Harwich to IjMuiden

Boz

Boz

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Hi all
Planning for Harwich to Ijmuiden this weekend.... departing Saturday to arrive in daylight Sunday Morning. Any Pitfalls or hazards I should be aware of?

I read on here somewhere, possibly from Johnalison, go to North Shipwash and set 075...

Any advice gratefully received.

Boz
 
When you go into Seaport Marina at Ijmuiden visitors are directed to pontoon M. Don't just go alongside near the entrance but follow the very loooong M pontoon round and take a finger berth. Otherwise you will walk 400metres to the loos!
 
Not quite as simple as 075 IMO.

There are DW routes , TSS's and, a newish wind farm on the rumb line just off IJmuiden.

This is the route I took from N. Shipwash in July this year.

Didn't see a huge amount of shipping on the way there but a different story on the way back. Radar & AIS very handy if you have them.

Best to carry the tide up the Shipwash.

Shipwash-to-IJmuiden.jpg


Other may follow a different route :)

PS We always go direct to Amsterdam - recommend the new Amsterdam Marina on port side (same side as Sixhaven)
 
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Thanks for this..... especially the chart-let, very useful.

Amsterdam Mariana is not accepting visitors until at least the 5th of September because of the festival of sail - so we'll overnight in Seaport and then move on to the Maarkemeer and find a Marina there. I think Alim is in that locale at the moment?

Useful tip from MS - My old gammy knee thanks you ;)

and SM - as you might have spotted, we are North Sea virgins :)
 
AliM was in Muiden yesterday. I haven't done Harwich-Ijmuiden for some years. Lowestoft-Ijmuiden is about 90degrees, and the tides compensate for each other.

There's a wind farm near Ijmuiden and a gas rig further west. You'll know when you get too close because the bloke there will call you on ch16.

Ijmuiden can be awkward to moor in because of all the piles. I agree about the length of pontoon M. I am always having to counter my wife's wish to take the first available berth.
 
Boz said:
Looks Ideal SM, whats the procedure for the Oranjesluizen, I think the Ijmuiden lock is fairly straight forward but the other end not so?
Click to expand...
as with all Dutch Locks, just "present yourself". go in on red & green was the local advice when we were there, to save opening time.
There is a cafe in Durgerdam serving reasonable food. maestro is the Dutch preference over mastercard , most dont take mastercard, so make sure you have access to some €s
 
Boz said:
Looks Ideal SM, whats the procedure for the Oranjesluizen, I think the Ijmuiden lock is fairly straight forward but the other end not so?
Click to expand...
Oranjesluizen is easy - fully geared up for leisure boaters.

Follow the "Sport" sign as you approach. The lock is on your port side (coming from A'Dam). There is a waiting jetty where you can tie up if needs be.

As SM says wait for the lights to go red & green then get moving.

There isn't a huge change in levels so emptying/filling can be quick. However if you choose a busy time it can take a while to get everybody into/out of the lock. It can feel like mayhem on a weekend but it's pretty good-natured stuff. The Dutch enter the locks with alacrity (i.e. speed) the Brits (i.e. me) tend to be much slower. There is then a road bridge after that - it opens reasonably frequently.

BTW the lock for yachts at IJmuiden is to the starboard as you enter from seawards (leave the centre 'island' to port. They'll usually be yachts queueing/holding station waiting to enter so follow them.

Muiden's pleasant as is Hoorn. Lots of choices.

HTH
 
sailorman said:
Zandkreik i think.
we went through Oranjesluis on a very hot & busy Saturday, it was "RAMMED full"
Click to expand...
We like to leave the marina in A'dam early and get to the lock by about 9am - usually just a handful of boats waiting.

Not easy if you're blocked in at Sixhaven though as (as you know) the Dutch don't usually get going until 10.30!
 
We are in Muiden, hoping to go to IJmuiden tomorrow and Lowestoft on Saturday. Wave if you see us!

