the wind veered to the SW. Without rush in the morning we could leave Burghsluis on a goose-winged run in light wind and with the second half of a flooding tide. It was so quiet we even heard a dolphin before seeing it. Eventually we did have to turn south, but it did not take more than a couple of easy tacks with the tide helping us and we were on the wide part of the Oosterschelde. By then the tide was turning, again helping us towards Roompot marina. The only trouble was that the wind took a lunch break, and we had to resort to other methods of propulsion. We tried motoring but the noise and vibrations were too irritating. Drifting is OK for awhile, but eventually we need to control our course. So I resorted to the paddles I keep in the bottom of the starboard locker for just such occasions. This caused great amusement to the crew of a passing yacht and a seal that observed us with a puzzled look.
Soon the sea-wind started kicking-up and we approached Roompot marina close-hauled.
The Roompot marina is huge and because it is conveniently positioned just after the lock to the North Sea, it is visited by impressive, sea-going yachts. On the whole I found it crowded and a bit intimidating, very different from the cosy harbours of small "Zeeuwse" villages we are used to. It does not even have a town nearby, only a holiday village looking more like the green suburbs of a large town.
The visit to the beach was also a bit disappointing. Or maybe we got spoiled by the Adriatic coast. On the Oosterschelde, before it is deep enough to swim you have to wade for ever in murky water feeling all sorts of shells, algae and other critters under your toes.
But the beach bar was OK! After a beer and shower we prepared dinner on board and went to sleep.
Saturday 3rd of August: Fast Run to Colijnsplaat
From the weather forecast, we knew that the worse weather would be on Saturday. Therefore we planned a short, five-mile hop along the coast to Colijnsplaat.
The announced storms turned out to be no more that a few drops of rain, but the wind was stronger than expected: WSW 5Bf, at times 6Bf. Not too bad since we are heading East, but we must make it before the tide starts ebbing around 2pm. After that the strong wind against the tide will turn the otherwise peaceful Oosterschelde into a witch's cauldron.
We still had plenty of time for breakfast and coffee, and were out of the harbour under sail before 10am. It was windy, but Mekicevica and crew are getting used to these situations. Under reefed main only we made good progress. My usual tactic is to avoid the straight downwind course and potential crash gybes. The few gybes we had to do required careful handling of the course and main-sheet; even then, Mekicevica and crew were thrown around a bit. Finally we approached the harbour entrance on a reach, doused sails and were settled before 1pm, with plenty of time to spare. The display of the sophisticated weather station on the wall of yacht club confirmed that we had been sailing in 6 Bf wind.
The lazy afternoon was only interrupted by a short run along the dyke. After shower we went for an appetiser of herring, dinner at the Schelde restaurant and finished the day with wine and chocolate on board.
Sunday 4th of August: Slow Return to Bruinisse
Sunday was a bit cooler. The wind was forecast to remain from the SW, which was great news for us. The bad news was that there was not much of it. Out of the harbour with full main and Big Jenny the genoa, we drifted more than sailed towards the Zeeland bridge. Yoyo-Ma again had to be started to give us some sort of steerage passing under the bridge. On the other side, with no shipping in sight, we resumed the slow game of partly sailing, mostly drifting in the right direction. When we got to the shipping lane, First-Mate attentive look-out and Yoyo-Ma saved us from drifting right into the path of a huge ship. By then we were getting short of fuel, so we made a stop at Stavenisse to get some. As we came out again, we found that there was some wind, so we managed to have a couple of hours of relaxed sailing, including another encounter with a dolphin.
Unfortunately the wind veered more and more North and by the time we reached the Krabbenkreek we had to start beating. After a few tacks that because of the contrary tide and the need to avoid ships kept bringing us back to the same buoy, we decided it was getting late and motored the rest of the way. In total, it took us eight hours from Colijnsplaat to the Grevelingen lock. Thinking that last year we did the same trip in exactly two hours...
A forecast of sunshine, hot weather and moderate southerlies is too good to miss. So I managed to persuade First-Mate to take Thursday and Friday off and spend a few days sailing the bits of the Oosterschelde still unknown to Mekicevica and crew. To make the proposition more attractive, I even offered to bring the boat to Stavenisse on Wednesday, so that the boring bit of passing the Grevelingen lock and motor down the Keteen looking-out for shipping would be done before she came aboard.
Except for the part when I just missed one opening of the lock and had a long wait, it was not boring at all. Once in the lock, I tried to be creative in finding ways to tie-up single-handed and ended-up making a mess. Anyway the lock was nearly empty, and I used an old skipper's trick: when a manoeuvre goes wrong, keep a straight face and pretend that was exactly how you wanted to do it.
Adding excitement to the day, Yoyo-Ma the Outboard Engine has a range of only about four miles and I was planning to do about seven. Running out of fuel in front of a container ship was not an attractive proposition, neither was stopping to tank in the choppy waters created by a southwesterly blowing right up the Keteen against an ebbing tide. So I had to plan fuelling stops carefully. For the first stop I briefly took shelter in the Bruinisse "vluchthaven" (shelter harbour). After that it got really choppy. I had to admire the couple in a Waarschip 700 valiantly beating in these conditions.
