On the evening of Thursday 21st June, Ann and Alan Ramsden joined me at Grouw having got the train from Amsterdam airport. We had a long walk from the station as there are no buses that meet the train, and the only taxi service in the village went bust. Grouw is very pretty but not a teeming metropolis!
Never mind, we went to the same restaurant where Tina celebrated her birthday the day before and had a good feed and some liquid fuel. On Thursday 22nd we were weather bound, force 7 winds and impossible to exit our box berth, so more eating, drinking and reading!
On Saturday 23rd we were able to leave Grouw on a blustery but sunny day and motored to Leeuwarden. Leeuwarden has lovely moorings in the centre of town at Prinsen Tuin. These mooring have all the facilities but are in a grassed tree lined park area next to the old town. A very pretty stop.
The rain started during Saturday night and, by the time we left on Sunday 24th, it was pouring. Just our luck because we planned a long day through Dokkum and on to the marina adjacent to the sea lock at Lauwersoog. It rained and rained and rained. I have not seen it like that outside the tropics. Alan and I got soaked while Ann navigated and kept the spirits up with food and drink.
All things have an ending however, and we arrived to dry out, eat steaks and inhale two bottles of wine.
So here we are on Monday fretting to get to sea and on to German waters, but stuck yet again by F6 to 7 winds.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Grouw waiting on a new crew
Interesting few days since last blog.
We spent three days in Einkhuizen, longer than planned but I had to pay a visit to my old company (Shell), in the Hague on Monday 18th June so it gave Tina and Lee a chance to visit what is probably the nicest city in Holland. While at Einkhuizen we also caught up with our good friends, Marianne and Casper.
On Tuesday 19th June we had a grand sail across the Isslemeer in the sun with a light breeze. We entered Lemmer through the large Princes Maargeret lock along with two 3000 ton barges. Three yachts like mice behind elephants!
The marina in Lemmer was easily the worst we have stayed in. As well as being expensive we had three tries before the stupid harbour master found us a box that was not already occupied or too narrow for us. Lee and I were fuming. Added to that there was a sign on the toilets that said that due to vandalism, they close at 10pm and open at 7am. This is in a marina that has no perimeter fence so free access to all.
We are supposed to be In a country where you are not allowed to flush solid waste through the toilets. So the marina management must assume that all the folk staying there have very strong bowels!
On Wednesday 20th June we motored up the canal to Grouw in sunny but breezy weather. Stopped at a nice marina, had a look around town and chose a restaurant for Tina's birthday dinner. Another marvellous meal.
This morning 21st June, we moved the boat to a more sheltered box in the marina, because a depression is moving in with strong winds, then Lee and Tina left to catch the train to Amsterdam en route home to Cornwall.
We spent three days in Einkhuizen, longer than planned but I had to pay a visit to my old company (Shell), in the Hague on Monday 18th June so it gave Tina and Lee a chance to visit what is probably the nicest city in Holland. While at Einkhuizen we also caught up with our good friends, Marianne and Casper.
On Tuesday 19th June we had a grand sail across the Isslemeer in the sun with a light breeze. We entered Lemmer through the large Princes Maargeret lock along with two 3000 ton barges. Three yachts like mice behind elephants!
The marina in Lemmer was easily the worst we have stayed in. As well as being expensive we had three tries before the stupid harbour master found us a box that was not already occupied or too narrow for us. Lee and I were fuming. Added to that there was a sign on the toilets that said that due to vandalism, they close at 10pm and open at 7am. This is in a marina that has no perimeter fence so free access to all.
We are supposed to be In a country where you are not allowed to flush solid waste through the toilets. So the marina management must assume that all the folk staying there have very strong bowels!
On Wednesday 20th June we motored up the canal to Grouw in sunny but breezy weather. Stopped at a nice marina, had a look around town and chose a restaurant for Tina's birthday dinner. Another marvellous meal.
This morning 21st June, we moved the boat to a more sheltered box in the marina, because a depression is moving in with strong winds, then Lee and Tina left to catch the train to Amsterdam en route home to Cornwall.
Friday, 15 June 2012
Enkhuizen
We left the lovely marina at Hoorn on a windy rainy Friday morning at 7am, ( 15th June). In view of the fact that this time doesn't exist for them in the real world, Lee and Tina were great, up and doing in fine style.
