Sunday 7th June 2015 –
Ijmuiden, Holland – Day 5
In the early
hours while on watch, I had been observing an array of lights on the horizon
which looked like yet another oil production rig and guard vessel. As we sailed closer, it turned out to be a massive
crane ship with a large tug laying out an anchor cable, and the tug was coming
towards me. Decided, I should not be
here and started the engine for quarter of an hour, headed round the tug and
the bows of the crane ship. Needless to
say, the crew sleeping in their beds, never appeared on deck, to see what was
going on.
At change of
watch at 04.00, the wind had died away and with the dawn a flatter sea, the
engine was started at 04.15; foresail was taken down and stowed on the deck.
 |
| A-NE buoy |
 |
| IJ 11 buoy |
The entrance
into the port of Ijmuiden is marked by yellow buoys and at 06.00, we were
passing A-NE buoy which is a lead-in mark and twenty five miles from the coast.
At 09.30 we
were passing to the south of IJ-11 buoy; ten miles from the piers.
Though it was a Sunday, I still expected to
see more ships in the vicinity, but only one big car carrier went by.
 |
| South Breakwater Lighthouse |
 |
| Ijmuiden Steelworks |
At 12.00 we
passed the south breakwater lighthouse and off to the north the other
breakwater with the backdrop of the massive steelworks which dominates the Ijmuiden
skyline. This plant like those in the UK
is owned by Tata Steel and Indian owned, how did we all go wrong?
At 12.15
inside the visitors box M5 with a happy, relieved crew. Opened the boat’s fridge for beers to
celebrate; then into bed.
Ashore at
20.30 but Jack stayed in his bed, while Dave and myself, headed off for the
beach and the bar ‘Zilt’, the kitchen was closing but they managed to give us
meat balls and chips.
Into the
marina bar ‘De Boulevard’ which was cosy and warm, sitting by the ornamental
fire, as outside, it was still freezing in the cold northerly wind.
Back on
board for midnight for a nightcap and managed to finish off the other bottle of
whiskey, as we had survived the crossing; into bed for 02.00.
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