Sailing Journal · May 2025

A genoa, a very tight berth, a day of maneuver’s — and a birthday morning with towel swans.

Breskens Marina – Thursday – Sunday By Ilse & Piet

Four days in Breskens. Not always sunny, not always dry — but busy, productive, and full of the small moments that make this whole project feel worthwhile. By the time Sunday arrived, Adriana had a second genoa on board, her lights were LED, and Ilse had turned another year older with warm croissants and towels swans for company.

Here’s how it all unfolded.

Thursday — Arrival and the Genoa

We drove down on Thursday afternoon, arriving to flat-calm conditions — which, as it turned out, was ideal. With no wind to complicate things, we successfully hoisted the genoa. Getting it up and properly set took concentration, but it went without drama. One more item off the list.

With the sails sorted, we turned our attention to the deck. Armed with a Wondersponge and some polish, we set to work on the black streaks that had accumulated on the white gelcoat. It’s the kind of job that requires more elbow grease than skill, and the results were satisfying — the deck came up noticeably cleaner. Meanwhile, Piet had a look at the gas system. A quiet, productive Thursday evening.

Between the rain showers, we also checked the hatches and pulled up the specifications for replacements. Whether we tackle this ourselves or bring someone in is still an open question — one for a quieter moment with a cup of coffee and a realistic look at the schedule.

The Berth Question

We have had to accept, once again, that our assigned berth in the marina is simply too narrow. Getting in and out safely — especially with two people and a boat of Adriana’s size — is not something we are willing to leave to chance.

After a conversation with the harbourmaster, a temporary solution has been found: Steiger 2, a guest berth. It is a perfectly pleasant spot, well-positioned and easy to get to. The uncertainty, however, is that we cannot be sure it will be available every time we come back from a day sail. For now, we are taking it week by week and keeping the dialogue with the harbourmaster open.

Friday — Seacocks, Life Lines, and More LEDs

Friday morning started with physio and then straight back to the boat. Working around the rain showers, Piet worked through a solid checklist below and above deck.

The workshop also got a tidy — a small thing, but a meaningful one. A clean workspace makes every subsequent job quicker. Piet is very good at doing this and then quietly not mentioning it.

Friday Evening — Knokke

After a productive morning aboard, we made the short drive to Knokke — about half an hour from Breskens, which is one of the pleasant advantages of this particular marina. We were visiting Marita and Bert, and the evening was, in 1 word, wonderful.

Thank you, Marita and Bert. You really did spoil us.

Saturday — Learning to Dance with the Boat

Saturday was maneuvering day. We had booked a Yacht Master Instructor, and the plan was to spend the day learning how to handle Adriana properly in harbor — the kind of precise, close-quarters work that you cannot really practice without a teacher, a fender, and a healthy respect for other people’s paintwork.

What we had not fully anticipated was the prep time. It took us three hours just to get the boat out of the slip. Three hours including lunch. The slip is simply too tight for two people to manage alone — that much is now confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt. The harbormaster conversation is not just a polite conversation; it is a necessity.

Once out in the mouth of the harbour, though, we got to work. Circles, forward and reverse, pivoting around the boat’s own axis, and then back into the guest pontoon. The exercises were methodical and genuinely useful — the kind of session that changes how you think about the boat under engine. By the end of it, we were tired in the best possible way.

Sunday — Happy Birthday, Ilse

Sunday was Ilse’s birthday. Piet had been quietly planning, and the morning unfolded as a proper surprise: the cabin decorated with streamers, warm croissants fresh from the oven, and towel swans perched on the breakfast table — the kind of detail that takes effort and is not strictly necessary, which is exactly the point. Outside, a grey and drizzly Zeeland morning. Inside, considerably more festive.

After breakfast, we headed home to celebrate with family. A birthday that begins on a boat and ends with the people you love is a very good birthday indeed.

What’s Coming Next

• Resolving the berth situation — finding a permanent, safe home in the marina
• Hatch inspection — decide whether to replace ourselves or bring someone in
• Inaugural gin & tonic table session
• Continued landline checks and replacement
• Engine and generator regular maintenance
• More sailing practice — because Saturday’s session reminded us there is always more to learn