This section summarises the cruising completed for Lady Martina in 2016 and was evolved with constant updates and additions, which will be our intention for the 2017 season as well .  

{gallery}2016/urk-elburg{/gallery}

Whilst plans were always subject to the weather, the serviceability of the vessel and health and well-being of the crew, this summarised our cruising intentions and acted as a guide for friends and family who we wanted to visit us at every opportunity as valued guests.

As our plans for individual cruises became more advanced, they had their own entry with all of the necessary details added as usual. The links took the reader to the details of each passage as they happened 

Section I Movement of Lady Martina from her home base of Horning via Great Yarmouth to Brundall for servicing at Brooms and then on to The Netherlands via Lowestoft in May (all successfully achieved)    for overview, see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/horning-to-brundall

Part 1. 30th April to 1st May Horning to Brundall see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/horning-to-brundall/brundall-lowestoft-3

Part 2. 15th May to 16th May Brundall to Lowestoft see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/horning-to-brundall/brundall-lowestoft-2

Part 3. 17th May Lowestoft to IJmeuden see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/horning-to-brundall/lowestoft-ijmuiden4

Part 4. 18th May IJmeuden to Amsterdam  see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/horning-to-brundall/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-2

Part 5. 20th May Return to England by air and 25th May ferry back to Amsterdam with car and dog Max!

Section IIa 'Waterland', North Holland: 26th May to 3rd June 2016; 15 days: A route out of Amsterdam from the Noorzeekanaal along the West Coast of the Markermeer, taking in the fascinating principal venues of Marken, Monnickendam, Broek in Waterland, Volendam, and Edam, in what is known as the Waterland region of North Holland; all former traditional coastal ports before the isolation of the meres from the sea. 

Part 1. 26th May Amsterdam  to Marken http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/amsterdam-imarken-4

Part 2. 28th May Marken to Monnickendam see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/marken-monnickendam-5

Part 2a. 29th May Monnickendam to Broek in Waterland by bicycle and back see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/marken-monnickendam-6

Part 3. 30th May Monnickendam to Volendam see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/monnickendam-to-volendam-2

Part 4. 31st May Volendam to Edam see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/monnickendam-to-volendam-3

Part 4a. 2nd June Lay Day in Edam http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-3/layday-in-edam-4

Section IIb North Holland: 3rd June to 10th June 2016; 15 days: The remaining venues in the region of North Holland including the former historic coastal harbours of Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Medemblik there is much to see and learn about the past 'Golden Age' in Dutch history from its old port architecture and museums 

Leaving Edam, we cruise north to Hoorn and then through the Houtribdijk from the Marker meer to the IJsselmeer to stop shortly after at Enkhuizen and then around coast to Medemblik all former traditional coastal ports before the isolation of these waters from the sea. 

Part 1. 3rd June Edam to Hoorn  see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-4/monnickendam-to-volendam-4

Part 2. 6th June Hoorn to Enkhuizen  see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-4/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-5

Part 3. 9th June Enkhuisen to Medemblik see  http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lowestoft-ijmuiden4-4/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-6

After this we cross the IJsselmeer and land in Friesland for a whole new chapter in our journey log

Section III Friesland: 9th to 28th June 2016: 19 days; A route across the IJsselmeer and via either Makkum or Stevoren,  to Friesland a favourite cruising ground of mine; resembling, as it does, our home in the Norfolk Broads; both being lakes and meres being formed in the Middle Ages through 'Peat' or 'Turf' digging. Inland past Stavorum, across the Heeger-meer, past Sneek (with a possible detour to Joure) and the Snakermeer to Joure and then working our way back south inland to emerge back in the IJselmeer at Lemmer

Part 1. 10th June Medemblik to Hindeloopen see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-8

Part 2. 12th June Hindeloopen to Stevoren see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-10

Part 3. 13th June Stevoren to Workum see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-9

Part 4. 15th June Workum to Makkum see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/hoorn-to-enkhuisen-11

Part 5. 17th June Makkum to Bolsward see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/makkum-bolsward-1

Part 6.  19th June Bolsward to IJlst see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/makkum-bolsward-2

Part 7. 20th June IJst to Sneek see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/ijlst-sneek-3

Part 8.  23rd June Sneek to Grou see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/ijlst-sneek-4

Part 9.  24th June Grou via Accrum to Joure see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/ijlst-sneek-5

Part 10. 26th June Joure via Heeg to Sloten see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/joure-sloten-6

Part 11. 27th/28th June  Sloten to Sneek see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/sloten-sneek7