We headed into the F5 East wind to get around the first headland en route to Enkhuizen. The Isslemeer kicks up a surprisingly vicious sea, perhaps because it is so shallow. Lee felt distinctly average and Tina went from enjoying the pitching and spray to contemplative to being sick when we turned and started rolling.
The pain was not for long though as two hours later we passed through the lock at Enkhuizen and half an hour later were in the Compagnie marina.
The Enkhuizen lock is part of a long wall that effectively divides the huge expanse of the Isselmeer in half.
A small drama coming alongside a windward berth as Lee had not quite mastered the lassoing technique yet, which the Dutch seem to do with such aplomb. No matter, we went alongside near to the office which is supposed to be for two hours only and stayed there all day while we caught up with our horizontal time! We then moved to a box berth which was accomplished in fine style.
We will stay here for 4 days, partly to visit friends and go to the Hague, partly because the weather is going down hill for the weekend. No need to spoil a holiday for the young folk.
We headed into the F5 East wind to get around the first headland en route to Enkhuizen. The Isslemeer kicks up a surprisingly vicious sea, perhaps because it is so shallow. Lee felt distinctly average and Tina went from enjoying the pitching and spray to contemplative to being sick when we turned and started rolling.
The pain was not for long though as two hours later we passed through the lock at Enkhuizen and half an hour later were in the Compagnie marina.
The Enkhuizen lock is part of a long wall that effectively divides the huge expanse of the Isselmeer in half.
A small drama coming alongside a windward berth as Lee had not quite mastered the lassoing technique yet, which the Dutch seem to do with such aplomb. No matter, we went alongside near to the office which is supposed to be for two hours only and stayed there all day while we caught up with our horizontal time! We then moved to a box berth which was accomplished in fine style.
We will stay here for 4 days, partly to visit friends and go to the Hague, partly because the weather is going down hill for the weekend. No need to spoil a holiday for the young folk.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Hoorn - with a crew
Lee and his girl friend Tina joined me on Wednesday 13th June and by 11am we had left the rather scruffy Aoelus marina and were motoring past the luxury hotel boats and out of Amsterdam and on to the Isslemeer via a lock and a road bridge. Good introduction for the younguns. The weather was sunny with a nice breeze, (but still cool) so we decided to see if the sails still worked. Naturally as soon as we had them drawing the wind died so back on with the donk.
The Isslemeer is a strange sort of inland sea for those who have not sailed there before. It is large enough that the far shore is not visible but no more than 5 m deep, in fact most areas are about 3m. It is funny to see what appear to be trees floating on the horizon to then find out that it is the far shore visible at anything up to 10nm away.
A short trip of about 10nm took us to the village of Marken. Marken used to on an island just off from Monickendam, ( it now has a causeway) and rumour is that, because it was isolated the folk were a bit strange due to inbreeding. Today it is a twee picture book village with green wooden houses small cobbled streets and restaurants / souvenir shops mostly catering for the tourist boat from Volendam. A small marina with average facilities, Lee and Tina's first experience of box mooring. They did very well. At 8pm we went out for dinner, (there are no less than five restaurants and a hotel). Would you believe they were all shut? Holland was playing Germany at football so they closed early! Maybe what the local folk say is true? Back to the boat for Dad's chicken curry.
Thursday 14th June dawned bright and sunny again with a very light N wind, and the young ones raring to go. So we headed due North to the town of Hoorn, another epic 10nm voyage. Here we found a very pretty marina. Tree lined, full of water birds and excellent facilities.
The Isslemeer is a strange sort of inland sea for those who have not sailed there before. It is large enough that the far shore is not visible but no more than 5 m deep, in fact most areas are about 3m. It is funny to see what appear to be trees floating on the horizon to then find out that it is the far shore visible at anything up to 10nm away.
A short trip of about 10nm took us to the village of Marken. Marken used to on an island just off from Monickendam, ( it now has a causeway) and rumour is that, because it was isolated the folk were a bit strange due to inbreeding. Today it is a twee picture book village with green wooden houses small cobbled streets and restaurants / souvenir shops mostly catering for the tourist boat from Volendam. A small marina with average facilities, Lee and Tina's first experience of box mooring. They did very well. At 8pm we went out for dinner, (there are no less than five restaurants and a hotel). Would you believe they were all shut? Holland was playing Germany at football so they closed early! Maybe what the local folk say is true? Back to the boat for Dad's chicken curry.
