Whit Monday, 16 of May 2016
In the morning it was so cold we almost gave-up and returned home. But encouraged by the forecast of sunshine and perfect sailing wind, we decided to go.
After a leisurely start, hoping for temperatures to rise we headed for the Grevelingen lock, went straight in, and tied alongside a small and somewhat battered Jouet sailed by a very nice guy from Den Bosch. After the lock we hoisted sails as soon as the flotilla dispersed enough to give us some room to manoeuvre. I managed to impress First-Mate by hoisting first the jib on a downwind course, let the other boats pass on motor, and then briskly turn into the wind until the jib backed, quickly hoist the main, pass the jib to the other tack and sail away.
Then it was very pleasant sailing down the Keteen, mostly on beam reach to the weak-ish NW wind. We had open plans, and when we passed in front of the Krabbenkreek, decided to continue towards Stavenisse. With the harbour entrance already in sight, we got the more Westerly wind blowing from the Oosterschelde, on the spot where it always blows stronger. It took us a few tacks until we could enter the Stavenisse canal.
After a short break, we set on our way back to Bruinisse. Now we started with a moderate wind aft of the beam, but as we progressed it became a reach. Mekicevica was sailing beautifully. In the gusts she almost seemed to plan. The wind became gradually weaker and more northerly, but even with having to avoid some traffic we managed to make it to the end of the Keteen always on starboard tack.
Sailing past a traditional Dutch ship.
Waiting for the lock we came across two Germans and their cat who have been sailing their Ketch Wonderwall since October and plan to head for South America.
If it had not been so cold, it would have been a perfect sailing day.