I did a second, last stop by heading a bit up the Krabbenkreek. After that the tide turned and, although we were then going against wind and tide, the water was much smoother and we made much better progress.
The entrance to Stavenisse harbour is not easy to spot, and only one hour after low water it looked so narrow and shallow I had to keep telling myself that I did get the calculations right and there was about 1.2m of water.
First-Mate joined shortly after I had tied-up at the visitor's pontoon and we had dinner al-fresco getting ready for a few days of sailing.
Thusrday 1st of August: Easy Sailing to Burghsluis
We woke-up under a bright blue sky and light southeasterly wind. Moreover low water will be around 6pm, so that with a leisurely start we will have wind and tide with us on our planned tour to Burghsluis.
Out of the Stavenisse harbour canal, we briefly needed Yoyo-Ma's help to get us out of the way of the shipping and then it was all plain sailing.
We passed under the Zeeland bridge, than in front of Zierikzee and goose-winged into the channel north of the Roggenplaat that leads to Burghsluis. I was told that this northern bit of the Oosterschelde is normally very quiet, but due to the favourable combination of wind and tide it was busier than normal. In the Burghsluis marina the volunteers of the sailing club were doing a great job in coping with the extra number of visiting yachts, and found us a nice, sheltered place rafting along a 22-footer.
After a refreshing plunge in the very clean water of the marina, shopping and shower we headed to Burgh-Hamstede on rented bikes for sight-seeing and dinner.
Friday 2nd of August: Across the Roompot
The wind, weather and tide fairies are being really nice to us: the wind veered to the SW. Without rush in the morning we could leave Burghsluis on a goose-winged run in light wind and with the second half of a flooding tide. It was so quiet we even heard a dolphin before seeing it. Eventually we did have to turn south, but it did not take more than a couple of easy tacks with the tide helping us and we were on the wide part of the Oosterschelde. By then the tide was turning, again helping us towards Roompot marina. The only trouble was that the wind took a lunch break, and we had to resort to other methods of propulsion. We tried motoring but the noise and vibrations were too irritating. Drifting is OK for awhile, but eventually we need to control our course. So I resorted to the paddles I keep in the bottom of the starboard locker for just such occasions. This caused great amusement to the crew of a passing yacht and a seal that observed us with a puzzled look.
Soon the sea-wind started kicking-up and we approached Roompot marina close-hauled.
The visit to the beach was also a bit disappointing. Or maybe we got spoiled by the Adriatic coast. On the Oosterschelde, before it is deep enough to swim you have to wade for ever in murky water feeling all sorts of shells, algae and other critters under your toes.
But the beach bar was OK! After a beer and shower we prepared dinner on board and went to sleep.
Saturday 3rd of August: Fast Run to Colijnsplaat
From the weather forecast, we knew that the worse weather would be on Saturday. Therefore we planned a short, five-mile hop along the coast to Colijnsplaat.
The announced storms turned out to be no more that a few drops of rain, but the wind was stronger than expected: WSW 5Bf, at times 6Bf. Not too bad since we are heading East, but we must make it before the tide starts ebbing around 2pm. After that the strong wind against the tide will turn the otherwise peaceful Oosterschelde into a witch's cauldron.
We still had plenty of time for breakfast and coffee, and were out of the harbour under sail before 10am. It was windy, but Mekicevica and crew are getting used to these situations. Under reefed main only we made good progress. My usual tactic is to avoid the straight downwind course and potential crash gybes. The few gybes we had to do required careful handling of the course and main-sheet; even then, Mekicevica and crew were thrown around a bit. Finally we approached the harbour entrance on a reach, doused sails and were settled before 1pm, with plenty of time to spare. The display of the sophisticated weather station on the wall of yacht club confirmed that we had been sailing in 6 Bf wind.
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| View across the Oosterschelde in the late afternoon. |
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| Eating herring the traditional way in Colijnsplaat. |
Sunday was a bit cooler. The wind was forecast to remain from the SW, which was great news for us. The bad news was that there was not much of it. Out of the harbour with full main and Big Jenny the genoa, we drifted more than sailed towards the Zeeland bridge. Yoyo-Ma again had to be started to give us some sort of steerage passing under the bridge. On the other side, with no shipping in sight, we resumed the slow game of partly sailing, mostly drifting in the right direction. When we got to the shipping lane, First-Mate attentive look-out and Yoyo-Ma saved us from drifting right into the path of a huge ship. By then we were getting short of fuel, so we made a stop at Stavenisse to get some. As we came out again, we found that there was some wind, so we managed to have a couple of hours of relaxed sailing, including another encounter with a dolphin.
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| This beautiful ship was beating down the Keteen. |
Sunday 28 July 2013
Southwesterlies and Sunshine on the Grevelingen
The Royal Dutch Metereological Institute (KNMI) announced that the heat wave of recent days is over. It came to an end with a mighty Summer storm that we watched approaching from Mekicevica's cabin. First the sky turned darker and darker with weird stripes of lighter grey across the sky advancing painfully slowly from the south. At the some time we could see the distant lightning and feel the roaring of thunder. Than the wind freshened-up and turned 180 degrees from NE to SW as a light rain started. This developed gradually to a downpour with lightning all around and gusts of wind that reached 50 knots. We wouldn't have liked to be out sailing in these conditions. Good thing we checked the weather forecast and gave-up the idea of starting early to catch the ebbing tide down the Keteen.
