Peta Torrance

Good trip from Amsterdam to Muiden. Timed the lock and bridges perfectly. Generally sunny with 20kt winds. Martha took the helm while we were sailing downwind with the staysail up. Did brilliantly for a novice!

Bridge didn't open at noon, waited 2 hrs for 2pm opening. Let lots of vessels from oncoming direction through and all but us through before closing bridge again. next opening was at 8pm!! Read, got the jigsaw out, folks had a nap, made a nice dinner etc. Fair amount of rain during our wait. Once through the bridge and lock, a short motor to marina in Amsterdam.

Very calm, the North Sea had barely a ripple on it all morning! Also very hot and sunny day.

Light wind. I had a practice at docking Laerling while conditions were easy! Went pretty well with expert guidance from Chris.

Short trip out from Hellevoetsluis to spend the night on anchor. Put up the mizzen and staysail in light winds. picked up a mooring buoy and watched the 90% partial solar eclipse through a pinhole projector (sleeve from the beer cans with a pinhole in it!) and also a ladle/strainer! Hence the odd photos! 😂

Short trip with a fair bit of hanging around for the lock. Thought we needed to use the commercial lock due to air draft, but told to use the sport lock. Fitted under the bridge - looked very close from where we were standing!! Moored in the old harbour in Willemstad.

Put the staysail up for a nice downwind sail to the first lock. We were joined by a seagull who perched on the mizzen boom for a while. We had to go through the commercial lock at Krammersluizen - fortunately only one cargo ship in there with us! Found a pontoon at the marina in Dintel.

Smooth