The promised squeeze between a ridge of high pressure and lows to the immediate north have arrived earlier than expected; a 20 knot south-westerly and local gale warnings have lead to necessary diversion tactics.
The promised squeeze between a ridge of high pressure and lows to the immediate north have arrived earlier than expected; a 20 knot south-westerly and local gale warnings have lead to necessary diversion tactics.
We enjoyed a great start to the day, bridging out from Goes at 0800 and enjoying a run out onto the Oosterschelde without delay thanks to the lock at Goessche Sas being on free flow. After an equally efficient run along the Kanaal door Zd Beveland, most of the fleet were swallowed in one go by one of the two giant locks at Hansweert and then we could taste the humour of the Westerschelde. Given tide against a strengthening westerly, it wasn’t at its best.
Some of the earlier boats managed to punch out and across the loppy waters outside of Zeebrugge to make Nieuwpoort, a few called it a day at Blankenberge, one decided to go no further than Zeebrugge and the balance called in at Breskens where the harbourmaster was quick to welcome us in.
A more detailed account will follow, but here is a complete list of the participant boats and their current (1400 GMT 11 August) locations:
| Amalfi | Colvic 26 | Breskens |
| Aquaholic | Fairline Mirage | Blankenberge |
| Barrier Reef | Seamaster 8m | Breskens |
| Brainwave | Island Gypsy | Breskens |
| Carole Ann of Eastbourne | Fairline Corniche | Breskens |
| Chandos II | Princess 30DS | Breskens |
| Dawn Capers | Broom Crown | Breskens |
| Deo Volente | Fairline 36 Turbo | Breskens |
| Deucalion | Sealine S48 | Breskens |
| Fleetwind | Princess 435 | Breskens |
| Gwensley Four | Bayliner 2855 | Zeebrugge |
| High Time | Princess 385 | Blankenberge |
| High Tydie | Princess 37 | Breskens |
| In Focus | Fairline Phantom 43AC | Blankenberge |
| Kelper of Beaulieu | Grand Banks 42 | Breskens |
| Millennium Falcon | Broom 42 | Nieuwpoort |
| No Compromise | Sealine S41 | Nieuwpoort |
| Odyssea | Fairline 36 Turbo | Nieuwpoort |
| Pheran | Birchwood Viceroy | Breskens |
| Play D’Eau | Princess V39 | Nieuwpoort |
| Tanuche | Nimbus 26 | Breskens |
| True Blue | Sealine 410 | Breskens |
| Vulcan | Broom 37 | Breskens |
| White Otter | Sealine 410 | Nieuwpoort |
| White Rabbit | Broom 10/70 | Breskens |
Zeeland cruise 2001
MBM Zeeland cruise hits perfect weather
A fleet of 26 motorboats ranging in size from 26ft-52ft and in cruising speed from 6-25 knots have made a successful start to the Motor Boats Monthly cruise in company to the Zeeland lakes of the Netherlands (29 July 2001).
MBM Zeeland fleet enters the Veersemeer
A light southwesterly breeze tickled the transoms of 26 motorboats from the MBM Cruising Club as they departed from Nieuwpoort in Belgium heading north along a haze-shrouded coast yesterday (30 July 2001).
Lazy days in Kortgene for MBM Dutch fleet
Yesterday (31 July 2001) provided a welcome break for the 26 boats of the MBM Club cruise in company to the Zeeland lakes of the Netherlands at Delta Marina, Kortgene (1 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland boats arrive in Herkingen
After the scorching and benign start to the cruise, this morning’s livelier breeze called for a few moments of consideration before crossing the tidal Oosterschelde from the Veersemeer to the Grevelingenmeer (2 August 2001).
Breezes whistle for the MBM Zeeland cruise
A busy pattern of low pressure systems has been throwing quite a breeze over the Grevelingenmeer, but the 26 motorboats of the MBM Club cruising fleet are on schedule and now located in the modern Port Zelande marina and holiday complex (4 August 2001).
Short hop and no police stop for MBM fleet
There is not a shorter leg anywhere on a Motor Boats Monthly Cruising Club itinerary than the micro hop from the modern marina facilities at Port Zelande to the traditional town basin at Brouwershaven (6 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise Day 12: weather dominates
After a schedule change that saw the 26 craft of the Motor Boats Monthly Cruising Club fleet take an extra day in Brouwershaven to avoid torrential rain, all are now safe in Tholen despite F7 SW winds (8 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise Day 13: strange tales of lock rage and sticking gearboxes on the way to Goes
The wind dropped and seemingly every boat on holiday in the Netherlands dropped lines and moved, the Motor Boats Monthly Cruising Club fleet amongst them (10 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise day 15: the wind arrives early and the fleet seek refuge in four separate ports
The promised squeeze between a ridge of high pressure and lows to the immediate north have arrived earlier than expected; a 20 knot south-westerly and local gale warnings have lead to necessary diversion tactics (11 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise day 17: ducking and dodging F7 winds
Some crews on the homeward leg of the Motor Boats Monthly Club cruise to the Netherlands have taken to ferries and watched from a lofty height the effects of a 30-knot wind promoted by a low versus high squeeze; others are hedging bets for a return on own bottoms via various routes (13 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise day 18: the great escape (pt 1)
The weather is a drama queen, that’s for sure. From blowing old boots, the sudden transition to carpet slippers and a white veil was mostly welcome for the expectant boats of the Motor Boats Monthly Cruising Club fleet (15 August 2001).
MBM Zeeland cruise day: an update from the Dover Strait
The scriptural statement that the first shall be last could have been written for displacement cruiser owners, but those on the MBM fleet have at least been blessed with calm seas and blue skies for their Channel crossing (15 August 2001).
