We awoke to a chilly morning in Veghel under a thick blanket of fog and waited for the bridge to open at 0840 before proceeding down the Zuidwillemsvart.

In the morning we passed through who locks rising over 20m before passing the Belgium boarder.

Max doing some school work

The next lock was our first in Belgium. The Belgium waterways require a permit which can be applied for online at http://www.vlaamsewaterweg.be/
At our first Belgium lock I was required to report to the lock master with boats papers. Everything was in order and we already had our permit so we were given permission to proceed.

Once the fog cleared we could see the Tree lined canals that would provide useful shade in summer.

To enter the first Belgium lock the height of the boat (and rigs) must be under 3M. I built the frames 2.5m above the deck and our total height with rigs on the frames is 2.88. The bridge was a little to close for comfort so the lock master opened the bridge for us. Needless to say this evening I re-measured our total height and we are still 2.88m.

We stopped for lunch in Dilson so we could warm up in our heated cabin. The temperature was only 5 degrees outside. Issy and Max spotted something in the trees on the opposite bank so we walked over the bridge and along the canal to investigate. The large object in the trees was identified as a huge nest that possibly belonged to the rare Imperial eagle that can have a 2m wing span.

Issy sketching the eagles nest and Max pointing out some important facts!

Huge nest.

We are defiantly one of the last boats to pass through these canals this season, and one of the only yachts. We get some very strange looks and many questions asked about our ketch sailing so far inland!

This evening we have moored in Rekem for the night at we can be fresh for the canals tomorrow morning where we will be lifted 8m in each. Interestingly Rekem habitation dates back to 1100AD and was part of the Roman Empire. In 1623 a castle was built here and some of the walls and buildings remain along the cobblestone streets https://www.expatica.com/be/lifestyle/things-to-do/oud-rekem-451084/

Our location tonight in Rekem in Belgium

This morning was the coldest so far with outside temperatures starting at 1 degree and climbing no higher than 5 degrees. Thermals and full doilies was the clothing for the day while the kids stayed below and played.

Issy and Max have found the starboard aft bunk on top of the heater the warmest place to make a cubby.

We departed Veghel at 0730 as we needed to make the Zuid Willemsvaart lock number 11 by the end of the day before it was closed for a week of maintenance.

Cold mornings along an industrial canal

We made excellent timing along the canals in freezing conditions. The scenery today was rather industrial and not present on the eye.

Lock 11 with a cargo vessel ahead.

We passed lock 11 just after lunch and then stopped for a walk in Neederweert before continuing down the Zuid Willemsvart to Veghel where we have stopped for the evening. There are no other places to stop for the next 6 hours.

Tomorrow we depart the Netherlands and enter Belgium.

Kind Regards

Richard Hewson
Master Mariner
richhewson
+34658718067

Today we experienced a mix of events and a mix of weather. We woke up in a small river village called Heusden, surrounded by windmills and a stone fortress that was built by Dutch Count Albrecht of Bavaria in 1392! We enjoyed a morning stroll around the town. Issy loved the small village and bakery, Max enjoyed the windmills and cannons, and Emilie bought her first plant for the boat – Bazil!

Photo 1. Shopping for plants

We set off with an excellent plan to go up the Dieze canal to bypass the Maas river. We were making good time and enjoying the voyage until we arrived at the S-Hertogenbosch lock. The lock was closed so we asked the lock keeper when he expects to re-open, expecting he would open after lunch. The lock keepers reply was he would open some time next year. Not wanting to spend the winter in S-Hertogengbosh, we turned our 45ft yacht around in a 50ft canal and headed north the way we had come back to the Maas.

Photo 2. Max under a windmill

For anybody adventurous enough to attempt the european canals after November, take note that many of the small canals are closed for maintenance!

Accepting our fate that we would have to spend 5 days motoring up stream for 230km, we hit the river. But then we noticed some large cargo barges taking the large new Maxima canal to join the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. This new Maxima canal was not on our map, or on the map in the guide book, but there was a small mention to it in the pilot. We made some enquiries and found we could take this as a two day canal alternative to our river cruise.

Photo 3 tied up in lock abreast Leanba

In the first lock we met Captain Hank from the cargo ship Leanba. Hank invited us alongside and was a fantastic help in advising what canals were closed for maintenance and the best route to take. We spent the next three locks tied up alongside Leanba enjoying Hank’s company.

Small craft are not advised to travel the rivers at night, but light was fading fast and we needed to find a haven off the busy river. It is difficult to navigate the rivers at night because they run adjacent to the highway and industrial sites, so the helmsman must concentrate on the lighting.

This evening we have pulled into Veghel, a haven in the big city.

This morning we began our day with a walk to the bakery in Nieuwegein and to inspect the massive stone locks prior to our entry.

Back onboard we started our Perkins engine, which is still running strong dispute being as old as the boat, and motored towards the canal. Unfortunately we found the lock was closed for service and required 24hour advanced booking. After a call to the local lock master he was happy to open up and let us onto the Lek River.

