On Friday morning we continued our return South. The Enkhuizen lock was very busy, so we tried to make room for larger yachts by staying in the middle. The problem was the yacht we were coming alongside botched the manoeuvre and started being blown away from the lock walls. Next thing we know, there was a confusion of boats of all sizes trying to avoid each other and going more and more into each other. Eventually the whole situation settled, just as the other gate started opening and out we go.
Back on Markenmeer, we had as plan A to sail in a straight line to Edam. While most of the other boats stayed on the navigation channel close to the coast, Mekicevica and the sailing ferry to Hoorn headed out to hoist sails. Away from land the wind was blowing harder than we expected, so we reefed sails. The latest variation of the reefing system worked a treat and reefing while sailing was not a problem. After that the sailing was much calmer. The weather forecast warned that the wind would freshen further during the day, so the over-cautious skipper decided to take a more westerly course, to sail in the relative shelter of the Hoornse Hop. Once in this bay, things calmed even too much. Full sails again, and moving slowly.
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| One of the sailing ferries between Hoorn and Enkhuizen. |
Approaching Edam, we got more wind again and had put a few rolls in the genoa. We would have even reefed the main, if we were not so close to our destination.
Entering the small harbour of Edam is really tricky. A channel between shallow waters leads to a narrow entrance with side winds. No wonder that the harbour only takes small yachts. We found a good place for the night in this modest but very neat harbour.
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| The XVIIth century Edam town hall. |
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| Canal leading to the centre of Edam, once used to carry merchandise (not only cheese) to the market. |
Edam is of course associated with the local cheese and the cheese market. It is one of the obligatory stops of the bus tours of Holland. Somehow it manages to preserve the beauty of an old town that is alive and not just a tourist attraction.