We nearly went home, but the promise of sunshine after the storm made us decide to stay. It was not until 1500 that we cast off in a light to moderate SW wind and sunshine, but still with suspiciously-looking clouds all around that we kept monitoring nervously. Fortunately they came to nothing and even a few showers we could see towards the West dissipated. It turned-out to be a lovely late afternoon with a gentle breeze from about the beam, filling the main sail and the genoa pushing us lazily up the Grevelingen. Now THIS is my idea of sailing, not the adrenaline-saturated ride I has a few weeks ago!
We had no more defined plans than heading NW until dinner time and hope by then to be near a harbour with a restaurant serving mussels (the season just started).
The wind decided to call it a day just as we were in front of Bommenrede, so the right thing to do was start our reliable but noisy outboard, know as Yoyo-Ma, and head for Brouwershaven old harbour.
We found a place rafting along a nice 20-something-foot family-cruiser with German flag, the restaurant did have a table for us that soon was decorated with mussels and white wine. The only inconvenience was that the harbourmaster had already gone home and although the restaurant usually keeps some keys for the shower building for late-comers, all had already been handed over.
During the night there was another storm, lighter than the previous. This time the strong winds persisted and I worried all night if we were going to have some epic adventure returning to Bruinisse, or even be pinned-down in Brouwershaven.
In the morning, although it was still blowing at about 5 Bf, the forecast was that the SW wind would weaken further and the sun would come out. We had a late start and caught the wind just right to get us going at 3 to 4 knots on a beam-reach, with some gusts that Mekicevica took in her stride with full main and a shortened genoa. By 3 pm we were settled back in Bruinisse and could enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the warm sunshine.
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| The storm over Belgium, photo of the Royal Metereological Institute (KMI). |
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| Interesting craft on the Grevelingen. |
The wind decided to call it a day just as we were in front of Bommenrede, so the right thing to do was start our reliable but noisy outboard, know as Yoyo-Ma, and head for Brouwershaven old harbour.
We found a place rafting along a nice 20-something-foot family-cruiser with German flag, the restaurant did have a table for us that soon was decorated with mussels and white wine. The only inconvenience was that the harbourmaster had already gone home and although the restaurant usually keeps some keys for the shower building for late-comers, all had already been handed over.
During the night there was another storm, lighter than the previous. This time the strong winds persisted and I worried all night if we were going to have some epic adventure returning to Bruinisse, or even be pinned-down in Brouwershaven.
In the morning, although it was still blowing at about 5 Bf, the forecast was that the SW wind would weaken further and the sun would come out. We had a late start and caught the wind just right to get us going at 3 to 4 knots on a beam-reach, with some gusts that Mekicevica took in her stride with full main and a shortened genoa. By 3 pm we were settled back in Bruinisse and could enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the warm sunshine.
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| Under a tyrant skipper, life is hard for Mekicevica's crew. |
Sunday 21 July 2013
Bikini Crew
Returning from our equatorial trip, we found even higher temperatures in Zeeland.
Having arrived home late on Friday after a long trip, we had a really late start on Saturday. Moreover the NE wind was very light, so even sailing with the tide it soon became clear that we were too late to get anywhere in the Oosterschelde in time for dinner. It was also getting close to low water, so Stavenisse harbour was not accessible. So we turned around and made our way to Sint-Annaland... again. Not that it bother us. Sailing in the Krabbenkreek is always delightful, particularly in a quiet and warm evening like this.
We did get dinner in the club house and on Sunday woke up to a bright, warm morning. There was not much wind, so we motored up the Krabbenkreek just before low water, dropped the hook in shallow water and spent the day lazying in the sun, swimming and watching the birds and the shore moving away in the flooding tide. I also took the opportunity to give a good scrub to Mekicevica's bottom, which was starting to be covered in weed and barnacles.
Around 3pm, Mekicevica turned around the anchor to let us know that the tide had started to ebb. We hoisted the sails and leisured sailed down the Krabbenkreek, which was busy with anchored boats and people swimming. Unfortunatelly there were also a few annoying motor boats pulling idiots over the water on all sorts of devices and making a lot of noise and waves. Despite that we enjoyed the sailing in the warm sunshine.
Once on the Keteen we had to turn against the tide and the little wind there was, so we motored all the way to the Grevelingen lock. On the way we encountered a couple of dolphins, which added to the Adriatic feeling of the day.
Having arrived home late on Friday after a long trip, we had a really late start on Saturday. Moreover the NE wind was very light, so even sailing with the tide it soon became clear that we were too late to get anywhere in the Oosterschelde in time for dinner. It was also getting close to low water, so Stavenisse harbour was not accessible. So we turned around and made our way to Sint-Annaland... again. Not that it bother us. Sailing in the Krabbenkreek is always delightful, particularly in a quiet and warm evening like this.