Thursday 14th June dawned bright and sunny again with a very light N wind, and the young ones raring to go. So we headed due North to the town of Hoorn, another epic 10nm voyage. Here we found a very pretty marina. Tree lined, full of water birds and excellent facilities.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Amsterdam - with me, myself and I as crew
Taking a yacht through the canals is much harder work than sailing at sea. At sea you just set the sails fire up the auto pilot and relax, (well almost). The locks and bridges in the Dutch canals are hard work. In some towns there are 5 bridges and each operator may keep you waiting for 10 minutes or so just to test your boat handling skills!
From the last blog you will know that Keren and Dianne left me at Dordrecht as Keren has "mum" duty.
From Dordrecht I braved the Oude Maas on Wednesday 7th June. This is a main through way to Rotterdam. Really big barges use this canal and it is not as wide as the more Southern ones. Fortunately they do not go too fast and know their business. However, at the first bridge out of the marina there was a strong current and nowhere to tie up. Interesting, stooging back and forth playing dodge the barge.
You learn boat handling under power fast here, especially with a dodgy prop!
From the Oude Maas, a handbrake turn right takes you up the Hollands Ijssel canal to Gouda, and another heap of bridges. At Gouda a good friend Ton van Beek joined me, stayed the night and then guided me to Warmond where I saw Dutch boat service in action. The yard owners wife gave us a cup of coffee while Jan Bakker lifted Jomora in his travel hoist. Rubbish in the prop. We went for lunch and came back to find the boat in the water having had prop fixed, hull pressure washed and topsides cleaned, all in the cost of a one way hoist, 150 euros.
I stayed in Warmond over the weekend to visit these good folk and another friend who lives close by.
Ton is on the committee and ex Commodore of the Royal Kaags Yacht Club. This club over 100 years old and owns two marinas in Warmond one of which is where I was berthed. So on Saturday 9th June I went to watch gig racing from the clubhouse with Ton and his wife Catharina. The gigs are exactly the same as those we see in Cornwall, and one of them "Dutch Courage" was made in Teignmouth and raced this year in Scilly.
Enough lounging around. On Sunday 10th it was time to head North again if I was to have any chance meeting Lee and Tina (our son and girlfriend ) in Amsterdam.
A lot of the canal work in Holland is governed by the opening times of the railway bridges because, whereas as most of the road bridges open on demand, (see previous comment), the rail bridges only open at certain times of the day. In this case the opening time was at about 6pm, so it made for a late start and a consequently late arrival at the next stop, Haarlem. Fortunately, met up with a very nice Dutch couple in an immaculately restored Contessa 32, so we cruised in company which made the journey less tiring. Quick look around Haarlem, a lovely city, before getting the head on the pillow.
Today, Monday 11th was again governed by a railway bridge opening time and the big motorway bridge opening time at Spaarndam. Lots of yachts making the transit in convoy so yours truly hung well back out of the inevitable melee close to the bridges. After the Spaarndam motorway bridge it is just a few hundred metres to the Nordzee canal which runs right through Amsterdam where there are two marinas ( Sixhaven and Aeolus) just a ferry ride from the central railway station. Most folk stay at Sixhaven but there is a tunnel being built next to it with all the attendant noise and dust, so I chose the other option. The weather was kind today breezy and sunny until I got into the Aeolus marina and got the cockpit tent up. Then thunder, lightning and the heavens opened. Don't think Keren need worry about me doing the town tonight in the rain. There is a restaurant around the corner with sea bass as the fish of the day so the hot spots can wait!
From the last blog you will know that Keren and Dianne left me at Dordrecht as Keren has "mum" duty.
From Dordrecht I braved the Oude Maas on Wednesday 7th June. This is a main through way to Rotterdam. Really big barges use this canal and it is not as wide as the more Southern ones. Fortunately they do not go too fast and know their business. However, at the first bridge out of the marina there was a strong current and nowhere to tie up. Interesting, stooging back and forth playing dodge the barge.
You learn boat handling under power fast here, especially with a dodgy prop!
From the Oude Maas, a handbrake turn right takes you up the Hollands Ijssel canal to Gouda, and another heap of bridges. At Gouda a good friend Ton van Beek joined me, stayed the night and then guided me to Warmond where I saw Dutch boat service in action. The yard owners wife gave us a cup of coffee while Jan Bakker lifted Jomora in his travel hoist. Rubbish in the prop. We went for lunch and came back to find the boat in the water having had prop fixed, hull pressure washed and topsides cleaned, all in the cost of a one way hoist, 150 euros.
