Tuesday 29 September 2015

Repeating the Volkerak Circuit

The Volkerak has featured a lot on this sailing season. But last weekend, with a forecast of good weather and moderate westerly on Friday and easterly on Saturday and Sunday, the Volkerak was again the place to go.

Friday 25th of September: Single handed to Dintelmond
Friday I got on my motorbike and rode to Bruinisse. It took some time to get Mekicevica ready, and it was well past 1pm when I got under way. First on motor to the Grevelingen lock and then under the small jib only on a broad reach up the Kramer. There were not many boats around, so I could sail past the breakwaters and almost into the lock. Unusually, there was a ship coming out, so I hurried to start the motor to get out of its way, and went into the lock without waiting and with no other boats. Immediately out of the lock I raised the main sail, which was enough to power Mekicevica at a good speed. Anyway, we were too close to a straight downwind run for the small jib to be of any use. But as our course turned from southeast to due east I could unfurl the jib. The extra sail was very welcome to power us across the busy shipping lane.
From then it was all plain sailing, with the wind progressively calmer and the sun lowering behind us. Mekicevica's sails were so well balanced that I could leave the tiller unattended and go below to put on warmer clothes. It is definitely not summer anymore.
Single-handed, fair winds, mellow late summer, late afternoon light. Sailing cannot get much better than this.
Exactly at sunset, I was sailing through the breakwaters at Dintelmond, on a run under main only. As I was folding the sail, the light on the lock turned green and I could motor into the harbour. As I was manoeuvring into a vacant space I had the surprise of seeing First Mate waiting to help me with the lines. Such a perfect day called for a celebratory dinner out.
Saturday 26th of September: Dintelmond to Oude Tongue in the sunshine
Exactly as forecast, Saturday morning was sunny and with a gentle NR breeze, but a bit chilly. It took some time for the morning dew to dry. We changed headsail to the big genoa and motored out of the harbour, past the lock and hoisted sails before the breakwaters, sailing out with full main and genoa. The rest was an easy sail on a broad reach, jibbing the main a few times to keep away from the shipping lane. It was very busy, but we could find a lull in the traffic to cross.
Our typical sailing waters: big skies, wind turbines, yachts and ships.
Once in front of Oude Tongue we needed to go straight into the wind. Since we were early, and to allow First Mate to continue relaxing, I started a series of tacks under main only. Progress was really slow, as the wind was weak and shifting a bit, so eventually I tired of the game and started the motor.
We arrived well in time for some reading, a few beers at the clubhouse (where there was a party) and dinner aboard by candle light.
One nice thing about the shorter days is that we can create a pleasant atmosphere in Mekicevica with a candle.
Sunday 27th of September: More sunshine on the return to Bruinisse
Another brilliant day. The wind is more easterly, which suits us fine. Again we had a late start to allow for the morning dew to dry and the temperature to rise a bit. Immediately out of the lock we unfurled the genoa. It was really easy going and the only manoeuvres we had to do was a gybe when turning east after the Oude Tongue channel, and then furling the genoa right in front of the Kramer lock.
After the lock we continued sailing under genoa only. Passing the lock was a slow affair. The lock master refused to start until all the boats were packed in. Then a group of unexperienced sailors in a big Bavaria messed thing up and ended sideways in the lock. When we finally arrived in Bruinisse I didn't have much time before riding to Dintelmond to get the car.
The end of the season is approaching, but we may be able to get one more weekend of sailing.


Monday 21 September 2015

A Weekend Trip to De Heen

After five years of cruising mostly in Zeeland, there are still harbours that Mekicevica has not visited. One of these is De Heen, a small village half-way down the Steenbergsche Vliet. Prompted by the fact that this season we spent enough nights in harbours on the Volkerak to get a free night, we decided to go to De Heen.

Saturday, 19th of September: Increasing winds and improving weather.
The weather has been very unstable and the forecasts equally so. We spent the night to Saturday aboard Mekicevica hoping for the best. But Saturday morning was still raining and we almost gave up. After changing head sail to the small jib and hanging around a bit hoping for better weather we decided to go. First on motor to the Grevelingen lock and then under full main and jib, up the Kramer with the weak northerly wind on the beam. Gradually the sun came out and, just as we were reaching the Kramer lock the wind made the fastest increase I have ever experienced. First a couple of warning gusts and then it turned into a 4 Bf as we were dousing the sails.
A detail of the Krammer lock, creating a Magritte-like effect.
After a slow passage through the lock we put use reef on the main, a couple of rolls on the small jib, and still we were moving really fast in the by now 5 Bf northerly. Crossing the shipping lane under sail required a few manoeuvres to avoid the ships and then we entered the Steenbergsche Vliet. Another long wait for the pedestrian bridge and then we motored to the Schappenput yacht harbour in De Heen. By then it was a glorious sunshine afternoon and in the shelter of the harbour it was nicely warm.
In the evening we treated ourselves to dinner out.

Sunday, 20th of September: Beating back to Bruinisse.
Sunday morning was sunny, and the wind was a 3 Bf from the West. First on motor out of the Steenbergshe Vliet, across the shipping lane and then started the long beating to the Krammer lock.
With full main and jib, first in short tacks along the narrow channel between the Nordplaat and Overflakkee, than in longer tacks, even crossing the quiet shipping lane.
The beautiful Dutch skies.
After a short break at the Kramer lock, we resumed the beating until the Grevelingen lock. In total took us more than five hours, beating all the way. But with the sun shining, and the wind speed just right it was really pleasant.

Monday 14 September 2015

A Day Tour on the Grevelingen

Mekicevica and crew are now in late summer mode. The days are getting shorter and cooler, and it rains more often. But we still try to get a bit of sailing.
On Saturday, in a mix of sunshine and showers, we drove to the yacht harbour in Naarden. The vague idea was to move Mekicevica there, and spend next season exploring the area: Gooimeer, IJmeer and trips to Amsterdam, the Markenmeer and the Cleveland coast, with IJsselmeer within easy reach. The downside is the longer commute from land home to floating home.
After that we drove to Bruinisse for a dinner out of Zeeuwse mussels and night aboard.

On Sunday morning there was some sunshine but little wind. We left the harbour late morning and with a light SW wind leisurely moved up the Grevelingen. Our aim was to explore the shallow waters south of the Veermansplaat. In previous occasions we were put off by the many lobster pots and the fact that the bottom looks intimidatingly close. This time we approached from the west, avoiding the lobster pots, and for the depth we had a technical improvement to add to our confidence.
The depth sounder in now mounted on a swing arm and can be used from the cockpit, giving us peace of mind in shallow waters.
This time of the ear there are noticeably fewer boats on the Grevelingen, and this must be the quietest corner. We are not the only ones to be glad for that: the seals also seem to enjoy the calm and one of them followed us around eying us with great curiosity.


This little fella showed a keen interest in Mekicevica.
In the meanwhile, the wind continuously backed and by now we were running before a light easterly wind. It backed even further to the NE and picked-up to about 3 Bf, which allowed us to return always on port tack, with full genoa and doing a pleasant speed.
But it was a bit fresh and we were happy to have a warm cup of soup back in the harbour.
Our timing was perfect: it started raining just as we finished tidying-up Mekicevica in preparation for the gales forecast for the coming week.