We did get dinner in the club house and on Sunday woke up to a bright, warm morning. There was not much wind, so we motored up the Krabbenkreek just before low water, dropped the hook in shallow water and spent the day lazying in the sun, swimming and watching the birds and the shore moving away in the flooding tide. I also took the opportunity to give a good scrub to Mekicevica's bottom, which was starting to be covered in weed and barnacles.
Around 3pm, Mekicevica turned around the anchor to let us know that the tide had started to ebb. We hoisted the sails and leisured sailed down the Krabbenkreek, which was busy with anchored boats and people swimming. Unfortunatelly there were also a few annoying motor boats pulling idiots over the water on all sorts of devices and making a lot of noise and waves. Despite that we enjoyed the sailing in the warm sunshine.
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| Finally, bikini sailing. |
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Solo Tour to Stampersplaat
Finally real Summer temperatures. Unfortunately in the middle of the week and moreover First-Mate is travelling for work. The weather is too good to miss, so I am going on a solo tour. The forecast is weak to moderate wind, from SW on Tuesday and NW on Wednesday. Perfect for a two-day tour up the Grevelingen.
My goal is Stampersplaat, near Brouwershaven. This was once a sandbank where seals rested at low water, but submerged at high water. Since the closing of the Grevelingen it is an island that got gradually covered in vegetation.
The trip out was delightful, mostly on a beam-reach, occasionally closer to the wind. For the first time this year, sailing wearing only shorts. There were fewer yachts around than on the weekend, but there were a few fishing boats.
Approaching the fishing harbour of Bommenede, I debated with myself if I should beat the last bit or just motor. Finally the wind decided for me: it died. After going around in circles trying to use a very light, variable wind, I gave up and motored to the public pontoons of the Stampersplaat.
There a few boats there pontoons, but everybody respects the calm of this place. There was no loud music or even loud talking. The birds were more audible than the people.
During a leg-stretching stroll I came across the ponies that live on the island and keep the grass low.
During the afternoon a few more boats arrived, including a British yacht. By early evening the pontoons were completely full.
After a good night sleep I woke up to a hazy morning. There was nearly no wind... or so I thought.
I even commented during a brief exchange with the British lady "What a shame there is not enough wind." Less than one hour later I had to laugh when I remembered my own remark.
I motored out and found there was a bit of wind after all, enough to keep Mekicevica moving under main sail alone. I anticipated that out of the Geul van Bommenende I would have to gibe, so I planned to unfurl the genoa only than. To my great surprise, as soon as I came out of the lee of the Stampersplaat I found a freesh NW breeze. Moreover, because it was blowing right along the Grevelingen it had kicked up the largest waves I have ever seen on the Grevelingen. All the way it was a wild ride. To avoid a crash gibe, I kept well off the straight downwind line, even if that meant having to gibe a couple of times. That made Mekicevica rock like a wild horse. Each time we fell off a wave, she would dip the bow quarter into the water up to the toe rail. I watched a much larger yacht rock like a rodeo horse and wondered how did Mekicevica look like from the other boat.
Luckily in front of Bruinisse the Mosselenbank offered some sheltered and it was not too difficult to douse the sail. It was the scariest and fastest ride down the Grevelingen I have ever made. I arrived so early that I entered the harbour against the traffic of yachts coming out after the morning coffee.
My goal is Stampersplaat, near Brouwershaven. This was once a sandbank where seals rested at low water, but submerged at high water. Since the closing of the Grevelingen it is an island that got gradually covered in vegetation.
The trip out was delightful, mostly on a beam-reach, occasionally closer to the wind. For the first time this year, sailing wearing only shorts. There were fewer yachts around than on the weekend, but there were a few fishing boats.
Approaching the fishing harbour of Bommenede, I debated with myself if I should beat the last bit or just motor. Finally the wind decided for me: it died. After going around in circles trying to use a very light, variable wind, I gave up and motored to the public pontoons of the Stampersplaat.
There a few boats there pontoons, but everybody respects the calm of this place. There was no loud music or even loud talking. The birds were more audible than the people.
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| Mekicevica enjoying a sunny and quiet Stampersplaat. |
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| The ponies of Stampersplaat with Brouwershaven in the distance. |
After a good night sleep I woke up to a hazy morning. There was nearly no wind... or so I thought.
I even commented during a brief exchange with the British lady "What a shame there is not enough wind." Less than one hour later I had to laugh when I remembered my own remark.
I motored out and found there was a bit of wind after all, enough to keep Mekicevica moving under main sail alone. I anticipated that out of the Geul van Bommenende I would have to gibe, so I planned to unfurl the genoa only than. To my great surprise, as soon as I came out of the lee of the Stampersplaat I found a freesh NW breeze. Moreover, because it was blowing right along the Grevelingen it had kicked up the largest waves I have ever seen on the Grevelingen. All the way it was a wild ride. To avoid a crash gibe, I kept well off the straight downwind line, even if that meant having to gibe a couple of times. That made Mekicevica rock like a wild horse. Each time we fell off a wave, she would dip the bow quarter into the water up to the toe rail. I watched a much larger yacht rock like a rodeo horse and wondered how did Mekicevica look like from the other boat.
Luckily in front of Bruinisse the Mosselenbank offered some sheltered and it was not too difficult to douse the sail. It was the scariest and fastest ride down the Grevelingen I have ever made. I arrived so early that I entered the harbour against the traffic of yachts coming out after the morning coffee.
