Being Thursday it was market day in Zierikzee today so we planned a later start to allow everyone chance to stock up on provisions. By 11.30am we were underway and making our way back down the havenkanaal and out into the Oosterschelde. Although the wind was a little more lively today it did not create much of a sea in this very sheltered estuary and we could enjoy a pleasant passage under the Zeelandbrug and then south towards the Zandkreeksluis. We passed east of the Mosselplaat ECM, giving a wide berth to a variety of poles, nets and markers which obviously indicated extensive mussel beds. There was a short delay whilst the lock worked from the Veerse Meer side and then we were able to lock through into this non-tidal lake.

With the wind still quite fresh and intermittent showers it was a case of battening down the canopies and watching gratefully as sailors in sowesters passed by the other way. We were almost at Haringvreter island when we noticed another Broom boat in shallow water to the east. As we looked closer we realised not only were they out of the channel but that it was fellow BOC members, Premier Cru. When we hailed them Michael came over in his dinghy and confessed that they were indeed aground and would be pleased to have a tow. We soon rigged up our 60 metre line and fed the end back to the other boat. With full astern engines we just managed to pull the Broom 50 free whilst keeping ourselves in the narrow, two metre deep channel. There was no apparent damage and Premier Cru were able to continue on their way north, bound for the Frisian islands. The rest of our fleet were slightly taken aback by our sudden conversion to rescue boat but it's all in a days work for Lady Martina!

Continuing on our way it was a tight squeeze in the Veere lock and we had to do some neet rafting to get everyone in. With a sailing boat as a fender we tied up to the wall and from there managed to complete the canal cruise to Middelburg without any further excitement. We found the Binnenhaven surprisingly quiet and had our pick of the alongside berths for our two night stay - our last in the Netherlands for this season.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 22 nm

Total to date: 1468 nm

Avg Speed: 6.3 knots

Duration: 5:45 hours

Diesel: 36 litres

Mooring: €18/night

Electricity: Included

Water: Included

Locks

Volkeraksluis

Krammersluis

Bridges

Zeelandbrug (15.1m)

Charts

1805.8

1805.5

1805.3

1805.2

1803.8