Thursday 14th of May: Bruinisse to Zierikzee. Nearly ran out of fuel.
As the first long weekend of the sailing season approached, the weather forecast started to look gloomy. On the Wednesday before Ascension Day we as good as gave up. When when we woke up (late) on Thursday the sun was shinning and the weather forecast had radically changed. So we quickly packed, had breakfast, and left for Bruinisse.
It was one of the quickest preparations for sailing we ever did. Unfortunately in the haste I forgot to open the fuel valve of Yoyo Ma and as we left the berth the motor stalled and we were left adrift. There was not that much wind and no damage done, but it was only the first of many motor troubles during this cruise.
Anyway, shortly after noon we were queuing for the Grevelingen lock to get out to the Oosterschelde. There was a moderate to fresh breeze blowing from the NE and the tide had just started ebbing. Perfect! With only about three-quarters of the genoa out we cruised easily down the Keteen, crossing the shipping lane twice to keep out of the way of the big ships. We had left our options open as to stop in Stavenisse or continue, but all was going so well we continued to Zierikzee. As we motored up the mile-long channel to the harbour, now against both wind and tide, I started to regret I hadn't checked how much fuel we had in the tank and rehearsed in my head the manoeuvres to do if we ran out of fuel. After we were safely tied-up at the far, sheltered end of the harbour, I checked the fuel tank. It was completely empty!
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| Entering Zierikzee harbour with the last drops of fuel. |
Brilliant, sunny morning. The wind is a fresh breeze, northerly but forecast to turn NW. We plan to cross the Oosterschelde in a SW course towards Roompot marina. We decided to wait for high water to have the tide with us and avoid a wind against tide situation that always kicks up a big fuss in these waters. We filled the morning going around the beautiful town of Zierikzee and doing some shopping.
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| Zierikzee city gate. |
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| This sailboat is a strong cruiser and has been through a lot of adventures. And the one on the left has taken many tourists around. |
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| View of Zierikzee from the harbour, the windmill and the town hall spire in the distance. |
At around 1330, we motor out of the harbour and immediately unfurl the genoa to about three-quarters, leisurely sailing down the channel. We are in no rush as it is not quite high water yet.
Once out we need to hoist the main to go around the mussel banks (Vuilbard). The wind has already backed to the NW and for a while we have it ahead of the beam. There are some waves and Mekicevica is digging the rail in the water. I don't bother to reef the main because soon we will be turning downwind. Instead I let the main spill a bit of wind. As soon as we turn a southerly course everything becomes calm. Both tide and wind are now with us. Bliss! But it could be a bit warmer...
Only in front of the Roompot marina, now on the lee shore, things become a bit more lively again. Nothing compared to Medemblik last summer. Yoyo Ma is starting to give trouble to start. What is going on with it?
Anyway soon we enter harbour together with two small sailboats, but still larger than Mekicevica.
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| New beach huts in Roompot. |
For diner we walk to the nearby village of Wissenkerke and enjoy a plate of locally grown lamb.
Saturday 16th of May: Short, miserable hop to Colijnsplaat.
Saturday was a wet, windy day. The wind has increased further to a fresh to strong breeze, bringing a fine, persistent rain. The good news is that it backed further to the west. We plan just a short hop along the coast to Colinsplaat, and as long as we get there before 3pm we will have wind and tide with us. We left Roompot marina around 1100, again unfurled three-quarters of the genoa and let wind and tide push us swiftly towards Colijnsplaat. The only difficulties were that the wind was more NW than W, forcing us to be further away from the coast than anticipated and in the moderate visibility the buoys were hard to spot. That plus the fact that Yoyo Ma is getting more difficult to start. It took us just over one hour to get to Colinsplaat, so we didn't have to endure the miserable weather for too long. In the afternoon the sun came out and we were able to go for a run before having dinner aboard.
Just opposite to us in the yacht harbour was one of the small boats that had entered Roompot marina with us the previous day. An old wooden boat with Italian flag. We started talking to them and it turned out that the lady is a work colleague of First-Mate.
Sunday 17th of May: Colinsplaat to Bruinisse. More great sailing, more motor troubles.
The sunshine was back with a vengeance on Sunday. Moreover, the wind is now moderate from the SW, and the tide will be flooding from 0930. What could we ask for more? LESS COLD!
With full main a genoa, on a broad reach and pushed by the tide we make our way to Bruinisse. We only had to jibe twice to pass under the bridge and run goose-winged for a bit before entering the Keteen. For the rest it was just relax and enjoy the ride.
Until the manoeuvring to enter the crowded Grevelingen lock, when Yoyo Ma kept failing and putting us in trouble. We eventually made it to our berth in Bruinisse, even if the skipper botched the berthing again.
We still had time to enjoy the sunshine a bit more, clean-up, and make our way home.
Saturday 16th of May: Short, miserable hop to Colijnsplaat.
Saturday was a wet, windy day. The wind has increased further to a fresh to strong breeze, bringing a fine, persistent rain. The good news is that it backed further to the west. We plan just a short hop along the coast to Colinsplaat, and as long as we get there before 3pm we will have wind and tide with us. We left Roompot marina around 1100, again unfurled three-quarters of the genoa and let wind and tide push us swiftly towards Colijnsplaat. The only difficulties were that the wind was more NW than W, forcing us to be further away from the coast than anticipated and in the moderate visibility the buoys were hard to spot. That plus the fact that Yoyo Ma is getting more difficult to start. It took us just over one hour to get to Colinsplaat, so we didn't have to endure the miserable weather for too long. In the afternoon the sun came out and we were able to go for a run before having dinner aboard.
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| Drying out after the rain. |
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| Windmill and oak in bloom in Colijnsplaat. |
Sunday 17th of May: Colinsplaat to Bruinisse. More great sailing, more motor troubles.
The sunshine was back with a vengeance on Sunday. Moreover, the wind is now moderate from the SW, and the tide will be flooding from 0930. What could we ask for more? LESS COLD!
With full main a genoa, on a broad reach and pushed by the tide we make our way to Bruinisse. We only had to jibe twice to pass under the bridge and run goose-winged for a bit before entering the Keteen. For the rest it was just relax and enjoy the ride.
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| A whole flotilla chasing us up the Oosterschelde. |
We still had time to enjoy the sunshine a bit more, clean-up, and make our way home.