Sunday 16 June 2013
Return to Bruinisse
After leaving Mekicevica in Kortegene marina during the week, we need to return her to her berth in Bruinisse. We are so lucky that the wind has turned to the SW, just right for the trip. The bad news is that at 7 Bf it is much too strong. Sailing events were being cancelled all over the Netherlands.
So on Saturday we went for a bike ride instead. Even that was difficult with such wind.
As often happens after a good blow, on Sunday morning the wind had dropped dramatically to a 4 Bf and forecast to drop further. The return to Bruinisse that we had planned to split in two days had to be done in one long day. At least we had nice weather and both wind and tide with us.
So on Saturday we went for a bike ride instead. Even that was difficult with such wind.
As often happens after a good blow, on Sunday morning the wind had dropped dramatically to a 4 Bf and forecast to drop further. The return to Bruinisse that we had planned to split in two days had to be done in one long day. At least we had nice weather and both wind and tide with us.
Sunday 9 June 2013
Strong Winds on the Veerse Meer
Plan for this weekend: a tour from Kortegene, on the East of the Veerse Meer, to Veere on the West. The weather forecast is announcing moderate N or NE winds, freshening-up later. Anyway, the Veerse meer twists and turns so much that whatever the wind direction we will have to beat at some stage.
Near Kortegene there are many trees on the margins, creating areas of nearly no wind. It was almost like morning sailing in the Adriatic, a constant search for wind, often being trapped in calm spots. Further West, there are less trees and we could get moving.
The other thing with Veerse Meer is that it is narrow and busy. You come across yachts that are definitely too large for these waters. Some are on the way from the Westerschelde to the Oosterschelde via the canal from Vlissigen to Veere. Others just belong to people who have too large yachts and then sail them in waters more adequate for dinghies. To make matters worse some of these people have no idea of the colregs, as we found.
When we reached the last turn of the Veerse Meer and had to turn straight North. At this point the North wind was blowing practically unhindered from the North Sea. We turned back to more sheltered water, put a reef in in the main, and prepared to beat up the narrow channel. Compared with the beggining of the previous season, the crew is much more experienced in these situations. The new rigging is also performing wonderfully, so even if we had to do fast tacks and sometimes had the rail in the water it was fun... to a point. The wind continued to get stronger and after a while, with the church tower of Veere in plain view, we gave up, turned down-wind and headed for one of the public pontoons to collect our wits and revise the plans. We decided to head for Oranjeplaat harbour, a couple of hundred meters downwind and call it a day.
We still went sight-seeing in Veere, only on foot...
From the shore we could appreciate how hard it was blowing and later checked the website of the Dutch Metereological Institute (KNMI): we had been beating in a narrow channel into 6 Bf wind!
On Sunday morning the North wind was still blowing hard and we had to get out of the most southern point of the Veerse meer. Remembering the adventures of Saturday, we decided to put two reefs in the main. It turned-out to be too cautious: we were hardly moving and even with a tiny head-sail we had too much lee-helm. Finally we took out the second reef and could finally get going. Approaching Kortegene, where there are trees along the water we even had to let out the full sails to cover the last half-mile to the yacht harbour.
Near Kortegene there are many trees on the margins, creating areas of nearly no wind. It was almost like morning sailing in the Adriatic, a constant search for wind, often being trapped in calm spots. Further West, there are less trees and we could get moving.
The other thing with Veerse Meer is that it is narrow and busy. You come across yachts that are definitely too large for these waters. Some are on the way from the Westerschelde to the Oosterschelde via the canal from Vlissigen to Veere. Others just belong to people who have too large yachts and then sail them in waters more adequate for dinghies. To make matters worse some of these people have no idea of the colregs, as we found.
When we reached the last turn of the Veerse Meer and had to turn straight North. At this point the North wind was blowing practically unhindered from the North Sea. We turned back to more sheltered water, put a reef in in the main, and prepared to beat up the narrow channel. Compared with the beggining of the previous season, the crew is much more experienced in these situations. The new rigging is also performing wonderfully, so even if we had to do fast tacks and sometimes had the rail in the water it was fun... to a point. The wind continued to get stronger and after a while, with the church tower of Veere in plain view, we gave up, turned down-wind and headed for one of the public pontoons to collect our wits and revise the plans. We decided to head for Oranjeplaat harbour, a couple of hundred meters downwind and call it a day.
We still went sight-seeing in Veere, only on foot...
From the shore we could appreciate how hard it was blowing and later checked the website of the Dutch Metereological Institute (KNMI): we had been beating in a narrow channel into 6 Bf wind!
On Sunday morning the North wind was still blowing hard and we had to get out of the most southern point of the Veerse meer. Remembering the adventures of Saturday, we decided to put two reefs in the main. It turned-out to be too cautious: we were hardly moving and even with a tiny head-sail we had too much lee-helm. Finally we took out the second reef and could finally get going. Approaching Kortegene, where there are trees along the water we even had to let out the full sails to cover the last half-mile to the yacht harbour.
