We upped anchor at 9am as our friends left the ferry at Calais at 8am and were arriving at 11:30am in Hellevoetsluis.
Setting off from Tiengemeten, you’re already in a peaceful state of mind. The island is a little gem, quiet, green, and full of birdlife, and the anchorage just off its southern shore is a lovely overnight stop. We had breakfast and got the boat ready, and set a course eastward toward Hellevoetsluis.
The waters here are spacious and easy to navigate, but don’t let your guard down, the Haringvliet can whip up a short chop if the wind picks up from the west. Still, it was a fair-weather day, and a lovely run.
As you close in on Hellevoetsluis, you’ll see the breakwaters guiding you into the outer harbour. It’s well-marked, with plenty of space, and very yacht-friendly. The boys drove to a supermarket in town to stock up on supplies, leaving the girls playing with Lucy in the marina playground.
As you close in on Hellevoetsluis, you’ll see the breakwaters guiding you into the outer harbour. It’s well-marked, with plenty of space, and very yacht-friendly. The boys drove to a supermarket in town to stock up on supplies, leaving the girls playing with Lucy in the marina playground.
After half hour they came back fully stocked with food and wine! We left for Middelharnis straight away to avoid the rush and get a space, which proved to be no problem.
This canal is narrow but picturesque, cutting inland toward town. At the far end, Jachthaven Middelharnis greets you in classic Dutch style, lined with neat houses, a few cafés, and a calm atmosphere that feels like a reward.
We were given a box berth which was plenty wide enough, and with 2 extra crew, we got in no problems. We moored bows to as we weren’t sure of the depth near the wall, which made it interesting getting on and off, having to climb on the anchor!
