Mile builder day 3

Hessel van der Maten

We left Sophiahaven at Kamperland and headed back towards Stellendam, deliberately staying close to the North Sea so that we could use our final day for some more sea sailing. Conditions were moderate and much more manageable than on our first day, with winds around Beaufort 3 and temperatures in the low twenties. After leaving the Oosterschelde we headed north along the coast towards Goeree. The main theme of the day was tides and currents. We worked with the tidal information when planning the passage and paid much more attention to what the current was actually doing to the boat, not just where we were pointing, but the difference between heading, course over the ground and speed over the ground. It was a useful demonstration of how significantly the tide can influence a coastal passage and why timing matters. I was at the helm for the lock manoeuvring, which added another useful learning experience. Handling a 38-foot yacht at low speed in the confined space of a lock, with other vessels nearby and wind and current still having an effect, is quite different from steering in open water. Small inputs, anticipating the boat’s momentum and having the lines and crew ready before entering made a noticeable difference. After sailing north we entered through the Goereese Sluis and returned to Marina Stellendam for the night, putting us in a good position to head back out to sea for the final day. Another very useful day: less demanding in terms of weather, but with much more focus on understanding how tide and current affect the passage, and on developing confidence manoeuvring the boat in confined waters.