The last trip along the Belgian and Dutch coast went much faster then expected. The wind gradually veered to the southwest, and slowly increased to a force 7. So I flew the spinaker for as long as I dared, (not too long, as I didn't want to risk to break anything this last trip), then set the High Aspect jib. I flew along at a steady 9.5 knots, having almost a knot and a half of fair tide. So late in the morning, I called Jurrien that, if I kept on going, I could be in IJmuiden that evening. So she hurriedly finished her job of that day, raced home on her new Bromton bicycle, getting soaked in the process, got in the car and raced to IJmuiden. We got there at the same time, she going up to the inner pier (Kop van de Haven, near the restaurant), and I sailed into the harbour and temporarily tied up along the pier for a long kiss...

Then we both went to the Seaport Marina, she by car and I by boat, and had another long kiss and a dram of whiskey.... Went to bed early...

The next morning, when I was to finish this 4 month trip officially, we first had a visit of the insurance expert, who came to see all my damaged equipment. Then we went off to the lock, where both our parents, my sister, brother in law, friend Saskia and my aunt Bep all waited to see us in. It was a very heartwarming welcome! After that, Jurrien and I sailed to Amsterdam, where we had a quiet night at the Levanthaven, before we this morning went over to the Sixhaven. All day people came in, some that I expected, some completely unexpected. Very nice indeed.

I would like to thank everybody who visited my website. The number of hits is beyond belief, with visitors from all over the world! Many people either wrote in the Gastenboek, or sent me a private message of encouragement or congratulations. The fact that so may thousands of people apparently enjoyed this site, and my trip, greatly motivated me to keep on writing blog messages, although I did not always like to write things, especially when things didn't go so well. I thank you all.

Bart

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I got into Lymington at 2AM, and, not willing to wake up the whole place with my noisy engine, took up a vacant mooring. Next morning, at 9, I set off to the Town Quay, to do some shopping; trying to get some of the English electronics destroyed in the lightning accident. After this, I set off again, and sailed up the Solent, past Cowes, and out again on the other side. Since the weather forecast was for only one more day of nice westerly, I wanted to get east as far as possible. Unfortunately, at night the wind died completely and I lay becalmed for some 4 hours just off Dungeness. In the morning a little wind came up from the south, and I crossed the shipping lines and sailed into Duinkerken.

I had never been there, and also have never visited Belgium. So in Duinkerken I bought a chart of Belgium (my charts of that area were very old and of too large a scale), and yesterday sailed along the beach, in tropical conditions and a very light northeasterly breeze. A dead beat all the way, but quite some tide in the right direction. At 7 PM I was near Blankenbergen, and decided to try to get in. I did, but only just! I touched the bottom several times...

This morning at 6 I escaped the place again. It is thundery over Belgium, and there is only very little wind, from the south. But the wind is expected to freshen, and if the gods are good and don't hit me again with lightning, I will be in Amsterdam next Saturday.

Bart

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Yesterday I sailed from Plymouth to Dartmouth, a distance of some 35 miles. I started off a little late, because I first went to QAB to see some other boats. So I finally left at 3 PM. Dartmouth is a wonderful place. It is situated at the mouth of a river (the Dart). The very entrance is quite narrow, and guarded by an ancient castle on either side. As it was around sunset that I came in, and floodlight was just being lit, it was a marvelous sight. I tied up to the city wall, and rushed off to take a taxi to a nearby village called Stoke Fleming. Peter Crowther is landlord of the local pub, called The Green Dragon. Peter (67?) is in his fourth decade of sailing ostars. He also holds the record for having done the most ostars, and also for the slowest time (89 days). He always enters, and, except for this year, is always last.

For anyone interested in
a) OSTAR
b) a decent English pub
The Green Dragon is highly recommended! The place was established in 1168 (!!!), and records of the landlords go back to 1607. Peter and his family run the place for the last 16 years now, and when I was there (OK, a saturday night), was loaded with people. I was too late for dinner, unfortunately, as the card looked good and looking at other people's plates made me even more hungry!

Today was true Gentleman's sailing. I started off after a decent breakfast and some shopping. Oh, the luxury of coastal sailing! I just finished my supper, which consisted of a shoulder of lamb, a full pound of it, cooked medium rare. With a sliced courgette, a handful of mushrooms and small fresh potato's. Only a good bottle of Bordeaux missed. I finished it with a delicious pine apple. I am now having a cup of tea with some chocolate... All the while the boat was sailing at 7.5 to 8.5 knots, under spinaker, and passing Portland Bill on it's way to the Needles (Isle of Wight). I will miss the tide at the needles, so it will be early tomorrow morning that I get there. But after this meal I will survive a couple of hours!

Bart

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Last Tuesday I came into Plymouth. It was great coming there, many people gave me a heroes welcome. I didn't win anything...

Because of the very light weather many Fastnet boats came in very late. Home of Jazz, owned by Dutch friend Maarten Russchen, came in last night. I went out to see him in and finally took his lines in Sutton Harbour, downtown Plymouth, and we had a very late supper with him, his crew Ben and Sharon and Richard from Velocity Girl which is a sister ship to Home of Jazz.

Now, Saturday afternoon, I finally left Plymouth and am heading for Dartmouth. I hope to see Peter Crowther, who also did the ostar. He holds the record for having done the most ostars (9?) and was in his fourth decade of doing it!!

Next week Saturday, August 22, I intend to be in Amsterdam. In the morning, I will be in the Sixhaven, and would like to invite anyone interested on board for a cup of coffee and a chat! Hope to see many!

Bart

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Yesterday around noon, I finally reached Plymouth. I went into Queen Anne's Battery (home of the Royal Western Yachtclub) first, to see some people, have a shower and a beer with some of the club members. Then I moved over to Millbay Dock, where my host Ian Hall had arranged a berth for me.

I did not rest long, but am working on getting all my pictures on this web site. So check them out on the fotoalbum section!

Bart

I did it! I managed to avoid all 300 Fastnetters! Last night, during the dark, it brought strong memories of a Dutch 24-uurs race, so many boats! And they were all on directly opposite course to me, and also on a starboard tack. So I had to avoid all of them. Not much sleep...

And worse, I am now becalmed, with only 20 miles to go. It feels a bit like the finish of the OSTAR, however, this time I just start the engine!

Bart

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A few minutes ago, at 1730 UTC, I crossed the imaginary line between Bishop Rock and Ile d'Ouessant. This means that I am now not in the Atlantic any more, but sailing up the English Channel.

The day has not been as fast as I hoped it to be. Not only was the wind rather unstable, with unexpected strong gusts (which prevented me from flying the spinaker), but I also had a foul tide. I almost forgot, there are tides in the channel! and from 11 til 5 the tide has been against me. But now the tide is fair, for some 6 hours to come, and the Lizard is only 39 miles ahead. That should be possible! Plymouth is still some 90 miles off, so I will probably get there some time tomorrow.

Now, as the strongest gusts have passed (the wind is supposed to die out over night), I fly the jib poled out on the spinaker pole, and also have the code 0 on the leeward side, as well as a full main. Makes a nice combination, and also easy to reef down in case of gusts. And we finally go fast again, over 8 knots at the moment.

I haven't seen any Fastnet boats yet, and am curious how far they are. Have the first boats rounded the Bishop yet? We'll see.

Bart

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