Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Tuesday 14th August 2012 - Amsterdam to Volendam - Day 12

Awake by 06.00 and ashore with Alfie, we took the ferry to the central station and he caught the 07.20 train to the airport.  Thank you Alfie for all of the help in getting to Holland and the good company.

Amsterdam Canals

I now had a few hours to kill while waiting for the next crew member to join.  I had found the address of a couple of chart suppliers which were situated on the main street opposite the station.
I strolled along here in the morning sunshine watching the people busily going off to their work.
Both of these suppliers did not open until 10.00 so I ambled off in the direction of Dam Square through the red light district and passing the process of cleaning up the arena after the night's excesses.

Church

Near to this church in a cafe I breakfasted on eggs and salad.  Behind the church is Anne Frank's house and I could not believe at this time in the morning, the number of people in line wanting to go inside.  Strolling back to Dam Square, I received a text from my new crew member that he was on the train from the airport.  I hurried on down to the station and met Bill (Tuboat) from the Tallships as he came off the train.  We went to the ferry and were on board in Sixhaven by 10.30  and left the marina at 11.30.

We re-traced our course out into the canal, through the Oranjesluizen locks and the lifting bridge and back into the Markenmeer.  Past Marken lighthouse we altered course directly for Volendam and entered the new marina just south of the town and were in our box at 16.45.  We motored all the way from Amsterdam as there was little wind and travelled 14 miles.

It is a fifteen minute walk into the old harbour and the quayside is full of bars and restaurants where there was lots of visitors.  We had a meal in the 'Lotje' restaurant which was of such large proportions we could not finish it all.  Quite a few of the bars were very, very noisy so we strolled back to the marina to find the nearest one to the marina was absolutely full and the noise unbelievable and become known to us as the boom-boom bar.  We all had a long enjoyable day and were all in bed before midnight.

Huizen to Amsterdam - Day 11

Monday 13th August 2012 - Huizen to Amsterdam - Day 11

We departed Huizen at 10.45 and by 11.00 we were in the main channel with a strong breeze and for running downwind put 2 reefs in the main and full genoa.

Hollandse Brug

By 12.30 we were approaching the bridges but this time as more of a challenge we sailed under them.  Shortly afterwards the wind began to drop so we hoisted the full main which unfortunately began to blanket the genoa, although running goose-winged for a while this did not maintain our speed.

Cruising chute

At 13.00 it was time to break out the cruising chute as seen in the picture. Of all the other yachts around us there was only two others who were capable of sailing with their chutes.  We used this for two hours down the main channel then it was time to take everything in as we approached the Schelling-Wouderbrug lifting bridge.  It was not too long before it opened and we were in the Oranje Sluizen locks by 16.00.  We moved into Sixhaven at 17.00 just before the rush and our friendly harbour master put us in a position where we would not be disturbed too much.
Alongside us he put a small charter yacht, skippered by a German church minister and his son and he was about to take his son to see the night life of Amsterdam.

The Eye

At night we stayed on the north side but our local pub and pizza place were closed.
We found a nearby newly opened restaurant called 'Cafe Modern' where they only did a five course meal.  This gourmet meal was very tasting and consisted of fish pie; veal; fish soup; lamb; sorbet.  It was also very expensive at 50 euros a head but we did enjoy it.  For a night cap we to 'The Eye' as seen in the picture is the latest building in Amsterdam and is a cinema which also incorporates a film museum.  We sat outside on the terrace enjoying the fine view over the city.  A walk around the inside of the building was a pleasure to see all this fine architecture and the layout is stunning and at night is lit up to create a very modern look.  This rounded off a very special day and we were back on board for midnight.

Almere to Huizen - Day 10

Sunday 12th August 2012 - Almere to Huizen - Day 10

Most of the morning was spent trying to arrange tickets for Alfie on the computer for him to travel home.
At 12.00 we went back to the marina club for bacon and eggs while the harbour master gave good information to our next port.

Huizen

Huizen is just across on the mainland and only 3 miles from Almere.  We left at 13.15 and once more there were a lot of boats out on the water.
The breeze had picked up in the afternoon and bringing the boat into the visitors lay by was a little difficult.  At the office, I requested because of the weather conditions for an easy box and this was granted and it is was not a hassle putting 'Selene' into her allotted berth.

Restaurant

A walk from where we were staying is another marina where we came upon this unusual restaurant  which was once a kiln.  We did not dine here but at another called 'De Haven van Huizen'.  Inside it was very old fashioned and welcoming with a decor of wooden panels, furniture, brass and potted plants.  We had a meal of tomato soup, and beef steak, this was very enjoyable.  There was no where else open and we returned to the boat at 22.30 after a short walk along the beach.
I managed to read the first chapter of my book on the Frisian Islands.

Amsterdam to Almere - Day 9

Saturday 11th August 2012 - Amsterdam to Almere - Day 9

It is was an overcast morning while we had tea and coffee in the Sixhaven club house, where I purchased a burgee from this lovely spot and were given advise to stay within the channels while in the inland sea.

