The fleet moves up the coast of Belgium and Holland before moving inland
Monday 7th August
Day 2
Position – Delta Marina, Kortgene
51°33′. 058 N 003°48′. 738 E
It was another early alarm call for the fleet. After a quick weather-check, Kim, MBM Cruise Leader, announced over the VHF that the fleet was good to go. As planned the slower boats exited out of Nieuwpoort at 0715hrs accompanied byFormandatowingTime Flies. The KYCN Nieuwpoort pontoon was empty by 0850hrs and all boats were on passage to Delta. Tail end Charlie was, as ever,Calm Voyager.
The passage to up the coast of Belgium and Holland was made in flat seas, and only one issue was reported. Ingvar, skipper ofCavalino, had to get into his swimming gear to clear some fishing net that had entangled itself round his prop not far from Nieuwpoort. Also getting wet was the crew ofOur World, but their swim was entirely voluntary.
There was a bit of a wait at the lock at Vlissingen to enter the Kanal Doorwalcheren. A sedentary 8 knots was maintained all the way through the canal, which cuts through the Beveland Peninsula. Katie and Claire, inTime Flies, zoomed ahead of the fleet to assist with berthing at the day’s destination – Delta Marina at Kortgene. Once the fleet had caught up after a leisurely cruise through the Veersmeer, all boats were moored and the day’s boating came to an end.
It was another ‘spot on’ weather call by Kim today. As he predicted the wind intensified later on in the afternoon, to the extent the halyards were clanking on yacht masts and Delta was hit by a series of rain squalls that passed over very quickly. The fleet will spend three nights here.
