Vlissingen

15 September 2014

After a quiet night at anchor and a lovely breakfast (a bit later than usual to make up for the time difference) we lifted the anchor.
The weather was fantastic and we could set the sails while we where sailing in front of the beach of Vlissingen. Fully rigged we sailed along the beach of Walcheren until we tacked around noon to sail back to Vlissingen. After we moored, a few guests already decided to head home, others stayed for their last dinner on board.
In the meantime it was busy on deck to get the ship ready for the coming season. The ship won’t be in the Netherlands for the next months. A new anchor was installed, we removed the extra life rafts that we had on board for day trips that we had during the summer season, the fire extinguishers were checked and right after dinner the truck with fresh stores arrived. Numerous cases of provisions were loaded on deck to be stowed away by the crew during the night.
During the weekend we had a voyage with youngsters. 24 boys and girls in the age of 14 and 15 were on board to see what the maritime world has to offer. A presentation by the pilots of Vlissingen, a visit to the sea traffic station and at 3PM departure to go to sea. Once we were out at sea the stomachs of our very enthusiastic temporary crew members did not respond well to the swell. We decided to sail to the sheltered Westerschelde.
At 1:30AM we dropped the anchor. Anchor watches, explanation about the charts, lights and buoys kept the youngster awake. Just before breakfast is was suddenly a bit quiet on deck…
Breakfast, dishes, deck scrubbing, copper polishing, climbing instructions, there was no time for lounging around. We lifted the anchor, set the sails, tacking three or four times on the Westerschelde and they mastered the manoeuvres before we returned to the harbour. Those who thought they could rest for a bit, thought wrong. The fire alarm went of and everyone had to go the main deck and heads were counted. We missed one and we had to search. We searched, closed the watertight doors if possible and we found him. Luckily it was only an exercise.
Once we arrived at the locks you could see everyone was tired, but their faces showed that they had a good experience. After the moms and dads had a cup of coffee everyone returned home. And I think many of them fell asleep on the way.
We had to prepare for a new group of guests, arrving the same day. Many well-known faces. We left Sunday evening, through the locks and out to sea. The wind was a favourable ENE 3 Bft and we were well able to sail. Going to Brest in Brittanny, next to the Mediterranean and still later on to Cabo Verde.