I stayed in Warmond over the weekend to visit these good folk and another friend who lives close by.
Ton is on the committee and ex Commodore of the Royal Kaags Yacht Club. This club over 100 years old and owns two marinas in Warmond one of which is where I was berthed. So on Saturday 9th June I went to watch gig racing from the clubhouse with Ton and his wife Catharina. The gigs are exactly the same as those we see in Cornwall, and one of them "Dutch Courage" was made in Teignmouth and raced this year in Scilly.
Enough lounging around. On Sunday 10th it was time to head North again if I was to have any chance meeting Lee and Tina (our son and girlfriend ) in Amsterdam.
A lot of the canal work in Holland is governed by the opening times of the railway bridges because, whereas as most of the road bridges open on demand, (see previous comment), the rail bridges only open at certain times of the day. In this case the opening time was at about 6pm, so it made for a late start and a consequently late arrival at the next stop, Haarlem. Fortunately, met up with a very nice Dutch couple in an immaculately restored Contessa 32, so we cruised in company which made the journey less tiring. Quick look around Haarlem, a lovely city, before getting the head on the pillow.
Today, Monday 11th was again governed by a railway bridge opening time and the big motorway bridge opening time at Spaarndam. Lots of yachts making the transit in convoy so yours truly hung well back out of the inevitable melee close to the bridges. After the Spaarndam motorway bridge it is just a few hundred metres to the Nordzee canal which runs right through Amsterdam where there are two marinas ( Sixhaven and Aeolus) just a ferry ride from the central railway station. Most folk stay at Sixhaven but there is a tunnel being built next to it with all the attendant noise and dust, so I chose the other option. The weather was kind today breezy and sunny until I got into the Aeolus marina and got the cockpit tent up. Then thunder, lightning and the heavens opened. Don't think Keren need worry about me doing the town tonight in the rain. There is a restaurant around the corner with sea bass as the fish of the day so the hot spots can wait!
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Dordrecht
Dutch hospitality and efficiency.
The harbour master helped us to berth alongside in his little launch then directed us to the local chandlery who ordered a new water trap that was delivered the next day.
Today, Tuesday 5th June I fitted it tested the engine and off we went to Dordrecht. A four hour motor along the Hoolandsdiep and turn right up the Oude Maas. Lots and lots of big commercial barges, monsters but all very sedate and giving us plenty of room. They only travel at about 7knots and the canals are quite wide so the wash is not too bad. Interesting event was going under the big railway bridge at Dordrecht called the Spoorhefbrug, a huge thing on which a section lifts vertically. The railway bridges are the real pinch points on the canals because they only open at certain very specific times so one needs to plan around them.
We were surprised at how strong the tidal current still is. We had about 1 1/2
knots against us while going up the Oude Maas.
Also surprising is the rural aspect of the canals. Dordrecht is a big city and yet the canal is tree lined and seems quite "countrified".
We are in a delightful small marina called Maartensgat, right below below the Grote Kerk in what seems like a residential part of the down town area. The marina has a little courtyard with tables and chairs. The tables have vases with flowers and there is a crested Grebe nesting under the pontoon.
The harbour master helped us to berth alongside in his little launch then directed us to the local chandlery who ordered a new water trap that was delivered the next day.
Today, Tuesday 5th June I fitted it tested the engine and off we went to Dordrecht. A four hour motor along the Hoolandsdiep and turn right up the Oude Maas. Lots and lots of big commercial barges, monsters but all very sedate and giving us plenty of room. They only travel at about 7knots and the canals are quite wide so the wash is not too bad. Interesting event was going under the big railway bridge at Dordrecht called the Spoorhefbrug, a huge thing on which a section lifts vertically. The railway bridges are the real pinch points on the canals because they only open at certain very specific times so one needs to plan around them.
We were surprised at how strong the tidal current still is. We had about 1 1/2
knots against us while going up the Oude Maas.
Also surprising is the rural aspect of the canals. Dordrecht is a big city and yet the canal is tree lined and seems quite "countrified".
We are in a delightful small marina called Maartensgat, right below below the Grote Kerk in what seems like a residential part of the down town area. The marina has a little courtyard with tables and chairs. The tables have vases with flowers and there is a crested Grebe nesting under the pontoon.
