There was a "morning after" feel to Willemstad today, after all the festivities of the weekend, with many of the shops closed until Wednesday. We eventually managed to find the elusive supermarket (left at the windmill) and stocked up before our trip to Dordrecht. Although we were inland, a study of the tidal atlas and almanac had revealed a significant tide in the Dordtse Kil, arising out of the flow from the "Beneden Rivieren" - the interconnected river systems which reach the sea at the Hoek of Holland. This dictated the afternoon as the best time to make the two hour passage when we would have 2-3 knots of north going ebb tide.

Fortunately there were no locks to negotiate on our route, as a steady drizzle accompanied our departure from Willemstad and we were again grateful for our cosy enclosed cockpit. West of the Dordrecht marinas on the Oude Maas the road and railway bridges present little hazard to motor boaters as they have clearance in excess of 10 metres. For the vertically challenged, there are opening times for both bridges in the ANWB Almanak (Part 2). This is a well-used commercial waterway and we had to resort to the CEVNI book for some of the bankside signs.

We opted for the centrally positioned moorings of the Royal Dordrecht Rowing and Sailing Club (KDRZV) and were pleased to see that we had coincidentally arrived during one of the ten minute service times of their lifting entrance bridge. The bridge opened on request by VHF and we stopped at the reception berth to visit the harbour office.

Dordrecht is well worth a visit as the oldest city of Holland and there are city tours available on foot, boat, or horse-drawn coach. All of these point out the Groothoofdpoort, the original city gate at the junction of the Merwede, Noord and Oude Maas rivers, which they claim to be the busiest waterways junction in Europe. The interior has now been taken over by the adjacent hotel and restaurant. Museums cater for all tastes, including art, war and sewing machines, as well as the popular Simon Van Gijn museum, a reconstruction of a 19th century Dordtse mansion house.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 14 nm

Total to date: 983 nm

Avg Speed: 7 knots

Duration: 2 hours

Wind: SW3

Diesel: 52 litres

Mooring: €16

Electricity: €0.50 meter

Bridges

Dordrecht road (10.5m)

Dordrecht rail (10.95m)

Engelenburger (lift)

Charts

1807.8

1807.9

1809.8