Holland 2015 Across the North Sea

People talk about their first channel crossing, To heck with that we did the North Sea first. The original plan was to sail to Ostend, stay there and then work our way up to the Netherlands. However, we were worried about red diesel and whether or not yachts were being fined. It's hard to work out the myths from the reality. After several passage plans we decided to go direct to Breskens. Even though the tide wasn't until the afternoon we decided once again to spend the night before at Ha'penny Pier. This meant that not only did we have a good meal at the Alma but we had a good brunch before we set off.

 

 At 13.40 we slipped out ropes and set off - our biggest adventure to date. We had our passage plan and were ready for the long journey. This tide was chosen  so that we would leave the British Coast in daylight and arrive at the Belgium Coast after dawn.

In many ways the journey was uneventful and we mainly motor sailed. There was a time that we could have sailed but I found it odd sailing into the pitch black. I felt more in control with the motor. We arrived on the Belgium Coast with the sunlight filtering through but it was a misty morning. So we headed up the coast towards Breskens. We had timed it so we would hit a fair tide round Breskens.

The journey up the coast seemed endless and boring we couldn't see much of the coast and it all looked very grey. However all at once we had arrived. We elected to put the sail down outside the harbour however there would have been room inside.

We quickly found the pontoon where we had to tie up to. But being tired we didn't see the notice saying ring the harbour master and a small phone. I set of walking and it seemed miles away. I had almost arrived when the harbour master came down the steps and jumped on a bike, explaining that I should have rung - so I walked back with him.

We were allocated a berth and set to find it - a we moored up I noticed it was exactly 24 hours since we had left Harwich! A quick sandwich, as although we had drunk copious amounts of tea on the crossing we didn't eat much, and then to bed for a couple of hours.