In the summer of 2006 we make a beautiful trip through the Channel. This is our first voyage with the Brandaan at sea. We have sailed several times at sea, but in the Caribbean, and that sails a bit different from the North Sea.
Here it is much busier, with more influence of currents and tides, and more shallows which can make the waves more unpredictable. On this first voyage the weather is good for us. We have beautiful summer weather and even in England it is 30 degrees; unprecedented for the British.
In total we sail 750 miles in 3.5 weeks time. From Bruinisse via Breskens to Nieuwpoort. Then across the canal to Dover. A huge experience to do this for the first time; zig-zagging along large tankers and then suddenly the beautiful cliffs of Dover in sight.
The period after that we go in daytrips along the English South Coast to Wight and we visit places like Eastborn and Brighton. The Solent with Wight as an island is a beautiful sailing area. Full of beautiful anchorages on rivers.
Halfway through the trip we make the crossing from Wight to Cherbourg in France in a long thought trip with nice weather. The beautiful weather continues, so the next day we continue on our bikes and without wind, through the Race from Alderney to Guernsey. Beautiful, those Channel Islands. We also visit Sark and Alderney.
On the way back we sail from Cherbourg to St Vaas and from there we sail in a nighttrip to Dieppe. Again little wind and a lot of engines. Then via Boulogne to Nieuwpoort. A beautiful trip before the wind with hours on the spinnaker.
The last part of the trip (from Nieuwpoort to Roompot Sluis) is the most intense; we have wind force 6 on the back and that gives unprecedented high waves given this holiday. Not really annoying weather, but it's our first experience with stronger winds on the North Sea. Of course the boat is doing fine.