Bimini

We had gathered information from a very helpful fellow sailor in Amsterdam who was Dutch and familiar with the area. Using his advice, our destinations were all very pretty, historical and quite delightful.

We thought Willemstad was special, being an old fortress town, but then it was trumped by Veere, and then we had a lunch stop in Middelburg which was also very pretty.

There was what must have been a Dutch tradition going on in Middelburg. This involved highly decorated horse carts with everyone in traditional clothes. There were over 20 and they circulated around the old town centre at a trot and, it seems they had to spear a ring at several locations as they passed. The rings seemed to get progressively smaller and harder to target.

Middelburg is on the Kanaal door Walcheren and there are a number of bridges and locks, necessitating travelling in a convoy with other yachts, and at a specific time. Emerging into the Westerschelde at Vlissingen (Flushing) we took a berth overnight in a convenient marina to discover that we were right in the heart of the old town, and this too had a certain charm.

We abandoned our plan to target Niewpoort for our next destination as the prospect of hiring a car there was not looking promising. Instead, on Paula’s suggestion, we focussed on Blankenberge which I had never even heard of. Although this was something of a ‘high rise’ resort, the prices are more local than tourist, and it has the advantage of an adjacent railway station with direct trains to Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. The Yacht Club manager, Pierre (such a character) also kindly managed to arrange local car hire options. So, we are moored on the VIP hammerhead with all services (the electricity kept tripping…) for 41 Euros a night and this will probably be our location for the next crew change and inland exploration.

Richard writes:

More toilet humour, I’m afraid. Why Nick is always the subject of these events is a mystery, but this one was quite funny. Docking at Hellevoetsluis against the Town Quay pontoon, there were no obvious facilities. We noticed a portaloo and the skipper assumed it was for the use of visiting yachtsmen. In the morning, having used it, and back on board, a ‘high viz’ chap on the dock started jabbering in Dutch. Seeing Nicks vacant looks he pointed at him, made a squatting motion and put his thumbs up. It seems the portaloo was for the builders working on the road, not the moored yachts…

The other issue we have had, and it has been documented in a previous blog – the bimini…  David and I had pleaded with Nick to put up the bimini, a large shade covering the cockpit. Very reluctantly, the skipper finally agreed and, within the space of a couple of minutes, we were all enjoying cool shade. But he hates it! He says it obscures his view of the sails, and he doesn’t consider it conducive to proper sailing. When our wives, Paula and Amanda arrived, the weather changed to cold and rainy. Although, the bimini proved to be completely waterproof and provided great shelter, it was no longer required, apparently, and it had to be put away. But now the sun is shining again. What is the skipper to do? With two ladies’ aboard I think he knows the answer, but he may have a dilemma!