July 24 very early in the morning.
I wake up with a start – look at my watch and horror of horrors the alarm hasn’t gone off. It is 03.35. I was supposed to get up at 03.00am. Still, not all is lost, I will just have to forgo the cup of tea. I rush out of bed, do all the needed stuff and get my cats ready and am just in time for the taxi, which is outside my door at 04.15am.
The journey to Heathrow and the flight are uneventful – which is nothing to complain about. And on arrival I am fast tracked though and there is Ellis waiting for me. We spend about 30minutes trying to get out the right way – funnily no one, who works at Schiphol, know the way either. In the end we find the car and via Ellis’s house we arrive in Monnickendam to “our” boat, the Ijsvogel.
After settling in we decided to take the Ijsvoge for a spin. With only the small headsail. It was wind force 5 to 6. We left the “haven” and all was ok – although I was nervous – till we got out quite far and had to turn the ship. Then it got all very busy and nerve-racking, so to spare my heart we went back. In the evening after supper, Ad played the guitar and Ellis and I sang. We also had a lesson in navigation. At about 2am we went to bed. And after a rather noisy and impressive thunder storm I fell asleep at last.
Saturday 25th.
After a very relaxed morning we put everything away and tightened everything and went on our merry way. All the way to Enkhuizen. That’s about 18 miles. With an average speed of 4.5 knots we estimated 5 hours of sailing – especially as we also had to go through a lock.
After initial nervousness, mainly due to the high waves – as we were still only using the headsail and making good speed with 5 to 6 knots, I relaxed. It was nice sailing and the coastline was smaller and smaller. There was a week sun with a few clouds. Then a dark, black cloud appeared. We all put our rain-clothes on. Suddenly it was upon us. Now, rain would be ok – but with rain comes more wind and more waves! I did not enjoy that bit at all – and wondered why I was on the ship at all. Thankfully, the rain, clouds and wind passed and after a bit my fear passed too. Especially as we were nearing the land again and the lock so the waters calmed down a bit. I found a really nice place to sit as we slowly motored though the lock.
It was then decided to visit Ellis’s friend Etty & Han, who were moored nearby on their very large ship (where they live all year round in Amsterdam). So we came next to them and used their ship as a mooring place. We spend a very nice hour chatting, drinking beer and bobbing on the waves. After we said our goodbyes Han accompanied us to the harbour on his small sailing dinghy.
We moored at Enkhuizen. This was a very busy place, but we got good mooring. In the evening we went out for a meal and spend the rest of the time again singing and deciding on the next day.
Sunday the 26th
Early start this day. We had a time limit as I had to catch the plane back to London.
So before 9am we left and had breakfast while sailing. Again we started with the head sail only, although the wind force was only 3-4. But there were still pretty big waves.
We sailed to the harbour of Hoorn, where we stopped for lunch. This is a very very pretty place and we cracked open a bottle of champagne to accompany our lunch. At 13.00 we left Hoorn and made our way back to Monnickendam. The wind had died down a bit and the waves had died down a lot. So I felt much more relaxed (it may have also been an after-effect of the Champs). I dared to take the wheel. I also dared to go to the front of the ship – I think this has become my favourite place (apart from when it’s too windy). It is very comfy and you are quite high above the water. Then to my great surprise I even asked that the Main sail would be used. And so up it went – all the way. And we went a bit faster but not too much leaning with the ship. I was allowed to have the rope that would release the sail if I found that we leaned too much. But instead of releasing it, I would ask Gus to sail into the wind a bit, and then the ship straightens up. So we sailed happily like this till the entrance to the harbour.
There a few things started to get a bit messy. There was a problem with the motor rotor and the keel. Something seemed to hold it back. So I panicked a bit, and the sails went down. We made our chugging way back to the berth place. We found a whole salad of seaweed around the motor and keel. No wonder that it was difficult to steer.
After a change, quick supper- whipped up by Gus. Ellis and Gus took me to Schiphol. I checked in, had a drink brought some chocolates and went through the gate. The plane was late of course (some problem plane in Heathrow). Flight was ok – a bit bumpy. We arrived at Heathrow and there was no assistance for me. BA forgot to book it. So we had to wait. In the end one of the stewards found a wheelchair and the captain of the plane wheeled me half way out till we found the appropriate personnel to take me through to my taxi which had already waited for 50 minutes – so that will cost a nice amount! Got home at midnight.