Sunday 2 June 2013
Passage to the Veerse Meer
Our sketchy plan for this season is to explore a bit more of the southern reaches of the Schelde Delta, maybe even daring to tackle the strong tides and busy shipping of the Western Schelde. Perhaps we'll even manage to sail to Antwerpen...
For now, we are happy with a trip to the Veerse Meer. This is a narrow arm of the Delta which was once open to the North Sea. In old days, Veere was an important port where wool from Scotland arrived to be sold to the weavers of Flanders and beyond. Now the Veerse dijk has tranformed the Veerse Gat (as it was known) into the Veerse Meer, a tide-free, salt-water lake popular with yachties in all sorts of boats, from Gin Palaces that moor in quay of the old town to be looked at, to dinghies raced by kids.
The weather forecast anounced NW moderate winds and sunny. Low water in the Oosterschelde will be around 5pm, so we may even be able to time our passage so that we reach the point when we turn from towards the open sea to away from it just as the tide is turning.
Negotiating the Keteen was unnerving as usual. Each time the Kramer lock opens, an armada of big ships comes out, each one with a different idea of how to avoid the yachts, leaving us to scatter in all directions as fast as we can. We only had two close misses, not too bad...
Once in he Oosterschelde we part ways with the shipping. Just as well, because here we had to beat into the NW wind for a while. At least we had the tide with us and the wind running against the tide was not strong enough to cause any difficulties. We reached the turning point a bit earlier that expected which may have to do with the fact that we cut a good corner of the no-entry area. We were not the only ones doing it. From there it was again sailing down the freshening wind. We reached the Zandkreek around low water and it was a really narrow strip of water that led to the lock. Not knowing if there was sea room at the end to maneuver we decided to motor. It turns out that there is plenty of room in front of the lock. A couple of locals on big yachts obviously knew that because they sailed past us at great speed.
After the lock, in The Veerse meer we were really into the wind. It was getting late and cold as well, so we just motored the last bit to Kortgene marina where we left Mekicevica for the week under the attention of a very friendly harbour master.
For now, we are happy with a trip to the Veerse Meer. This is a narrow arm of the Delta which was once open to the North Sea. In old days, Veere was an important port where wool from Scotland arrived to be sold to the weavers of Flanders and beyond. Now the Veerse dijk has tranformed the Veerse Gat (as it was known) into the Veerse Meer, a tide-free, salt-water lake popular with yachties in all sorts of boats, from Gin Palaces that moor in quay of the old town to be looked at, to dinghies raced by kids.
The weather forecast anounced NW moderate winds and sunny. Low water in the Oosterschelde will be around 5pm, so we may even be able to time our passage so that we reach the point when we turn from towards the open sea to away from it just as the tide is turning.
Negotiating the Keteen was unnerving as usual. Each time the Kramer lock opens, an armada of big ships comes out, each one with a different idea of how to avoid the yachts, leaving us to scatter in all directions as fast as we can. We only had two close misses, not too bad...
Once in he Oosterschelde we part ways with the shipping. Just as well, because here we had to beat into the NW wind for a while. At least we had the tide with us and the wind running against the tide was not strong enough to cause any difficulties. We reached the turning point a bit earlier that expected which may have to do with the fact that we cut a good corner of the no-entry area. We were not the only ones doing it. From there it was again sailing down the freshening wind. We reached the Zandkreek around low water and it was a really narrow strip of water that led to the lock. Not knowing if there was sea room at the end to maneuver we decided to motor. It turns out that there is plenty of room in front of the lock. A couple of locals on big yachts obviously knew that because they sailed past us at great speed.
After the lock, in The Veerse meer we were really into the wind. It was getting late and cold as well, so we just motored the last bit to Kortgene marina where we left Mekicevica for the week under the attention of a very friendly harbour master.
Wednesday 29 May 2013
First Single-Handed Tour
For Monday and Tuesday the weather man was announcing a small window of sunshine in the grim Spring we are having. Moreover, moderate winds from W or SW on Monday and E or SE on Tuesday. Perfect for a two day tour going East, out of the Grevelingen. Only only thing in the way is the four-letter word: work. First Mate is booked to travel for work (to sunny and warm Toledo, poor thing). Shall I dare to do it single handed? Not trivial, since it involves passing both the Grevelingen and the Kramer locks.
Started Monday with a warm-up sailing around the Mosselenbank. It was Blowing about 4 Bf, which for now is about as windy as I want for single-handed sailing. Moreover I starded beating into the W wind, and by the time I was on the other side of the island, the wind had backed to SW. Beating again on the return. At least got more practice on tacking...
After a break back in Bruinisse harbour, I decided to go for it. Motor to the lock, and after a short wait went in with only three other boats. One of them an old, small sailing boat, now tranformed into MoBo by a local lad who was going for a tour with his toddler kid for crew.
I was proud of how I managed to negogiate the lock single-handed, until I realized that the Dutch lad had done the same while holding his son in one arm...
Out of the lock, I motored a bit to gain sea room and up go the sails. As usual, the moment the motor goes off and we start moving with the wind in the sails is absolutely magic.
It was less than two miles to the next lock, but I was hoping for a break. No luck. It was so quiet that the lock master decided to wait for me and I had to go straight in.