Tradewind's chart is fine, but there is no need to cross the deep water channels at right angles - most of the ships aren't in those routes anyway. I agree with shipwash and then head straight across. Make sure you have a chart showing the TSS off IJmuiden, like Tradewind's. We use his route, crossing the anchorage area - there are lots of anchored ships (don't let them faze you) and then south of the main IJ approach till you can get into the outer harbour. Call seaport marina on ch74 (if in working hours, if not, don't worry) - they always just say to find a box on M, so follow it right round as MS says. It will be pretty empty, I expect.

Most NL schools seem to be back now, so the locks are empty and calm - we were the only ones in one of the Lelystad locks yesterday, while in the holidays you expect it to be heaving. Many marinas use a red/green label on each box ( if green, you can use it) so there is no need to contact the HM, unless there is a "Hier Melden" pontoon as you enter.

The locks and bridges use red and green lights, so we very rarely use the radio to contact them.

Oranjesluizen is an easy yacht friendly lock, but the bridge the east of it takes no prisoners. It opens on the hour, 20 and 40 mins past each hour except at rush hours, and it is open for as short a time as possible. We have had it shut almost in our faces when half a minute late. Follow a Dutch boat closely is the best advice - they know how it's done!

The IJmuiden lock is slightly more difficult. You will use the southern small one. Loiter outside, or moor up and call. They are quite good about letting yachts through. There is a bigger rise and fall than Oranjesluizen, and the mooring bollards are harder to get hold of. Unless you have a strong wind against you, get a stern line on first, and motor against it if necessary to get the bow line on.

I expect you know all this, but if you want to ask anything else, please do so!
 
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Forgot to say...

There is a new windfarm just south of the IJmuiden approach. If you use Tradewind's chart, I think you will get called and warned away, as we did last year. It should be on your chart of it is this year's. If not tell me and I'll read off the position from ours.

And stay about 2 miles off the De Ruyter gas platform. You will hear on ch 16 yacht after yacht being called up by them because they are too close. If they do call you up, they are very nice and friendly and helpful about it, but I believe some yachts who do not keep clear have been fined.
 
AliM said:
Forgot to say...

There is a new windfarm just south of the IJmuiden approach. If you use Tradewind's chart, I think you will get called and warned away, as we did last year. It should be on your chart of it is this year's. If not tell me and I'll read off the position from ours.

And stay about 2 miles off the De Ruyter gas platform. You will hear on ch 16 yacht after yacht being called up by them because they are too close. If they do call you up, they are very nice and friendly and helpful about it, but I believe some yachts who do not keep clear have been fined.
Click to expand...
No you won't get called - well, we didn't. There's a guard boat inside the farm but there are now no guard cardinal buoys (unless I've missed them - we've been both ways this summer). Anyhow my waypoints take you a little way off the pylons!

IJmuiden-windfarm.jpg


Re the 1st set of WP that cross the DW channels, well that's my preference not a legal requirement. There's a lot of traffic (IMO) that follows the straight line between the TSS/DW schemes and I prefer to get across asap. We took a narrow'ish slant last year crossing the Casquets/Ushant TSS intermediate zone (i.e. no requirement to cross at 090 to TSS) and it made for a long night. Better to get it over and done with IMO. Each to their own :D .

Funnily enough we've always found the IJmuiden lock the easiest of the two.

Just goes to show - different strokes for different folks :encouragement:.
 
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We've managed without a board for many years. Locks are never a problem and the only place I've needed a board was Harlingen, where they are provided in the harbour.
 
Thanks guys all excellent stuff - will copy these posts to a file for reference.

Not my first time to Holland but first time as Skipper so its Shotley tomorrow and the Saturday leave on the ebb to Shipwash.... thanks for your help (in Advance and in Arrears) - I'll let you all know how it goes
Boz
PS. Excellent Steak and Kidney Pud in the Ferry Boat tonight..... place was heaving must be pay day :)
 
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