Annual trip to the continent this year was to Middelberg via Vlissengen (Flushing). We set off on the evening tide on Monday last week and made it across in 36 hours, arriving in Vlissengen at 3 AM on Wednesday. The crossing from The Crouch started well with favourable winds all the way to Long Sand Head, then the wind dropped and the next 20 hours were tractor driving.
Amazing sun rise over a milky N. Sea on Tuesday and very little traffic in either of the traffic separation schemes; Sunk and Nord Hinder. A couple of ships to be avoided but no dramas.
Coming in towards Belgium we took the passage north of the anchorage but south of the practice mine laying area. Less traffic here and plenty of sea room.
Once into the Schelde bouyage system it was almost like a run up a motorway. A small encounter with a pilot boat when we were entering Vlissengen was the only notable event. Trying to find the harbour entrance in the dark was fun but probably easier than we made it look as the lights and marks were excellent.
The lock is supposed to be 24 hour but the operator didn't respond on VHF 18 so we tried the marina, they answered VHF ch 14 at 2 AM and raised the lock keeper to open up! We finally tied up in VVW Schelde marina at 3 AM. We were woken up at 8 AM after a well needed sleep by a very pleasant lady asking for money. The marina is great, well laid out with all the facilities and not too expensive. We sorted our selves out and set off for Middelberg at 10:30AM. The time is important because we thought that there was a bridge time table. Despite several conversations with locals it appears that the bridges open when the operators see enough boats idling around near a bridge.
We made it up the 4 miles of canal and 5 bridges in a couple of hours and tied up on the 'Shopping' pontoon which is free for 2 hours near the centre of Middelberg. If anyone likes interesting, semi medieval towns then this is the place to visit. There are several canals where boats are moored stern to and loads of narrow winding streets that lead to the large church, castle and museum at the top of the hill or Centrum as they call it.
Just to complete the dutch theme, there were windmills (proper big ones) and loads of bicycles moving silently!
Also some great modern buildings.
After an afternoon mooching around we headed back to Vlissengen. We had a long wait for the first bridge but by the time it was opened there were about 10 boats coming into Middelberg and a large Germany cruiser (Dehler not Tirpitz) going our way. After the delay of the first bridge all the rest opened within a few minutes of reaching them and we were back outside the Schelde marina in time for an evening meal.
After the meal we set off for the main harbour lock and our first real cock up occurred. The stern over took the bow!! I am just waiting for it to appear on You Tube, it will be a classic. Recovered from that and then set off back into the Schelde on the top of the tide.
The light system is interesting if you haven't seen one before. Some coloured filters in front of a lamp. Sounds obvious but I would have expected a bit of protection around the filters.
The wind picked up nicely to an F2 on the starboard beam and we made a solid 5 knots through the water, 7 knots over the ground at times, all the way across the N. Sea to Kentish Knock. Quite a few boats about getting in our way in the entrance to the Schelde but almost none from there to Black Deep. It was tight getting round Black Deep and as we made it round the wind dies again and we motored down the Swin towards the Whittaker channel. By the time we made it to the River Crouch entrance there was patchy fog and so we slowed down and considered anchoring. As it was we kept going based on navigation using my iPhone (I know what the disclaimer says but I cannot afford a proper chart plotter).
Overall a brilliant trip, there were three of us on my Macwester Rowan which was just manageable as long as only one of us was asleep at any time when at sea. As one of the chaps at the boat yard said when we got back, "amazing how knackered people look when they get back from a sailing holiday".
I'd go back again and next year we are thinking of a round trip, entering the dutch canal system towards the north and making our way down to Vlissengen before coming back home.
