On our way home
20 April 2006 | Breskens
Lots of stuff to take to the boat: flares, lifejackets, VHF, oilies, charts, you name it�
Car's rear axle just off the ground. C&E in Ramsgate frowned a bit, but let us through - turned out he sailed too.
I had pressganged a friend into providing a hand with the sails and the running rigging, while Brigitte and the kids sorted stuff down below. It rained and there was a fair bit of wind. Not ideal, but we got the job done.
Meanwhile some bad news from the broker: they had been unable to get someone to look at the engine overheating problem due to the holiday season. And there we were all set to sail the next day.
Eventually the seller agreed that we could sail and have the engine looked at in Ostend provided he could approve the costs first.
Tomorrow's the big day! Guapa's clearing height is just over 19.5m. An exit through the Roompot Sluis was out of the question. This meant Oosterschelde, Veerse Meer, Walcheren canal and then overnight stop Breskens. Forecast was for clear skies, but a fair bit of wind.
We sailed just before lunch. Less than half a mile, and our first (of many) lock. I was still getting a feel for the boat - my first time at the helm - but we managed to negotiate the lock without any mishaps.
Once in the Oosterschelde the wind backed and we had a F5 on the nose. As I was still mindful of the engine overheating situation I did not want to push her too hard. At 2000rpm and with wind on the nose we managed just over 3kts over the ground. It was going to be a long day.
In the Veerse Meer we were more sheltered (another lock), but Guapa felt like a fish out of water. She felt out of place in such an environment. She was too big. The Veerse Meer is beautiful, but I did not see us doing any sailing there. We had charts for the region. Though they were only three years old they seemed out of date - the buoyage numbering had changed. Let's just stay in between the red & green cans then!
Just before Veere we entered the Walcheren canal through yet another lock. We were pressed for time as they stopped opening the bridges at 22H00. A quick dash for Flushing was in order. We got there just in time. They engine had coped well.
Last lock and we were in the open sea for the first time. Crossing the Schelde estuary to spend the night in Breskens. Think the Dover Straits are busy? Think again! The Schelde estuary is the equivalent to rush hour on the M25.
We had some difficulty locating Breskens Marina - about half a mile upriver from the commercial port. All the lights in the background make it hard to see the navigation lights.
Alongside by midnight. A quick cup of soup, and off to bed. An early start tomorrow as I want to catch the tide out. If we time it right it will carry us all the way to Ostend.