Mekicevica's 2014 Sailing Adventure: Back to the Ijsselmeer

Wednesday 30th of July: Start of the return trip, Texel to Medemblick (23 NM)
It is sad but we need to start the return trip. We left Oudeschilde with favourable wind and tide and took a shortcut over the shallow waters, almost in straight-line to Den Oever. (While most yachts, out of pure mental laziness of their skippers, follow the marked shipping lane.)

Trawler in front of Oudeschilde.

Approached the lock in a series of gybes, and then went through together with a stink-pot and a ship of the Bruine Vlote. Then on a broad reach straight to Medemblick. The landfall was much easier this time.

Thursday 31st of July: Windy, short passage from Medemblick to Enkhuizen (11 NM)
We had hoped to go further but another beat against a gusty 4-5 Bf got tiresome. Moreover, for some reason I could not figure the reefed main was not setting properly, so we stopped at Enkhuizen.

Friday 1st of August: Back in the Markermeer, Enkhuizen to Edam (16 NM)
Motored the short distance to the lock, and after that a few tacks keeping out of the shipping lane. We left Hoorn behind with a straight line reach towards Edam. The wind picked-up forcing us to take a few rolls in the genoa, and then suddenly died and chafed direction so much that we continued on the same heading but now on a broad reach.
We remembered Edam as a beautiful, small, and typically Nord-Holland town; those memories were  confirmed in a short visit for food shopping and a drink at the Dam.

Saturday 2nd of August: Running for shelter, Edam to Uitdam (10 NM)
We left Edam in a bright morning, with an intense blue sky decorated by small clouds. As usual that came with a gusty 3-4 Bf from the SE. We sailed under full-main and reduced genoa, roughly along the coast past Vollendam, but having to tack a few times. Under the lee of the Marken peninsula we needed full genoa and still the lighthouse was only slowly getting closer. Than of course passing in from of it was a case of reefed main and reduced genoa, and still heeling like mad.

Windy enough around the Paard van Marken to make big ships trice the main.

After that we neared away a bit towards Uitdam and things got quieter. Too quiet, as the wind died just before Uitdam, while a nasty squall loomed in the SE. So motor on, and we were just tying-up wham all hell broke lose, with thunder, lightning, strong wind gusts, hail, everything a Summer sorm can throw at you. Very glad we were not caught outside.

Dying wind and this monster approaching persuaded us to stop at Uitdam.

Uitdam harbour is not great; we rate it second worst ever, close to Krimpen an den Ijssel. But the gargantuan dover sole in the restaurant was good.

Sunday 3rd of August: Past Pampus to Durgerdam (7 NM) 
Another bright morning with a gusty 3-4 Bf, varying crazily in strength and direction between S and E. Under full main, reduced genoa and constant tweaking of the main sheet we keep a more or less straight line towards the island of Pampus. On this island there was once a fortress that defended what was then the approach to Amsterdam from the sea.

Pampus, with the modern part of Amsterdam in view behind.

The wind gradually calmed and we headed towards the Ij and Durgerdam with as much sail as we could.
The Old Gaffers Association were having a meeting in Durgerdam, so there were lots of beautiful boats in the harbour as well as at anchor in front. It also meant a bar crowded with British toffs.
For us it was time to change the motor back to Suzy Q, say farewell to First-Mate and prepare for the solo return to Zeeland.