During our last attempt to sail we came to the conclusion that we needed to switch our genoa. The one we use now is quite old and torn, but the main problem with it is that it’s too big, at least for us. We changed it with a smaller genoa which looked definitely smaller and easier to handle. And the smaller size solved one of our problems with the safety net for Captain Fluffy, because the jib sheet didn’t need to cross underneath the life lines anymore.
We also checked our main sail, and adjusted the reef lines. Let’s try this new configuration.
The weather forecast predicted 3 to 4 Beaufort for today and blowing straight towards Enkhuizen, so we decided to leave. We left the marina and hoisted our genoa first to see what the wind would do. It started out fine, we had a steady breeze and made good speed. But then the wind started to increase rapidly and soon it was blowing a steady 4 to 5 Beaufort. Our genoa is really big, and since it is probably one of the original sails it would be 40 years old, just as old as our boat is. After all these years it has completely lost its shape. It would only blow up like a balloon, trapping the air flow and tilting the boat over forwards which was not really pleasant. And since we’re not very experienced yet, we don’t know how to handle the ever increasing wind with the shapeless sail. We tried furling in the genoa a bit to minimize the amount sail, but that didn’t really change much. After the wind had increased even more with gusts up to 36 knots we had enough and decided to furl in the genoa and continue by engine. So much for 3 to 4 Beaufort.
Jeroen looking anxiously at the waves behind us
We were in for a bumpy ride. We were already halfway the Markermeer and the waves had time to build up on the open water, resulting in short but relatively big waves. The waves were sometimes even crashing into the cockpit from behind.
After being tossed hither and thither for almost 4 hours we finally reached the lock where we could exit the Markermeer and enter the IJsselmeer, also marking our destination. The marina of Enkhuizen lies right behind the lock.
No shortage on marinas here in Enkhuizen. There is a big municipality marina spread over three locations in the inner city. There is a also club marina near the train station and a huge commercial marina. Enkhuizen must be a popular spot since all the marinas were already quite full, and it isn’t even mid season yet. We chose to moor in the Oosterhaven, one of the three the municipality marinas.
After we had left the locks we hailed the harbour master who directed us to slip nr.66 in the Oosterhaven. Upon arrival it looked quite narrow, but since the harbour master had directed us to that slip knowing our width, we must assume that it will fit. But it didn’t. We entered slip but got stuck one third in. It was way too narrow. With some effort we prised ourselves loose, moored temporarily on the opposite side of the canal and hailed him again over VHF to say it didn’t fit. “Impossible!” he said “The slip should be almost 4 meters wide!”. We assured him that it really wasn’t, since we were 3,20 meters wide. He couldn’t appoint another slip immediately, since he was on his bike opening bridges and all, and had forgotten to bring the list. So if we could stay afloat for a while he would race to the harbour office and check for available spaces and hail us again. In the meantime we had seen that slip 55 was empty, looked broad enough and had a finger dock thus we suggested to dock there. The harbour master agreed, so we started the engine again and docked in slip 55. Or so we thought. When we were fastening the mooring lines we saw that it wasn’t 55 but 51. Wrong slip! We didn’t feel like relocating after the rough trip, so we hailed the harbour master again and told them that we had docked in the wrong slip. “My bad” I said, “ I wasn’t wearing my glasses”. Fortunately it wasn’t a problem to stay here. We were relieved to be done with it all.
We went to the harbour office to pay. In Enkhuizen paying for a slip is fully automated. Another first today, paying at a ticket machine. The machine printed a sticker we had to attach to the boat. We also had to buy a card from the machine to pay for electricity, water and showers.
After the usual post-mooring stuff like connecting shore power, cleaning up sail gear and reverse the saloon into living mode again we settled down in the cockpit to recover from the bumpy ride. The weather was cooperative for once. The wind had died down and there was even a ray of sunshine peeping through the clouds. Captain Fluffy didn’t need to recover from the passage. Although he had spent the whole trip in the V-berth, he almost immediately jumped on the finger dock and went off exploring. It looks like he already feels at home here.
A Great Crested Grebe had set up a nest near our boat
We decided to stay another day longer in the marina to get some work done, and we needed to fix the problem with the jib. The harbour master started to laugh and said “Why don’t you stay till after the weekend? It’s free of charge anyway on Sundays. The owner of the marina is a deeply religious person, so working and getting paid is not allowed”. Well we might just do that. We really like this marina. It’s small, quiet and really sheltered between the high dykes of the canal. It feels like a cosy hobbit burrow, like you’re in a secluded space where no one else comes. And the few people that are here are really friendly. Plus we could finally finish the solar panel project and put up a safety net between the toe rail and the sea rail for Captain Fluffy who is not always sure footed.
Together we looked at the stuck jib and he remarked that a bit of grease would probably help. After twiddling and rummaging about and with the aid of some penetrating oil the furling genoa worked again. But we might have to dissemble the whole reel at one point, there’s a lot of grit accumulating there.
We also created a longer electricity cable by cutting the the cord off the electricity reel and attaching marine plugs to both ends. Now we have 25 meters of cable, let’s see if this proves to be enough.
The weather was still amazing, so we concluded the day by having home made beer with nice nibblies in the cockpit.
The next stage of our adventure! Today we leave for Middelharnis. Not to the municipality marina in the city center, but the ‘Parkhaven Middelharnis’ which is a commercial marina. The reason we choose a marina far away from the old city center, is that this marina lies just over a kilometer away from the place where we’re going to rent a car tomorrow. Well a van actually, they were out of cars. Our car is still in Stellendam, so we need to retrieve it.
It was going to be a sunny day again, slightly warmer than yesterday but still cold. So after putting on all the sail gear minus the Ushanka hat, we untied the lines and left. First we had to cross a traffic lane with big container ships bound for Germany or coming back. Always a bit intimidating to cross those traffic lanes. Their appearances are deceiving. They look so plump and slow when in fact they go over 20 knots per hour, where our maximum speed is 6 knots. So the rule of thump is, if you can see them, they are crossing in front of you.
After the crossing we had to tread water again whilst we waited for the Haringvliet bridge to open. Always funny to see the massive traffic jam caused by a few tiny boats bobbing about.
A relaxed downwind sail
After we had cleared the bridge we had the wind in our back and the current with us, so we unrolled our genoa and shut down the engine. It is so peaceful sailing with the wind in your back. No noise of the engine, only the soft sounds of the waves you’re surfing. There was something wrong with the jib though. It wouldn’t unfurl completely and furl in completely again. Like it was stuck somewhere at the end. Despite the problem with the jib and the light winds that varied between 9 and 15 knots, we still had an average speed of 4 knots so were making good time.
Fun in the sun
After a great sail we approached the lock of Middelharnis. Right behind the lock lies the Parkhaven. The harbour master was already waiting for us. We called earlier to asked for an available slip and gave 5 o’clock as estimated time of arrival. And it was exactly 5 o’clock when we entered the marina. “Punctual people aren’t you”, he joked. It must be obvious that we actually aren’t. Parkhaven is a lovely small marina with friendly harbour masters, Arthur and Saskia. They have seen a thing or two during their own sail adventures in the Caribbean and Mediterranean where they’ve worked and sailed for years, so it was great to have a chat.
For the first time this year we were able to sit in the cockpit till evening. Summer is coming!
