Back to Brouwershaven

As I prepare Mekicevica for the weekend, it is blowing hard (NW 6Bf) with occasional showers. It is hard to believe the weather forecast for the weekend: mostly sunny and weak to moderate wind. So little wind that I fear it will not be enough to push us against the tide once out of the lock. So we decide to make a tour in the Grevelingen. The alternative of getting up very early to catch the ebbing tide is too horrible to comtenplate.
Our favourite destination in the Grevelingen is Brouwershaven, an old fishing town, from the days when these waters were open to the sea. We have been there before, when the crew was still in the very steep part of the learning curve (see previous blog).
By Saturday morning the wind had indeed weakened a lot and there were large patches of blue sky. Also the wind had backed to the SW earlier than forecast, which was good for us. We started leisurely and enjoyed the lazy sailing up the Grevelingen, taking the long way round to Brouwershaven. This allowed us more time to sail and made the final beating into Brouwershaven easier.  

Mekicevica's lazy route from Bruinisse to Brouwershaven.

This time we asked the harbour master for a place in the old town harbour, and he was happy to oblige. There is already a relaxed, out-of-season feeling around. Still we had to find a gap between the 36+ footer yachts. As small-boat lovers we find it weird that people have fun sailing such huge yachts in such small waters. Each one to their own, I s'pose...

Happy sailor at Brouwershaven old town harbour in the mellow, September late-afternoon sun.

After a little jog and shower we went looking for a place hat would feed us. Our attempts not to end-up in the same restaurant as on the previous visit were frustrated, as the town is also popular with tourists arriving by land-routes and there is not much choice anyway. So, Jacob Cats Steak House will have to be. This time we insisted on having fish.
On Sunday morning the sun was having trouble breaking through the cloud. The wind had veered West, as forecast, which was just great for us. We motored out of the harbour, did the channel in front of Brouershaven mostly goose-winged, and then beam to broad reach down to Bruinisse. It does not get any easier than this.

Beautiful, traditional Dutch boat.

I have to admit that this old lady was slightly faster than Mekicevica.

It took us about two-and-a-half hours to get back, plenty of time to settle Mekicevica in her berth.
We are really looking forward to late-summer trips with Mekicevica.