Wet and extremely windy once underway.
Trip Start
Unknown
1
48
195
Trip End
Ongoing
Middelburg, Zeeland, Netherlands
Monday, June 4, 2012
It is another wet, cold and miserable morning. John went off in search of fresh milk and bread, he was directed by a man who made it sound like the shop was just around the corner. It wasn't – it was a mile each way in the pouring rain! After breakfast we visited the chandlery/bunker fuel barge to find out the prices of things that we would like to have on Spring Tide. They are very expensive - €599 for a new depth and speed indicators and for one repeater display for outside €499 - which seemed ridiculous at only €100 less than the whole package.
We spoke to the Harbour Master to ask about opening the bridge and our next slot was 13.30, but it was now 11.15! He very graciously said he would open it in 10 minutes, so we rushed back on board, topped up the water, and cast off. We went round to the chandlers to fill up with diesel. We had looked at the gas bottles and it was explained there were 2 systems. 1 being purchase for 1 bottle + fittings worked out at approximately €30 and the 2nd way is to pay €30 for gas membership for 10 years, €15 for the bottle and €12 for fittings and fixtures. When John asked for option 1 the man said it was no longer available. John was somewhat annoyed and so we did not purchase any gas there.
We go out on to the main Walcheren canal, the wind was extremely strong and on the nose and was pushing us from side to side making it very difficult to steer from inside. There were other boats on the canal which were of a concern as again our visibility is bad as we cannot see them from inside. Isi braved the gale and took on the steering from outside. John had to rebuild a window wiper switch and yet again the GPS. Within an hour we were at the Veere lock where fortunately we did not have long to wait as he told John he would open the small lock for us and the other 2 yachts that were following us. Once through we saw some moorings at Veere Marina but we had thought of going round to the town quay on Veerse Meer, so went to have a look, but it was far too exposed in these conditions, and so we came back and found a box mooring with a pontoon (phew) so Isi could get in bow first. Isi brought it in with no trouble in these extreme conditions and we were glad to get in first time as the gale, wind and rain were still lashing down. Yet no sooner than we docked, the wind changed direction and the wind dropped, and we saw a little sunshine after lunch by the time we walked into Veere.
It is an enchanting small historic town with strange shops i.e. designer clothing, kitchen accessory shops, 2nd hand book shop and some restaurants, 2 museums but no general store. There is nowhere for locals to buy provisions, except in Middelburg.
Isi bought some things we walked around and marvelled at some of the buildings especially the onion topped bell tower which we took photos of in daylight and later when we went back to access the Wi-Fi at the sailing club bar/restaurant. A couple of the locals John talked to gave us some advice on where to go next. They gave us a free tide-table for the area," a gift to the English” their Commodore said. On our walk back to Spring Tide, we turned the corner into a street to see a full moon rising and could not resist taking a photo. We then came back to the boat and so to bed.