Oranje Sluizen

At 11.30 we left Sixhaven and crossed to the cruise ship terminal and proceeded into the small boat channel.  It is two miles before you reach the lay by basin for the lock, there was a lot of boats waiting.  One of the locks is used for the commercial large barge traffic while the other is used by leisure craft.  By 12.30 we tied up against a converted fishing boat 'Jar'.  It did not take long as the water only rose about one foot within the Oranje Sluizen lock.

Shortly after the lock you have to wait for the opening of

 Schelling Wouderbrug 

the lifting bridge and move into the Markermeer.
The channels are very well marked and with the use of the local charts and own chart plotter which has all the relevant details for this part of Holland, it was a simple task following the marks.  It was the weekend and we could see lots of sails to the north as we turned at buoy P8 and took the channel towards Flevoland.  Across our path was a rather large road bridge and close to it a railway bridge.

Hollandse Brug

The clearance underneath the bridge was 12.7 metres while Selene's air draught is 12 metres we went under with a little apprehension.  We had been motoring so far and after the bridge ran with the full genoa.
The afternoon turned out fine and sunny with a fair breeze to push us along and at 16.00 we were tied up in our box at Almere.

Almere

At 20.00 we went to the marina beautiful club house called '10 Beaufort'and dined on onion soup, pork satays and chips which was lovely.
It was a short walk to the town quay with only one lively bar 'Levertij' while the rest were restaurants.
We returned to the boat around midnight and finished off the sloe gin.

Amsterdam - Day 8

Friday 10th August 2012 - Amsterdam - Day 8

Royal Palace Dam Square

We decided to have a rest day and stay in Sixhaven.  We were up by 09.00 and watched as many of the other boats left the marina.  The harbour master directed us to move into a now vacant box next to his own boat.
The price for a night in this very popular place is 12 euros, equivalent to £10 a night.  The price in the UK is always at least double this while the facilities in Holland are so much better.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we went to a little bar just outside the marina which was very welcoming before going onto a mini-market for some shopping.
Before going ashore at night we went to the little bar within the marina where the friendly hosts told us about Sixhaven.  It is run by the workers of the now closed Amsterdam shipyard, they are all volunteers and were all made redundant when the shipyard closed.  Sixhaven is still there club and they open it up for visitors.  Remarkably the price of a bottle of Amstel beer is one euro.  Here we were given better information on the whereabouts of the restaurant we were trying to find the night before.

Alfie and myself went across on the ferry, leaving Jack on board who was quite content reading his books.  We walked on past the Royal Palace at Dam Square and up towards the flower market where we found 'Gauchos' steak house.  Here we had a wonderful meal which consisted of three different steaks.
We caught the tram back to the Central Station, then the free ferry and were back on board by midnight.
Another enjoyable day in this very busy friendly city.

Ijmuiden to Amsterdam - Day 7

Thursday 9th August 2012 - Ijmuiden to Amsterdam - Day 7

We spent the morning washing down, watering and replenishing fuel on the yacht.  We made use of the laundry facilities ashore with all clothing washed and dried, shopped in the nearby supermarket and had lunch in a very nice cafe.

Kleinesluis lock

We left the seaport marina at 13.00 into the main channel and proceeded to the first lock at Kleinesluis.  At 13.45 we moved out into the North Sea canal.  This 13 mile canal is the main shipping thoroughfare to Amsterdam and was opened in 1876 in response to the silting of the Zuiderzee.  Yachts must keep close to the starboard side of the canal and although sailing is permitted, tacking is not.  However, the canal is over 175 metres wide and shipping does not present a problem as the water is 3 metres deep, 10 metres from the bank.  We motored all the way along the canal passing all kinds of vessels working in the numerous havens until arriving in the centre of Amsterdam.

Sixhaven

It is very busy passing the Central Station with many ferries crossing and large barges moving in this narrowest part of the canal.  We moved across to the north side and berthed next to a large motor cruiser at 17.00  The harbour master at Sixhaven was amazing as the photo shows, he packed in as many boats as possible.  The facilities here were good and we were made most welcome.

Old Sailor Pub

At 21.00 we went ashore and using the free ferry went  to the Central Station and walked up to Dam Square looking for a restaurant which had been recommended but we could not find it.  So, went to a small restaurant before making our way down to Canal Street.  Amsterdam is the principle city in the Netherlands and a natural mecca to all visitors to Holland.  They all come to see all the night life and in the middle of it is the lovely Old Sailor pub.  We visited a few other pubs on our way back but kept out of the numerous coffee shops who were turfing out the young ones after indulging in happy baccy and fruit cake.  I have been to Amsterdam many times but this is most people I have seen with most places packed to overflowing.  We arrived back at Sixhaven at 02.00 and it had been a very eventful day.

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.