Robert, from the "Sailingtogether" group, the Nordic branch of Astus Boats Club, tells us about an original cruise in Zeeland, a region of the Netherlands ideal for sailing the trimarans of the Breton brand. Information that makes you want to plan an original cruise.
During the Ascension and Pentecost weekends in 2023, we meet at the port of Bruinisse: a Belgian Astus 24, two Astus 22s from Reims and the Paris region, and an Astus 22.5 from the Lille region. The advantage of a transportable sailboat is that it extends the cruising area. Heading for Zeeland.
A protected playground
Departing from Bruinisse, in the south of Holland, below Rotterdam, our navigation area covers 650 km² and is divided into 4 inland seas: the Grevelingenmeer, the Oosterschelde, subject to currents and tides, the Volkerak and the Haringvliet. All these inland seas are part of the Delta Plan, built between 1976 and 1986 to protect Holland from flooding, protected by dikes and locks.
Varied navigation
On the Grevelingen, you'll find small stopovers in the center of islets where you can picnic or spend the night, in the middle of a nature reserve. Our travels also take us to typical towns like Zierikzee. To get there, we pass through a lock. The Grevelingen lock is one of the busiest in Zeeland. The next ten miles or so are spent cruising among the barges.
At the end, we pass under the Zeelandsbrug bridge, some ten kilometers long. Passage is between 2 piers. The channel is well signposted and an indicator shows the air draught, which varies according to the tide.
Accessible ports
Zierikzee is a typical little port, popular with yachtsmen and home to excellent restaurants. Everything to please the yachtsmen in us! Another destination, Goes, lies at the end of a canal: the harbor, in a cul de sac, is right in the center of town. Or Steenbergen: here too, a typical little port right in the middle of town, at the end of the canal.
All the good things about cruising
During these outings, we don't forget to make the most of the good weather by sampling the local cuisine: fried mussels, kibbeling, local asparagus, scampi... In Holland, sailors are well regarded and sailing is easy. Admittedly, the sun isn't always out, but the pleasure of discovery and the local welcome do the rest...
Robert de Thibault
