Home, almost

July 1, 2007

Maarssen - Maurik: 5 hours

For ships with height less than 2.50 meters, it is possible to follow the Vecht further south and passing the inner city of Utrecht right through the middle. With all folded down (mast, hood, windows) are height is close to 2.50 on Morse-knob. Just one fixed bridge is holding us. But it is not worth a try, so we have to exit the Vecht into the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal just south of Maarssen. This exit has a fixed bridge as well with height 3.80 (of course depending on the current water level), just after a small (mostly open) lock.

I have made a picture on my dashboard, so I (and maybe other captains) have my draft possibilities in a glance.

Before leaving this morning we debate - shall we take the hood down (which is lowering our height from 3.40 to 2.75) or leave it on. The building rain clouds decide we should leave it on. Just before entering the narrow lock (with current!) before the bridge, a scale indicates the free height to be close at 4.00. So with confidence we enter. An almost fatal error, not having taken into account that the large high speed barges - as one is just passing by - on the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal push high waves into the narrow lock connection with the Vecht. Twenty or even forty centimeters is not enough free space for this place!

Pushing back, fighting to keep our in the middle of this narrow connection, dancing in the waves of the passing barges, no time to throw fenders out. Fortunately we succeed without damage, but it is close. Almost, not home. When backed off from the bridge enough, in the middle of the lock we lower the hood in a provisionary way, and pass the bridge. At the same moment all locks of heaven open with a kind of tropical rainfall. No way, we can put the hood up again now on the busy Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. It is not even possible to take the hands of the wheel to take rain clothes on. It takes about 5 km further south before we can enter a small industrial harbour, where we can fix the hood again. Soaked to the bone, no dry thread to find.

It is a memorable end of our Friesland tour. And a learning lesson too: as a skipper, never try your luck but be prepared.

Safely we return on our home base Maurik in the course of the afternoon. End of this tour. Looking forward to next.