Day 7 - Haarlemsche Yacht Club

Tuesday 9^th June 2015 – Haarlemsche Yacht Club – Day 7

Another cold overcast day, after a leisurely morning, we left the visitors box and moved round to the marina fuel berth, took on 30 litres of diesel at 1 euro a litre.

Departing from Ijmuiden sea port marina at 13.15, into the river passing the large DFDS ferry which runs between Newcastle and here, I may use it, on my next visit to Holland.

Kleinsluis

You are confronted with four locks ahead and the sports boats (yachts) are directed into the southern lock. We were in the Klein Sluis at 13.30.  It is traffic signal system which tells you when to wait, enter or leave the lock.  We were lifted upwards and out of the lock at 14.00 and entered the Nordzeekanal.

Tanker

 

Car Carrier

This canal is very busy with a lot of commercial traffic, needless to say, you keep very close to the canal side, when these large ships are passing.

Buitenhuizerbrug

After 10 kilometres along the canal we turned right into Zijkanal C and passed through Buitenhuizerbrug, a lifting bridge, the first of many.

A9 Bridge

By 15.45, we were tied up against a lay-by berth, waiting for the main A9 highway bridge, a main route in and out of Amsterdam.

It was not until four hours later, after the rush hour traffic had cleared, did they open the bridge and we passed through.

The same as the locks, you are guided by the traffic lights on the bridge; red means stop, red over green means get ready; green go, when the bridge is lifted. 

We were to learn how to use this system, and to be as close to the bridge on the go signal, going through at your fastest, safest speed.  Getting it right, you did not get a dirty look, but a friendly wave from the bridge operator.

We then moved onto Spaarndam lifting bridge and lock, where you had to pay a toll of three euros fifty cent, to the cashier at the lock office.  While waiting in the locks, I asked the yacht ahead of us where to stay for the night and he recommended his yacht club, not too far away.

Safe for the night

We followed him into Haarlemsche Yacht Club and he directed us onto berth 147, we were tied up at 20.30.

Into the yacht club at 21.00, to find the place was closing up, we were given one beer and were back on board by 22.00.  A party of fruity malt, cheese, tomatoes and hot drinks, we were all in bed for 23.00; an eventful day.