We crossed the Lek and motored past Viaben down the Merwede canal through the countryside. It is interesting to note we are 5m below sea level, so the canals are actually above the surrounding fields.

Most bridges we passed today were too low to pass under so we called the bridge master on the VHF to open them.

It’s amazing how the scenery changes from quaint villages and mansions on the canals to industrial zones and house boats and shacks.

We entered the Andelese river via the Wilhelmina lock with a large commercial barge just after lunch and cruised down the river alongside large commercial vessels.

This evening the Hewson’s are at Heusdon in a small yacht haven. Our progress can be seen on the picture with pencils pointing our location.

This morning we woke up to an overcast winters day in Muiden N.L. It is Halloween and also daylight savings time. Kids adjusted instantly to daylight savings waking up at their normal time of 0630 (new time)! We made the most of our early start re securing rigs, removing the spreaders and clearing the decks. Rich re checked our max height at 2.88m so we have 12cm clearance at the lowest bridges on our planned route. Issy found a stick to tape to the front of the rig to make sure we don’t touch!

At 0900 we departed Muiden as soon as the locks and bridges opened. As we departed Muiden we enjoyed watching all the historic fishing boats snd ships lining the canal.

Fishing boats were soon replaced with house boats lining the banks. Beautiful little cottages about the size of our house in Cremorne Tasmania. Out of place on the river was mini transit proto #454. The scenery along the Vecht canals is nothing but spectacular.

We parked at the local Yacht club in Weesp and walked to town to do some shopping and find a bakery. Kids enjoyed looking at the swans.

We continued to motor down the Vecht canal enjoying the sites, only to find the bridge keeper at Luenen had gone to lunch. We took the opportunity to enjoy soup and today’s before the bridge opened and we continued past the mansions, beautiful estates, windmills, and even a castle or two!

At 1445 we exited the Vecht canal and joined the Amsterdam river. We were now in the commercial zone, a far cry from the tranquility of the previous 6 hours. Commercial traffic and the wider river makes for bumpy motoring. The kids retreated downstairs to play some games.

After an hour on the river we passed into the Mewede canal…. ahhh tranquility again, but a little more surburban. At the First lock we learnt a few locked lessons as this was the rise we have experienced thus far. A bit different from blue water sailing!

The rain started to pour down and the weather got chilly so at 1630 we found a nice place to stop along the banks of suburban Nueuwegein.

Thankful I had installed a 4Kw heater we enjoyed playing cards with Issy and Max while sipping a glass of red to the sound of rain pouring on the deck! Oh the joys of a warm dry boat on a river!

Last week I came aboard our new Koopmans 45 in Hinderloopen N.L and began preparations for our first expedition from the North Sea to the Mediterranean by way of the canal system.

The beauty of a Koopmans 45, apart from her stunning lines and solid 6mm Aluminium construction is that she has internal ballast and lifting centerboard so with centerboard up we only draw 1.2m, and with the rig down we can squeeze through the canal system. Bernard Moitessier would have been very jealous of our selection of yachts!

On the 27th October 2021 the previous owner Peter (80 years young) who has owned the yacht for the past 27 years joined me for a handover and to prepaid for our journey.

On the 28th October we sailed from Hinderloopen to Lelystad where Emilie and our children Issy (5) and Max (4) joined onboard as Crew.

This morning it was all go and we lowered the rigs to the newly constructed deck supports, then at 1400 we waved goodbye to the friendly club members at WVL yacht club and entered our first lock of the passage before motoring to the start of the canals in Muiden N.L

We arrived in Muiden to find a regatta of traditional fishing boats filling the Harbour. Full of spirits (and some schnapps) we tied up next to an old fishing ship, put the newly installed Wabasto heater on and settled into the evening.

Stay tuned for more adventures

Photo 1. Hewson family on the dock at Lelystad before departure. You can see the crane in the background taking out their second rig of the day

Photo 2. Arrival in Muiden N.L

Photo 3. Traditional Dutch fishing boats

Ref:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Moitessier

And we are off! After two years of marking time we have finally purchased our new expedition yacht, a Koopmans 45!

For those unfamiliar with the Koopmans they are an Aluminium Dutch designed yacht, https://www.dickkoopmans.nl/over_ons/het_ontwerpbureau.html

”Classic design by the famous D. Koopmans Sr. As with all his designs, they excel in seaworthiness, cruising performance and safety. Spacious, shallow draft, “Sunday Island” combines it all with her centre board (1.30/2.45 m) and cutter rig. Very well thought interior layout what makes her perfect for longer sailing passages.

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions Built 13,86 x 3,90 x 1,30 / 2,45 (m)
Material Aluminium 6mm
Rig Ketch
EnginePerkins 4236 diesel
Builder Aluboot

Good luck to all Hobart sailors racing in this weekends Pipe Opener! Stay safe and enjoy the drifter conditions!

Don’t forget to check your registration and insurance. Please contact Salus if you require a pre purchase survey for your new yacht, commercial survey or insurance survey.

https://dssinc.org.au/racing/pipe-opener-series/