I am on a four-day trip to Zeeland. Zeeland is the southernmost province of the Netherlands
BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
I am on a four-day trip to Zeeland. Zeeland is the southernmost province of the Netherlands. You have seen me pass through several parts of it before.
I had a few other destinations in mind, too. But we are suffering from a considerable drought there. Which means some rivers are running very low. Quite a few marinas have been closed down, and certain locks operate limited hours.
So I decided to head for Zeeland, because there is plenty of water, including seawater in Zeeland!
My original plan was to make it to Vlissingen (Flushing) along the Westerschelde.
I decided my first stop would be Wemeldinge. But that is close to 110 kilometres. Doable, but I would have to pass three locks. The first one, being our nearby Merwede lock. Not a problem; it starts operation at 0600AM.
DAY 1:
So by 05.30AM on Tuesday it was Lekko for and aft and Sirion was underway.
It was the last day I could do that; from tomorrow the Merwede lock has reduced operating times as well. On even hours it will let ships pass into the Merwedekanaal; on odd hours, it will let ships pass the other way, into the river Merwede.
By 06.20 I had passed the Merwede lock and was on my way to the next lock, the Volkerak. They also had reduced hours. Not due to draught, but maintenance issues.
It meant they would operate only once every two hours, one way. According to my information, that would 10.20AM. So with four hours to go, almost 46 kilometres and a bit of current running behind us, Sirion sailed down river.
After a little over 3,5 hours I passed Willemsdorp. You have seen me stop there before. Lovely little town, but this time I was on a different mission and I had to make that 10.20 Lock opening.
I arrived at the Volkerak Lock at 09.50, so half an hour to spare. The lock was open and already a lot of yachts were waiting.
Yes, its a busy lock and when it finally opens and lets everybody out, everybody leans on their throttles and tries to get in front of the next guy!
Onto the Volkerak, some interesting boats!
We are sailing here on pretty big open water.
Lots of swan! Hundreds of them!
But also lots of weeds floating about
Another nice sailing boat!
Next came the Kramerling locks. Two locks, one for the BIG barges, and one for the pleasure crafts.
One fo the BIG barges making its way
As I was entering the approach to the Lock, it just opened and a bunch of yachts made it towards me.
There were a couple of us, wanting to go to the other way, so we all bunched up at this special jetty
Waiting on the lock!
Continue reading BHPian Jeroen’s post for more insights and information.
