No sacrifice is too great

In an attempt to appease the weather gods, Christine and Rob have sacrificed a chocolate Swiss roll in what I imagine was a Hogmanay / Crowleyesque style ritual.

Sadly it hasn’t worked.

I’m afraid more sweet pastries will have to be offered!!

On leaving the Hoose this morning people kept saying ‘ ooo it’s very windy today ‘

But as hardened British Sailors we’re made of sterner stuff as you know!

There was only 20kn of wind over the deck but it felt like much more and the Oosterscheilde had an uncomfortable short chop. We motored into wind for the first part but at least we had the tide with us. After the turn to the east we were against the tide but surfing at sometimes 8kn under just the headsail. Very good! Until the rain arrived!

Lots of barges of various shapes and sizes appeared in quick succession and one tug pushing two huge barges seemed quite sanguine when a small Belgian yacht decided to sail in circles right in front of him. I was expecting five short at least but he just slowed right down and steered round him. Most polite!

So it was until the lock at Bruinisse.

We have tried various lock techniques to avoid what has each time been a very narrowly avoided disaster.

It’s those pins set in the wall that are the worst.

This time we decided to try boat hooks after seeing someone else’s apparent success with them.

On my first attempt the two halves separated and the hook end fell on the water and drifted away!

So it was back to trying to get a line over the pin. It seems easier if you head for the ladder first – the two pins are usually within reach from there.

On exiting the lock Lynn deftly rescued the lost boat hook with the other one. All that practice with ducks at fairs clearly not wasted!!

And so into Bruinisse which has very modern facilities, but it’s so cold and horrible here that exploration will have to wait until the morning. After that it’s these Islands that we keep hearing about… the Grevelingen

Just need the sunshine now 😎

Line up those pastries 👍