The weather did its usual trick: after a warm, sunny week it started to rain on Friday night and continued to rain on Saturday morning. (Or could Middelharnis be a micro-climate where it always rains?) The thought of staying longer in the same harbour was more than we could bear. Moreover we were planning to sail up the Spui which is a tidal river and would only be flowing the right way for us from ca 1300 to ca 1600. There was still a moderate to fresh breeze blowing (4 - 5 Bf) but after the adventures of two weeks before, that was not going to scare us. In anticipation of the sailing in busy rivers ahead, we replaced the genoa with the river jib. This is cut such that allows you to look under at what is on the lee side. It also reduces sail area considerably.
We were so keen to move on that we started earlier than planned and so instead of sailing straight N (course 330 to be more precise) we made a slightly wider loop heading NW at first (310). The weather started clearing up but it was still windy and the waves were impressive. The river-jib and full main combination worked really well and it was great fun to reach into the W wind. First-Mate was at the helm and doing a great job, while as usual I started trimming the sails and making it difficult for her to keep a straight course.
I took the helm as we turned E to enter the Spui. At the mouth of the this river the waves were particularly high but rounded, so that riding them sailing downwind was actually great fun.
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| Sailing downwind and riding the waves at the mouth of the Spui. |
This was the way of the Harignvliet to say good-bye to us. Tot ziens! We will be back in a few weeks.
