Wednesday 10th July Ref: 2019/18
As an Ijsselmeer passage was in prospect with slight rain falling with a moderate breeze, I took time to check the engine oil and water levels of Lady Martina’s s so as to take no chances. I therefore brought the bicycles in strap them securely down, we got all the fenders onto the decks and then closed all windows.
When underway, and moving away from Gebr. Van Enkhuisen, and into the Makkummer Djip we could see the open Ijsselmeer ahead of us with white horses forming on the top of the waves. but these were only in the very shallow margins of the mere but there was still a stiff 8 to 10 knot southerly breeze against the 1 to 2 knot out going river flow which was uncomfortable when we were cruising north-west out of the Makkummer channel with that wind on our port beam.
Once we had turned south, it was a slight sea. Within an hour, we had skirted the Workum Channel buoys and were arriving on exactly the right bearing into the Hindeloopen channel. We moored up in the old Hylper Haven area with the aid of the harbourmaster.
I had been doing some essential and overdue writing this morning, since about 7am, and then, having called Kathleen at 9am and sat together until nearly 10am, I was not really ready to prepare Lady Martina for another sea trip. I was also hungry and so Kathleen to make us both some porridge for breakfast, which we were enjoying when the others were ready to go. Once that was finished, I felt it necessary to check the oil and water levels of Lady Martina’s engines so as to take no chances. The slight rain was falling with a moderate breeze and, as I had said in my morning radio message to Chris on Ikon, you cannot take the IJsselmeer for granted and we would not have been able to cater whilst underway.
I therefore brought the bicycles in strap them securely down, we got all the fenders onto the decks and then closed all windows. When underway, and moving away from Gebr. Van Enkhuisen, and into the Makkummer Djip we could see the open Ijsselmeer ahead of us with white horses forming on the top of the waves. Once we got there, it became apparent that these white horses were only in the very shallow margins of the mere but there was still a nasty 8 to 10 knot southerly wind against the 1 to 2 not out going river flow which was uncomfortable when we were cruising north-west out of the Makkummer channel with that wind on our port beam.
Once we had turned south, it was a slight sea, though I could see Ikon behind me riding up and down into the waves. Within an hour, we had skirted the Workum Channel buoys and were arriving on exactly the right bearing into the Hindeloopen channel. We cruised into the old Hylper Haven area, where I waited a while until we were in contact with the harbourmaster who directed to some birds alongside the lifeboats, where Ikon and ourselves could moor together.
We were bow to shore with a relatively short landing stage and so it took me some time to get Lady Martina moored safely and securely by which time everyone else, including Kathleen, were anxious to start drinking tea and eating lunch but I wisely took my time and eventually had everything shipshape such that we could leave Lady Martina and go on to Ikon.