By the time we came out of the lock into the Volkerak, the wind was decreased to 3 Bf and was right on the stern. Since it is just a short distance to the Oude Tonge channel, I unfurled the jib immediately out of the lock and progressed gently, taking a longer but more interesting arc close to shore to see and listen the many birds that live here. Once on the channel the wind was on the beam and we got into the lee of land. I almost managed to sail to the first of two locks before the town, which are always open, but kept on the ready to protect the town should something weird happen to the water level outside. With just some hundred meters to go I had to give-up and motor the rest of the way. After mooring and paying the fee at the brand-new harbour master office and club house I went in search of a beer to cellebrate my short, single-handed trip.
On Tuesday morning it was still sunny and with amoderate E wind, exactly as forecast. After breakfast, I waited a bit for the sun to warm the air and dry the Night de from Mekicevica's deck and of we go. I decided that even if it is a short distance I was going to hoist both main and jib. So I motored until the channel was wide enough to point into the wind across it and hoist the main. I must be getting better at this, because I only need some 20m to have the main up. Encouraged by this fact I ran down wind all the way to the lock entrance, and only then turned around to lower the main. It was really quiet and I could go straight into the lock, in the company of a stink-pot that was coming as fast as it could to make it before the lock closed. The master was waiting for them anyway.
It was the fastest passage trough the Kramer lock I have ever done. I don't know how they managed it so quickly, considering that at this lock they have to go through a compicated pumpibg cycle to prevent the salt water from the Kramer from getting into the fresh water Volkerak.
On the other side I stopped for a short break and when I was going to start I noticed there was nobody around. So I had the luxury of manouvering to hoist the main sail right in front of the lock in the shelter of the dike, and exiting under sail. I was really pleased with myself now.
Once out, was again a short run to the Grevelingen lock. The wind started to freshen-up, back to a good 4 Bf (or is it always windier here) and it was a bit trickier to persuade Yoyo-Ma The Outboard Engine and Mekicevica to keep the nose into the wind long enough for me to tie-up the main sail. They seemed to be fascinated by the big red-green buoy and three tines I had to jump back into the cockpit and turn the tiller to put us back pointing in the right direction.
Even funnier was coming alongside at the waiting peer wind the wind from the back. The motor in reverse had a to struggle to reverse us into position. On the positive side, once in the lock I did not need to bother with a line from the bow. The wind coming straight from the back kept us nicely in plice just holding by a line from the stern.
The rest was just motoring into our berth in Bruinisse and cleaning up. For the first time this year I could do the cleaning-up of Mekicevica wearing only my shorts!
The rain and cold returned a couple of hours later. I am glad I dared to do a small tour single-handed and make the most of this tiny good weather window.
Started Monday with a warm-up sailing around the Mosselenbank. It was Blowing about 4 Bf, which for now is about as windy as I want for single-handed sailing. Moreover I starded beating into the W wind, and by the time I was on the other side of the island, the wind had backed to SW. Beating again on the return. At least got more practice on tacking...
After a break back in Bruinisse harbour, I decided to go for it. Motor to the lock, and after a short wait went in with only three other boats. One of them an old, small sailing boat, now tranformed into MoBo by a local lad who was going for a tour with his toddler kid for crew.
I was proud of how I managed to negogiate the lock single-handed, until I realized that the Dutch lad had done the same while holding his son in one arm...
Out of the lock, I motored a bit to gain sea room and up go the sails. As usual, the moment the motor goes off and we start moving with the wind in the sails is absolutely magic.
It was less than two miles to the next lock, but I was hoping for a break. No luck. It was so quiet that the lock master decided to wait for me and I had to go straight in.
By the time we came out of the lock into the Volkerak, the wind was decreased to 3 Bf and was right on the stern. Since it is just a short distance to the Oude Tonge channel, I unfurled the jib immediately out of the lock and progressed gently, taking a longer but more interesting arc close to shore to see and listen the many birds that live here. Once on the channel the wind was on the beam and we got into the lee of land. I almost managed to sail to the first of two locks before the town, which are always open, but kept on the ready to protect the town should something weird happen to the water level outside. With just some hundred meters to go I had to give-up and motor the rest of the way. After mooring and paying the fee at the brand-new harbour master office and club house I went in search of a beer to cellebrate my short, single-handed trip.
On Tuesday morning it was still sunny and with amoderate E wind, exactly as forecast. After breakfast, I waited a bit for the sun to warm the air and dry the Night de from Mekicevica's deck and of we go. I decided that even if it is a short distance I was going to hoist both main and jib. So I motored until the channel was wide enough to point into the wind across it and hoist the main. I must be getting better at this, because I only need some 20m to have the main up. Encouraged by this fact I ran down wind all the way to the lock entrance, and only then turned around to lower the main. It was really quiet and I could go straight into the lock, in the company of a stink-pot that was coming as fast as it could to make it before the lock closed. The master was waiting for them anyway.
It was the fastest passage trough the Kramer lock I have ever done. I don't know how they managed it so quickly, considering that at this lock they have to go through a compicated pumpibg cycle to prevent the salt water from the Kramer from getting into the fresh water Volkerak.
