Despite the bizarre time now during the Corona lockdown we are a lot of weekends on board. That is a wonderful change after a busy week at home. We feel very privileged that we can do this 😊. Especially because the Belgians and Germans are not even allowed to go to their own boat. Certain marinas, such as Herkingen, are even temporarily closed to permanent berth holders. Jachthaven Bruinisse is only accessible during the day from 1 April to 1 May. You have to leave after 7 pm. Until 26 April we are not allowed to anchor anywhere on the Grevelingen. We are creatively looking for possibilities what is possible and what is allowed, of course without endangering others and in compliance with the rules. After all, anchoring is the perfect form of social distancing, isn't it?

The first two weekends of April we spend on the Volkerak in Zuid-Holland. A rediscovered sailing area with nice anchorages. The first weekend with Eline and Thorold. Marinthe stays at home to study for her school exams.

 
The second weekend with the four of us during the Easter weekend at two different anchorages with a delicious Easter brunch. Toine installed a new autopilot because the old one broke down two weeks ago. With a nice new screen on the steering position. Both weekends there is no wind to sail, but we enjoy ourselves on board in peace and quietness.

 
In the weekend of 18/19 April we stay at home to clean up the house and the terrace because we get the first viewers for our house 😀. That's grateful work and after a weekend of hard work it looks good.

 
During the long weekend of 25-27 April we anchored the first two nights on the Volkerak and the third night on the Grevelingen near Herkingen. It is permitted again to anchor on the Grevelingen on the Zuid-Holland side. Also marina Herkingen is open now. There is not much wind again but it is very sunny ☀️. For the first time in a long time we see befriended boats. In the afternoon we are anchored next to each other for a while and we stay at a good distance by staying on our own boat. Very nice to see and talk to each other again 😃. As if there is no Corona.
 
In the long weekend of May 1-5, we stay on the Grevelingen. We are allowed to sleep in the marina again and we are also allowed to spend the night at certain places on the Grevelingen. We follow the rules on the boswachtersblog of the Grevelingen. Fortunately, there is more activity in the marina and on the water 😄. Belgians and Germans are still not allowed to go to their own boat. There is a nice breeze, which makes it wonderful sailing, even though it is cold. Marinthe is already joining us on Friday evening. Eline is coming on Saturday because she has an online party of her student swimming club with singing on Friday night.
On Saturday we make a wonderful sailing trip to the Middelplaat. We lie there together with three other boats and keep a good distance, also during the walk to the sea. On Sunday evening we ordered dinner at Sailors Inn which we can pick up and eat on our own boat. For the occasion we are allowed to lie in the visitor's area near the restaurant. That feels like dining out 😊. A top dinner!

 
The girls go home on Monday. Toine has to work the whole day and I make a beautiful 20 km cycling tour with Madeleine and Bianca. At the end of the afternoon it is sporty sail (full sail, close-haule) to the anchorage south of Stampersplaat. There we lie in peace with quite a bit of wind. On Tuesday the 5th of May, the way back is also sporty sailing. This way we have a lovely long weekend on the water.
 
Also this weekend (8-10 May) we are on our boat. This time Thorold is joining us as well. Suddenly we are no longer allowed to anchor in the Zeeland part of the Grevelingen, but fortunately we are allowed to anchor in the Zuid-Holland part. We sail with a nice north-east wind through the Hals and above Hompelvoet and drop anchor south of Port Zélande. That is just South Holland. Toine is regularly on the phone for his work because of a trial migration. Rijkswaterstaat patrols and occasionally speaks to people (not us 😉). On Sunday we sail back in time for Thorold and Eline to go home in time for Mother's Day. The three of us take it a bit slower.
 
How nice it is to be on the boat and on the water. "In het midden van alles, is er ruimte genoeg. En zo drijven we verder, als een druppel in zee”. (In het midden van alles – Bløf).
So we quietly wait and see what the coming time will bring and enjoy the luxury of having our own boat 😊.