Day 22 - Urk

Wednesday 24^th June 2015 – Urk – Day 22

This morning we will be leaving Flevoland and one has to remember how this island was reclaimed by the Dutch, who are forever taking on and battling with the water wolf.

From 1950-57, eastern and from 1959- 67 southern Flevoland were drained to form a new province.  It has a feature which is useful to cruising yachtsmen, a continuous band of deep water around the polder, maintains the correct ground-water table in the neighbouring ‘old’ land. 

The Randmeren lakes have subsequently been developed, as recreational areas of water with carefully landscaped banks and many facilities, including those for fishing and cruising, with the ideal combination of old Zuiderzee towns such as Spakenburg, Harderwijk and Elburg on the east and south banks and brand new yacht havens on the west and north banks.

Awe-inspiring is the thought when standing by the roadside in south Flevoland, every house, hedge, canal, field, garden and road as far as the eye can see is 4 metres below sea level and came into existence only since the polder was drained in 1967.

Ketelburg

We left Ketelmond marina at 09.00 and headed for the Ketelburg, connecting the north end of the island to the mainland.

 

Though the bridge showed an air draught of 12.8 meters, I did not want to go under the centre section, as there was a slight swell on the water and headed for the left hand opening section, along with some other yachts.

We were through at 10.30 and thankfully, it will be last for a little.  We are now in the Ijsselmeer, hoisted the mainsail, seventeen days since it was last used and the genoa, five days since it last had an airing. 

Urk Lighthouse

We were thoroughly enjoying the sailing in now warm sunny conditions, past the port entrance to take some shots of the lighthouse.

As we turned and headed out taking in the genoa, an almighty bang, as we hit something very solid.  Dave and I both looked at the echo-sounder, showing 0.9 metres below the keel.

Sails in quickly and checked for damage but none was evident and we were still watertight.

After discussions with some of the locals, discovered the rocks off Urk, come up like church towers, I had just knocked the cross off one of them.  Of course, no rocks marked on the chart but we had missed a couple of cardinal marks, (poor look-outs; sailors beware).

Urk Marina

Alongside, in our box at 12.15 and mighty relieved, had lunch, then fell asleep in the cockpit.

Made good use of the marina facilities, and done two loads of washing in the laundry, cleaned the boat, also removed the water from the engine compartment, hopefully not the result of our rock contact.

Ashore at 19.30 to the very close ‘Havenzicht’ bar, before moving next door to the restaurant/bistro ‘De Zeeboder’  for spring onion soup, sea bass, followed by crème builee, all very nice.

We finished off in slightly more lively, ‘Schippertj’ bar, where we met some Welsh lads from Holyhead, who were driving the fast wind turbine work boats.  Unfortunately, the Ijsselmeer has a good share of wind farms.  An interesting chat with them on their hours of work; the local buoyage system for these fast craft; how the locals’ felt about them working here.

A very interesting day; completing part of the adventure; going round the inside of Flevoland; passing through the last of the large bridges and being back in the Ijsselmeer.