Hoorn to Enkhuizen - Day 19

Tuesday 21st August 2012 - Hoorn to Enkhuizen - Day 19

Elisabeth

We left Hoorn at 12.00 and hoisted the main at 12.45, there was very little wind so we motor-sailed.  An hour later and we were passing this fine  sailing vessel 'Elisabeth' on her way into Hoorn.

At 14.00 we entered the main buoyed channel which takes you up to the locks which connect the Markenmeer and the Ijsselmeer across which stretches a very long dam connecting both sides of Holland.

Naviduct Lock

We arrived in the lock at 14.45 and the gates closed behind us and we were only inside for about ten minutes as the water level only dropped about 100 mm.  We arrived in Enkhuizen Compagnieshaven and in or box at 15.15.
On the passage up from Hoorn we had noticed water coming into the engine compartment bilge space and traced this to a leaking stern gland.  The electric bilge pump fitted last year was not up to job of pumping it out.

Enkhuizen

I packed the stern gland with grease while Bill went off to his favourite shop the chandlers and purchased more grease and a new bilge pump. The new pump was fitted and it was time to go ashore.

This is a very pretty town with lots of fine buildings built during the days when this was one of the main trading ports on the Zuiderzee.

Bill's bridge

We found a wonderful restaurant called 'Van Bleiswijk' and a meal of onion soup, plaice fillets and beef satays really filled us up.  The local Irish bar 'The Dubliners' was small and noisy while upstairs in the 'Schiffdifj' was nice but smoky.  Most of them seemed to be smoking inside the pub, we cannot understand this as we are all supposed to adhere to the EU regulations on smoking in public places.  We finished off in the 'Tankerikj' pub next to the very impressive now lit up tower and lifting bridge.  We were very impressed with Enkhuizen