Day 30 - Harlingen

Thursday 2^nd July 2015 – Harlingen – Day 30

This morning, an early start, we have to negotiate the sea lock, before catching the incoming tide to help us on our way.

We left the marina at 08.00 and back into the Ijsselmeer which is the largest fresh water area in Europe.  Between 1927 and 1932 the 30 kilometre, 90 metre wide Afsluitdyke between Wieringen and Friesland was built. Work began on an artificial island halfway along the route, on the sluices and shipping locks at each corner near Wieringen and the Frisian coast, moving to build the dam at six locations in shallow water and later progressively deeper water.  The controlling sluices have gradually changed the lake from salt to fresh water by progressive outward drainage.  On top of the 30 km dyke there is a motorway and a restaurant on it from which the gigantic scale of the project can be sensed in looking to the far horizon along a pencil straight wall.

Lorentzsluizen

  

Waiting basin

At 08.45 we were in the Lorentzsluizen sea lock for only a short time before moving out into the waiting basin.  Here you manoeuvre around until they open the twin swing bridges, taking traffic across the top of the dam linking Friesland and North Holland. 

Once clear, you are into the sea, here the navigator has to redouble his vigilance in the Waddenzee channels where the streams run fast and the edges dry out, but fortunately the area is extremely well buoyed.

Waddenzee Beam Trawler

We headed north at 09.15, in a convoy of nine yachts passing various other craft on the way with the fishermen working the sandbanks just outside the channels.

We followed the buoys and beacons and were sailing on a rising tide, as at one particular spot for about 4 km it is only 2 mtr deep at low water.

On this warm pleasant day, it was very enjoyable meeting this challenge and we arrived off the port of Harlingen at 10.30. 

As it was my first time here, I called the harbour master, who told me to go into Noorderhaven.  This is a large port with ferries running out to the Frisian Islands with plenty of commercial traffic and of course the fishermen.

Sasbrug

Prins Hendrik Brug

   

We had to wait for the first small swing Sasbrug before entering the basin to wait for the Prins Hendrikbrug to open. 

The Noordhaven, harbour master directed us into our box and we were tied up for noon.

Noordhaven

We rigged our canvas yawning over the boom sheltering the cockpit as it was once more 30 degrees and with no breeze in the marina, it was going to be very hot.

Main street

The next street to the marina was the main shopping area, an afternoon stroll around this wonderful picturesque town was inspiring with lots of holidaymakers.

At night things quietened down, as the sightseers had moved on. 

We dined in the ‘Hotel Zeezicht ‘, which overlooked the basin, where we had waited for the bridge earlier in the day.  We ate a celery/nut soup, followed by pork satay, salad and chips.  With a backdrop of dark clouds, the forerunner of thunder and lightning while watching, barges, cruisers and yachts manoeuvring in the basin.

For nightcaps ended up in the ‘Café de Pijpenia’, a bar opposite our berth, here we met up with the crew off the yacht ’Scirroco’, whom we had met in Membedlik.  They were staying here longer, as they were changing crews in a few days.

We retired at midnight; it had been an eventual day, back into a sea influenced by tides and arriving in a new very amicable port.