Urk's role as a still active port means that there are good fuel supplies, and tankers ply around the harbour refuelling the larger boats. We arranged a supply with Klaas de Boer and within half an hour we were provided with 500 litres at €0,85 per litre. Not quite duty free prices but an improvement on some we have seen. With Dan and Isobel expected for the weekend we decided to head back to Amsterdam to reduce their journey. We have learnt from last year that even the simplest of rail journeys can become a bit trying in a foreign country after flights and other travelling. We started the trip with the short passage to the Houtrib lock in the eastern end of the dyke separating the northern and southern parts of the IJsselmeer. The huge infrastructure did not really justify the imperceptible change in water level.

The Jachthaven at Lelystad is near the lock, although with an hour's walk to the modern town and train station, we had opted against this as a pick up point for our guests. More convenient to the harbour is the adjacent Batavia Stad, an outlet shopping village and home to the replica East Indiaman, the VOC Batavia. Unfortunately, the Nieuw Land Polder Museum, which might have made the stop worthwhile, is closed for redevelopment until February 2005. It was another glorious day to cruise across the IJsselmeer, which was smooth and blue under a cloudless sky. We retraced our track into the Buiten IJ towards Amsterdam, passing under the Schellingwouderbrug and through the Oranjesluizen with little delay.

On the approach to the city we were stopped by the river police, upset that we were using the main channel rather than keeping outside to starboard with the other "little boats". We satisfied him with a humble apology and an inspection of our ICC, neatly side-stepping the question of "snelboot" registration.

We found almost the last spot in Sixhaven marina and opted to decline the attractions of the city on a hot and sultry evening, for the shade and breeze of the aft deck. We once again had cause to celebrate our Victron Energy inverter, managing to run both the air conditioning and the electric BBQ on the 6 amp shore power.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 33 nm

Total to date: 1306 nm

Avg Speed: 8 knots

Duration: 4:10 hours

Diesel: 114 litres

Mooring: €16

Electricity: Included

Bridges

Schellingwouderbrug (7.5m)

Locks

Sluis Houtrib

Oranjesluizen

Charts

1810.4

1810.3

1810.2