A Weekend in Brouwershaven

Early season, unsettled weather. Friday sunny, warm and light easterlies. Saturday is going to blow a hooley, and Sunday light west or southwest. Here is how we made the most of it:

Friday, 9th of May: Single-handed to Brouwershaven
Friday morning, I got on my motorbike and rode to Bruinisse. As promised it was sunny and warm with a light easterly wind. I got Mekićevica ready and just after noon I hoisted sails out of the harbour.
Than it was a most relaxing sailing up the Grevelingen. After tweaking the sails a bit, I could even leave Mekićevica sailing on her own and go below to change to lighter clothes, or shoot photos and movies.

As usual, in the corner around Bomenede the winds were shifting all over and I dowsed the main and continued on Genoa only, especially as in the Geul van Bomenede we were going almost straight downwind.
Almost approaching Brouwershaven, there was a big Halberg-Rassy (38 or something like that) beating and going well out of the marker buoys. Just as I was thinking "they must be locals and know these waters well", they tacked, the sails filled... and they stopped! For a few seconds they just stayed there with sails full, boat heeling, but not moving. But then with a bit of jiggling with the sails and rudder they managed to come free.
In the evening, First-Mate joined me for a dinner at the Zwarte Schaep.

Saturday, 10th of May: Sailing Cycling Walking around
As forecast, on Saturday it was blowing a "yachtsman gale", i.e. 7 Bf. We're not brave enough to sail little Mekićevica in those conditions. We know, because we tried it before!

But we had a plan B: we had the bicycles in the car to go cycling. It was not to be. As soon as we left the shelter of the town, the wind was almost blowing us off the road. So, we gave up the idea, just went for a walk to the charming village of Zonnemaire, and returned for dinner aboard.

Sunday, 11th of May: Variable winds on the return trip.
By Sunday morning the wind had weakened. It begun sunny but soon low clouds came in from the sea. The weather forecast promised they will soon clear so we hung around a bit but finally decided to leave. With no sunshine, it felt so cold I had to go below to change into thermals.
The wind was weak with many slight gusts and constantly changing direction. All the boats out were turning in all directions in some kind of not well rehearsed choreography.
During the afternoon the sun finally came out, the wind picked-up somewhat and the approach to Bruinisse was the most delightful sailing, close-reached to close-hauled with full genoa and main, heeling but not excessively, with the shifting wind forcing us to concentrate on steering and sail trimming.
In the shelter of the harbour it was very pleasant to sit in the sunshine.
Than it was just riding the motorbike to Brouwershaven to retrieve the car, than First-Mate drove me there again to get to the bike and off to home we go.
The pleasant memory of the wonderful sailing approaching Bruinisse stayed with us well into the next day.