North Sea Crossing - Days 4;5;6

Monday 6th August 2012 - Scarborough to Ijmuiden - Day 4

A visit to the chandlers to top up our reserve fuel containers was our first priority.  The weather forcast was favourable with south west to westerley winds force 4 to 5 occasionally 6 with thundery showers and visibility good to moderate.

Off Filey Brig

At 11.00 we left Scarborough with full main at 11.15 and popeye (auto-helm) engaged at 11.30.  The sea conditions were as seen in the photograph.  A small pod of porpoises was spotted at 16.00 as we were 1.75 miles off Flamborough Head and the engine was stopped, as the wind began to freshen from the south west and the full genoa was unfurled.
The wind dropped away as the sunset at 20.45 and the engine was started as we approached the Rough Gas field.  Navigational lights on at 21.00 and the engine started.  At 22.30 we were going along under full sail and the engine oncemore stopped.
We were working a watch system with three people on board of 3 hours on 6 hours off during the day, while from midnight to six in the morning, 2 hours on and four hours off.  We travelled 53 miles during the first day.


Tuesday 7th August 2012 - Scarborough to Ijmuiden - Day 5

The wind had increased and the main was dropped at 02.00 and ran with only 3/4 genoa.  It was a clear moon lit night as we passed the gas/oil rigs of the Amethyst, West Sole, Mallory, Galahad and Excalibur fields.  The quick white flashing light on the horizon from the North Outer Dowsing cardinal mark was very reassuring as most of the commercial ships use this channel when going north or south.  For the watch keepers and those below it was an uncomfortable night as sailing on a broad reach the boat was all over the place.

North Sea rigs

Between 09.00 and 15.00 passing through the Anglia, Vulcan and Leman gas/oil fields.  It was a bright sunny day and the engine was put on for two hours in the afternoon as we were running on low battery power and the engine recharges the batteries.  It is amazing how may rigs and structures there are in the North Sea.  Without all of this, how would our country be able to survive.

Small rig

We got a little close to this one, maybe it was the last one as we cleared the gas/oil fields at 16.00.
It was a beautiful evening and while on watch, I sat in the cockpit and practised playing on my banjo, the first time it had been out this trip.
Oncemore our lights went on at 21.00 as we motor sailed during the first part of the night.
We travelled 104 miles during the second day.





Wednesday 8th August 2012 - Scarborough to Ijmuiden - Day 6

It was another uncomfortable night for the crew due to the motion of the boat but there was plenty to keep us occupied on watch.  The engine had been stopped at 01.00 as we passed the Brown Ridge west cardinal mark but was on again to maneouver around a vessel at 04.00.  We were passing across the deep water channel to the south of the traffic seperation scheme off Northern Holland.  There are rules of the road for all ships at sea which should be adhered to but I am a great believer in plastic gives way to steel.

By 07.00 we were motor sailing outside the main channel to the North Sea canal and could see the steel works at Ijmuiden close to our destination.

Seaport Marina

At 12.00 'Selene' was berthed safely at visitors berth M29 within Seaport Marina, Ijmuiden.
It had taken us 49 hours and we had travelled 212 miles.  All of our bedding and oilskins were taken on deck to be aired in the warm bright sunshine.  The shoreside facilities were excellent as we pampered ourselves and made good use of the showers.

Drinks all round

Frank one of our yacht club members on our departure from Blyth had presented us a bottle of champagne, to be drank on our arrival in Holland.  We duly obliged and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We all agreed the only way to cross the North Sea is on a very large ferry or make use of the silver bird.

Ashore in the Pan & Cook restaurant we dined on weiner schnetzels and chips before retiring for nite caps onboard and we all slept as the saying goes, very well.