We set out from Dunkerque at 5am (4am UK time). Once again with gentle 14 knot breeze on our stern.
Due to the red diesel issue with Belgium we had decided not to stop in Belgium and to sail straight to Holland entering the canal system in Flushing/Vlissingen and travel a few miles north to the delightful town of Middelburg.
Holland at last
We sailed pretty much the whole way again with the engine on but not doing much. We maintained a steady 8-8.5 knots covering the 52 miles in 6 hours due to a helpful 1-1.5 knot tide. When you get to Flushing you get your first view of a Dutch windmill right on the seafront; you also have to negotiate your first lock of many! Then there are a few bridges where you have to wait about 20 minutes each for them to open (well we did).
Mooring: On arrival at Middelburg the harbour master greets you with perfect English and will direct you to a berth. This could be a box mooring, which consists of 4 posts and your bow(or stern) to a pontoon; or it could be a pontoon berth which luckily we had – Goose is a bit too beamy for box moorings!
Top tip for box moorings: Put fenders at toerail height but flipped onboard and as you go past the first post you can flip them back over. If there is only two of you this can be tricky as at the same time you have to put a loop of mooring line over the windward post. This is all very easy if there’s no wind but with a strong crosswind it all gets very exciting. Great fun to watch others doing it though. The Dutch of course make it look very easy.
Costs: 23 Euros inc elec
There is a big town in Middelburg with lots of shops, restaurants and bars. There is also a big Albert Heijn which is the main supermarket for Holland. Lots of phone shops as well where you can get a Dutch simcard and Internet juice! There is wifi in the harbour but only by literally standing by the harbour office!
Unsure about laundrettes, we didn’t find one but then we didn’t need one at the time so didn’t really look!
The YC by the lifting bridge is very good and reasonably priced. Also very friendly.
Leave a Reply