On the other side I stopped for a short break and when I was going to start I noticed there was nobody around. So I had the luxury of manouvering to hoist the main sail right in front of the lock in the shelter of the dike, and exiting under sail. I was really pleased with myself now.
Once out, was again a short run to the Grevelingen lock. The wind started to freshen-up, back to a good 4 Bf (or is it always windier here) and it was a bit trickier to persuade Yoyo-Ma The Outboard Engine and Mekicevica to keep the nose into the wind long enough for me to tie-up the main sail. They seemed to be fascinated by the big red-green buoy and three tines I had to jump back into the cockpit and turn the tiller to put us back pointing in the right direction.
Even funnier was coming alongside at the waiting peer wind the wind from the back. The motor in reverse had a to struggle to reverse us into position. On the positive side, once in the lock I did not need to bother with a line from the bow. The wind coming straight from the back kept us nicely in plice just holding by a line from the stern.
The rest was just motoring into our berth in Bruinisse and cleaning up. For the first time this year I could do the cleaning-up of Mekicevica wearing only my shorts!
The rain and cold returned a couple of hours later. I am glad I dared to do a small tour single-handed and make the most of this tiny good weather window.
Monday 20 May 2013
A Slow, Cold Start of the Season
The winter weather is stubbornly holding on. But with Mekicevica ready and in better nick than ever, we couldn't wait any longer. The first, short outing, which was also the inauguration of the new rigging was on Pentecost Thursday. There was a brief window of dry weather but it was blowing harder than we would have wished. After the last preparations, late in the afternoon, we decided to give it a try. Just a short toir around the Mosselenbank. The new rigging behaved very well, but the need for a few tweaks was evident.
Unfortunately, the rest of the long weekend was spent at home watching the rain.
During the week I was alone, so on Wednesday I went to the boat considering going out on my own. Again it was a bit too windy, but by late afternoon it seemed to calm somewhat. So off I go, a bit nervous and with a feeling of dry mouth. It went rather well, but after a couple of hours the wind start veering North, earlier than forecast, a came right on the nose just where the Grevelingen gets narrow. Not daring to beat single-handed (not yet) I decided to turn back. I am glad I did, because the weather on Thurday morning was miserable. It wouldn't have been fun to return to Bruinisse alone in the cold rain.
Finally, on the 18th of May we really had a start of the season. SW, weak to moderate wind on Saturday, and a forecast of strong Northerly on Sunday. Off we go to a trip to Ouddorp, on the NW end of the Grevelingen.
It was still very cold, and the forecast outbreak of sunshine only came late in the afternoon when we were nearly arriving. Or so we tought, because the wind died to nearly nothing. At first it was pleasant to be close-hauled on the gentle breeze hearing only the noise of Mekicevica cutting through the ripples on the water, and the birds. But then the wind really vanished, and we had to destroy the calm by switching on Yoyo Ma, as we call our outboard.
As forecast Sunday was sunny but with a NE 5 Bf. We put a reef in the main and out we go. We were glad that with were going mostly downwind. Under reefed main only we were doing 3 to 4 kn, or close to Mekicevica's hull speed. The waves following us were unusual for the Grevelingen. On the most exposed part there were even breaking waves. The large yachts coming the opposite direction were heeling a lot, and most had reefed sails (except for a few gang-ho skippers who like to stress their rigs and their crews).
In this wind, the return to Bruinisse was really fast.
Unfortunately the long weekend finished with a cold, wet Monday and we decided to return home.
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Unfortunately, the rest of the long weekend was spent at home watching the rain.
During the week I was alone, so on Wednesday I went to the boat considering going out on my own. Again it was a bit too windy, but by late afternoon it seemed to calm somewhat. So off I go, a bit nervous and with a feeling of dry mouth. It went rather well, but after a couple of hours the wind start veering North, earlier than forecast, a came right on the nose just where the Grevelingen gets narrow. Not daring to beat single-handed (not yet) I decided to turn back. I am glad I did, because the weather on Thurday morning was miserable. It wouldn't have been fun to return to Bruinisse alone in the cold rain.
Finally, on the 18th of May we really had a start of the season. SW, weak to moderate wind on Saturday, and a forecast of strong Northerly on Sunday. Off we go to a trip to Ouddorp, on the NW end of the Grevelingen.
It was still very cold, and the forecast outbreak of sunshine only came late in the afternoon when we were nearly arriving. Or so we tought, because the wind died to nearly nothing. At first it was pleasant to be close-hauled on the gentle breeze hearing only the noise of Mekicevica cutting through the ripples on the water, and the birds. But then the wind really vanished, and we had to destroy the calm by switching on Yoyo Ma, as we call our outboard.
As forecast Sunday was sunny but with a NE 5 Bf. We put a reef in the main and out we go. We were glad that with were going mostly downwind. Under reefed main only we were doing 3 to 4 kn, or close to Mekicevica's hull speed. The waves following us were unusual for the Grevelingen. On the most exposed part there were even breaking waves. The large yachts coming the opposite direction were heeling a lot, and most had reefed sails (except for a few gang-ho skippers who like to stress their rigs and their crews).
In this wind, the return to Bruinisse was really fast.
Unfortunately the long weekend finished with a cold, wet Monday and we decided to return home.
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