Monday, 4 June 2012
A bit of a train wreck - Willemstadt
Set out this morning in horrible weather to motor from Willemstadt to Dordrecht. Got into the main channel and the water temperature warning light and alarm went on. Something in the exhaust. By the time we got anchored and got sorted we had cooked the Vetus water trap. So limped back into Willemstadt. We have ordered a new water trap which will arrive tomorrow and will move on after I have done repairs either later in the day or early on the 6th. Sometimes wonder whether caravanning be an easy option!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, 3 June 2012
On through S Holland - Willemstadt
Do you know that this is the coldest summer that Holland has had for 40 years? Only we could arrange that. Still we are having fun -
On Thursday 31st we arrived in Middleburg where we stayed for two days.
Lovely very typical Dutch town with the marina right in the centre and a super little yacht club 50 metres from the boat that serves marvellous food. On the second day we toured the town saw the sites, and of course ate Patat Frites mit mayonnaise from a little stall in the market place. Middleburg was bombed during the Hitler war and was virtually destroyed but it has been beautifully rebuilt.
On Saturday 2nd we headed North and then East through the Veerse Meer, and were amazed. This area is like the Norfolk Broads only much much bigger. It is a mini cruising ground in a million with lots of little islands with pontoons and anchorages. The shore is also dotted with camp grounds and sailing centres for children.
We have found that the large locks in this part of Holland can take quite a while to get through, although the level change is quite moderate and the lock keepers control the inflow much better then the the French. We stayed the night in a little inlet outside a place called Sint Annaland. We elected to pick up a morning just outside the marina because we have a propellor problem that is making reversing something of a lottery and this marina was full of weekend sailors. The propellor issue is entirely my fault. Jomora has a folding prop which I had thought about changing for this trip, but it slipped to the bottom of the jobs list, and the big fishing net we caught on the way to Cherbourg has obviously damaged it. Thanks to one of our Dutch friends we have a plan in hand to slip the boat and check out / change the prop.
Just as forecast the clear ( but cool ) weather ended during the night and a front came howling in from the North East bringing wind and rain.
Today (Sunday 3rd June) we slipped the buoy and headed roughly North in the driving rain though the Oosterschelde and into the Hollands Deip to Willemstadt. 2 big locks negotiated, and glad to be tied up after 5 very lumpy hours.
Right now at 8pm we are sitting in a restaurant overlooking the harbour stuffing ourselves with lovely food. By the way we go on record that we have so far had stunning food in Holland quite reasonably priced. I am eating a huge mixed grill with mushroom and red wine sauce and baked potatoes, and Keren is stuffing herself with garlic prawns.
Tomorrow onwards to Dordrecht.
On Thursday 31st we arrived in Middleburg where we stayed for two days.
Lovely very typical Dutch town with the marina right in the centre and a super little yacht club 50 metres from the boat that serves marvellous food. On the second day we toured the town saw the sites, and of course ate Patat Frites mit mayonnaise from a little stall in the market place. Middleburg was bombed during the Hitler war and was virtually destroyed but it has been beautifully rebuilt.
On Saturday 2nd we headed North and then East through the Veerse Meer, and were amazed. This area is like the Norfolk Broads only much much bigger. It is a mini cruising ground in a million with lots of little islands with pontoons and anchorages. The shore is also dotted with camp grounds and sailing centres for children.
We have found that the large locks in this part of Holland can take quite a while to get through, although the level change is quite moderate and the lock keepers control the inflow much better then the the French. We stayed the night in a little inlet outside a place called Sint Annaland. We elected to pick up a morning just outside the marina because we have a propellor problem that is making reversing something of a lottery and this marina was full of weekend sailors. The propellor issue is entirely my fault. Jomora has a folding prop which I had thought about changing for this trip, but it slipped to the bottom of the jobs list, and the big fishing net we caught on the way to Cherbourg has obviously damaged it. Thanks to one of our Dutch friends we have a plan in hand to slip the boat and check out / change the prop.
Just as forecast the clear ( but cool ) weather ended during the night and a front came howling in from the North East bringing wind and rain.
Today (Sunday 3rd June) we slipped the buoy and headed roughly North in the driving rain though the Oosterschelde and into the Hollands Deip to Willemstadt. 2 big locks negotiated, and glad to be tied up after 5 very lumpy hours.
Right now at 8pm we are sitting in a restaurant overlooking the harbour stuffing ourselves with lovely food. By the way we go on record that we have so far had stunning food in Holland quite reasonably priced. I am eating a huge mixed grill with mushroom and red wine sauce and baked potatoes, and Keren is stuffing herself with garlic prawns.
Tomorrow onwards to Dordrecht.
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