Home run
16 August 2005 | Ostend
Brigitte said goodbye for the week. Not everyone has the luxury of 4 weeks away from the office. I had been toying with the idea of continuing further up the East Coast before returning to Ostend; but I sensed that the childeren had had enough.
The weather wasn't all that brilliant - quite lumpy out. Gusts of up to 25 kts. Still the forecast seemed more promissing - I was going to risk. Surely we had had enough bad luck as it was. And the cruising kitty was empty.
The first hour we sailed with one reef and a couple of turns on the genoa. Over six knots over the ground - I could live with that. When the wind dropped a bit we shook the reef out and unfurled the genoa completely. We weren't making great time, but it didn't really matter. Yanni got his fishing rod out and Evita was engrossed in one of these girlie mags she loves to read. Same old, same old.
Mid channel the wind dropped completely. The iron main was pressed into service and Evita and I took turns helming. We were going to get there before sunset.
We managed another hour of sailing before we entered Ostend. Fitting end to our summer cruise. Evita and Yanni picked up our buoy first time round. Once back in our home berth the children were absolutely brilliant. They tied up, cleaned up and fixed me dinner. What a crew!
We spent a few pleasant days in Ostend - the beach, go-karting and the club bar. Just before the trip back Yanni gave me a hug. 'Thanks dad. That was the best holiday ever!' Lump in my throat and tear in my eye.