End August 2015 – Amsterdam – IJmuiden - Overnight to Harwich

According to the local papers there were 2.3 million visitors to SAIL Amsterdam.  With that, the clean up operation was a miracle.  Even the Ferris wheel had been dis-assembled by lunchtime on Monday.  You would struggle to know anything had happened.  Maybe it was all a dream!!

Sailors Info: Sixhaven Marina, Opposite Central Station, Amsterdam.  Free ferries operate constantly from Central Station to several places along the north side of the North Sea Canal, which makes Sixhaven a perfect spot for a stay in Amsterdam.  The famous harbour masters run around the jetties making sure new visitors are correctly moored.  In recent years all the pontoons have been replaced and the toilet facilities are new and very well taken care of.  You pay at a machine below the club house and the machine seems to take all major credit cards, with info in English, on self service screens which also provide SEP smart cards for the showers, water and electric.  There is a Dirk supermarket 10 minutes walk from the marina and the Foodmarkt Amsterdam store I mentioned previously.  There are also several large supermarkets in town.  We would highly recommend a stay at Sixhaven, and don’t worry they always seem to have space.

25th August – Tuesday

Our last proper day to have a final look around.  We found China Town and delicious Pork Buns, which were like soft rolls with spicy pork in the middle.  Really yummy and only 1 Euro.  The ploy worked for the ‘Hoi Tin’ Restaurant as we returned for a very enjoyable last dinner in Holland in the evening.

We bought a 2.50 Euro map from the Tourist office on our first day back and it has been the best money spent all trip, as we have wandered and wandered around all the less obvious places and found some real gems.  Small streets with small privately owned shops and cafes, a bit off the well-beaten track.

26th August – Wednesday

It was our turn to be boat movers today.  We have seen and helped so many boats to move around in the last 2 weeks we have become quite proficient at man-handling boats from the shore.  Today we moved across to an easy exit pontoon, which was less likely to be blocked in.  We also helped Brian and Wendy and Jack to rotate theirs boats for easier exits too.

We went for a big shop for food supplies to get us over the North Sea and managed to squeeze in a last Turkish Pizza en route.

We had farewell drinks with Brian and Wendy on their boat ‘Maximaal’.  It has been lovely sharing this experience with them and they have been great fun.  We also wished Jack on ‘Vegabond’ good luck with his future escapades.   

27th August – Thursday – To IJmuiden

08.30 start for the 15 mile trip to IJmuiden which is a main port of call for vessels crossing the North Sea.  It’s a bit like a Service Station on the sea.  Enough facilities but not enough to get too comfy.

On the North Sea canal heading towards the coast we encountered a number of interesting vessels.  At first we thought this crane was stationary on the shore, then it started to move.  Its amazing that it stays upright.  It is an ominous sight as it moves towards you.

We had a private viewing of the Tall Ship ‘Stad Amsterdam’ on her way back to town.

The lock at IJmuiden is a complex of locks catering for all sizes of vessels.  This is the entrance to the ‘Sport’ lock for smaller craft.

The platform above was anchored after the lock awaiting deployment into the North Sea.

We stayed at IJmuiden port for Thursday night in preparation for our crossing.

28th August – Friday – IJmuiden to Harwich

Mick had spent most of the previous few weeks planning, checking, re-checking, assessing and re-assessing all aspects of our crossing to Harwich.  It is not to be taken lightly and full consideration is applied to all aspects of the journey.  The thing we can do nothing about is the weather.  So you just have to put your trust in the forecasters and choose a weather window with a little leeway at each end which also allows for the tide times on the chosen dates. 

Mick used the ‘Northsea Passage Pilot’ by Brian Navin to aid the planning process.  He took his recommendations on passage 18 which advised a departure time, of high water Dover minus 3 hours, which gave us 3 hours of a following incoming tide for the last part of the trip into Harwich.

We set off a 06.00 as first light broke.  The forecast for the first day was for force 4 and 5 south-westerly winds.  The winds turned out to be higher than expected and as usual were on the nose of the boat. 

Rigs in the North Sea.

Wind-farms in the North Sea.

Mick helming at an angle mid-afternoon.

Night-fall.

The first 24 hours of the trip were more lively than was forecast, which makes the journey more un-comfortable.  The issue being the relentless motion.  Hour after hour of constant movement.  The positives were that there was an almost full moon, so it was never totally dark.  The other was that we had no rain and the wind was not too cold.

I had a nap in the afternoon and was therefore able to stay awake while Mick slept from 11.30pm to 02.30am.  I then slept from 03.00am to 06.00am while Mick stood watch for daybreak.

A welcome brew as the sea became calmer for our last 6 hours.  We surfed past Sizewell Power Station with the morning tide.

We had both taken sea sickness tablets which did their job, but we both felt the influence of the constant motion over the 30 hour trip.  We did not manage to plough through all the 15 teacakes I had prepared, but non were wasted as when we arrived hunger hit. 

When we stop to think about it, it is very usual for a human being to carry out any tasks for such prolonged periods.  There is usually an opportunity to stop and rest, but with sailing it is a no-option option, you just have to carry on.  My respect for sailors who do this alone grows each time I experience it.  We also think that our sedate summer of canals and lakes, did little to prepare us for this extended period of sailing. 

However, at no time during the trip did we feel in danger as our preparations and planning had been thorough and the weather conditions were well within the limits of the boat and ourselves.

In sailing terms this is not a long journey, but it is not my natural habitat, and I suffer it only because it is a means to an end.  A necessary evil to enable a fabulous summer.  I await the day when one of these trips is an actual pleasure.

Shotley Marina at Harwich was a welcome sight at 11.30am on Saturday the 29th.  A nice small lock leading to a big sleep.

We woke to the gentle tinkle of container ships being loaded across the river at the Port of Felixstowe.