Den Helder

Trying to stay in touch with David as he endured the inevitable A&E frustrations, we learnt that a scan eventually ruled out the more dangerous implications of his condition. (Suffice it to say it was the nether regions and it made me wince) He returned by taxi, just in time to pick up a prescription at Boots and board Hejira as we slipped, bound for Den Helder. The overnight passage was fast with winds from behind again, peaking at 29 knots with seas to match.

It was significant in that we encountered an emerging wind farm of which we had no knowledge. Construction was only started in March, so our recently updated charts didn’t show the works. There was a ‘guard boat’ on station and an amicable exchange resulted in us changing course, significantly, and we finally resumed our passage towards the Netherlands.

With all the various commercial destinations in the North Sea, the big ship traffic is seemingly confused and chaotic even with the discipline of the many separation zones and shipping lanes. Modern electronic navigation aids are a massive boon but, even with all of this, one cannot help feeling small, insignificant and vulnerable amongst these giants.

News, anecdote and rumour is suggesting that there may be problems with bridges and locks along our intended, canal route so, this is where Richard should be ‘stepping up’ and getting to the bottom of it all.

Richard writes:

I’m just so pleased that the buck stops with the skipper! There are two parts to our proposed route; Den Helder to the Noordzeekanaal, then to Haarlem, to emerge eventually at around the Hook of Holland. There’s one bridge just before the main canal, which has been out of action for four years then another, just before Haarlem which is undergoing repair. So, we seem to be scuppered for the first stage but there are options!