Part 12. 29th June Sneek to Lemmer see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/lfriesland-5/sneek-lemmer-2

Section III Flevoland and The Randmeren: 30th June to 10th July 2016: 11 days; A route via the IJsselmeer  to Urk and then via the Ketelmeer and randmeren to Elberg, Harderwijk, Spakenburg and then Naarden before emerging in the Randmeren for Muiden

Part 1. 30th June Lemmer to Urk see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/lemmer-urk-2

Part 2. 2nd/3rd July Urk to Elburg see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/urk-elburg-3

Part 3. 5th July Elburg to Nijkerk see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/elburg-nijkerk-3

Part 4. 6th July Nijkerk to Spakenberg see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/elburg-nijkerk-4

Part 5. 8th July Spakenburg to Amsterdam via Naarden http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/elburg-nijkerk-5

Part 6. 9th July Amsterdam to Muiden see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/east-coast-cruises-10/flevoland-6/amsterdam-muiden-6

Section IV Logistics of getting the car and dog back to England and then movement of Lady Martina back from The Netherlands to Norfolk via Lowestoft

This section describes the cruises that Lady Martina took around Amsterdam and the southern Markermeer positioning the boat for the convenience of our visitors and preparing for our trip home from the Netherlands to Norfolk

Nearby Markermeer and Nordzeekanaal venues such as Muiden and others provide interest and variety away from Amsterdam which, with its Airport and central station and nearby port of IJmuiden were needed for our complex departure and travel arrangements

Kathleen has by this time become very familiar with Lady Martina and capable as a crew and does not want the holiday to finish as she has been enjoying it so much. Upon arrival back in the Norfolk Broads, we cruised through Lowestoft and up to Beccles before taking Lady Martina to Brooms at Brundall, dropping off Innes and then leaving the boat there for the rest of the Summer and Autumn as illness struck the skipper and so the winter repairs and maintenance were brought forward. 

The work done, the weather and tides being right and the crew fit Lady Martina was brought home to her proper place alongside Heronshaw in Horning

Part 1 10th July Muiden to Amsterdam see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/muiden-amsterdam-7

Part 2. 12th July Amsterdam to Zaanstad see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/zaandam-amsterdam-2

Part 3. 14th July Amsterdam to IJmuiden see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/amsterdam-ijmuiden-3

Part 4. 22nd July IJmuiden to Lowestoft see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/ijmuiden-lowestoft-3

Part 5. 23rd July Lowestoft to Beccles see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/lowestoft-beccles-4

Part 6. 24th July Beccles to Brundall see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/lowestoft-beccles-5

Part 7. 13th November Brundall to Horning see http://www.ladymartina.com/cruise-logs/2016/amsterdam-norfolk-12/brundall-horning-6

Excellent proving cruise in still airs and calm seas off Yarmouth and Lowestoft. All systems working well except my Navman 200 diesel fuel monitor/ rev counter which is duplicated my other instruments and so not important.

{gallery}2016/brundall-lowestoft{/gallery}

After a late start necessitated by our need to drop Max off at his kennels no earlier than 5.30 pm, the first leg on Sunday evening May 30th was chilly at this time of year, but we made good progress and managed to moor up at Reedham Quay in reach of the shore-power pods and so we were comfortable for the night, sharing four hot water bottle between us! Up late referencing in charts to my newly-reset Yeoman and plotting waypoints on my new boat computer system. 

Having cancelled our earlier bridge and settling for the 11.45am Haven lift, we had time enough to get ready to cruise on the morning of Monday 16th May and the weather was fine if still a little chilly. This was good timing and the prior use of the swing bridges at Reedham, Breydon and The Haven as we made use of the Breydon Water waiting pontoon to time our arrival at the latter.

The sea cruise could not have been better weather-wise and we arrived at the welcoming and commodious accommodation at The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club basin having dodged the precision dredging operation conducted outside by the Orka rig. 

The rest of the day planning our North Sea crossing for tomorrow, matching wind and tide vectors for the best possible passage  before an enjoyable evening dining in the RNSYC restuarant

Excellent proving cruise in still airs and calm seas off Yarmouth and Lowestoft. All systems working well except my Navman 200 diesel fuel monitor/ rev counter which is duplicated my other instruments and so not important.

{gallery}2016/lowestoft-to-ijmuiden{/gallery}

This was a very long day started very early in the morning to make it something of an endurance test but we were well-prepared and served with constant drinks and food and assured by the fact of my very careful planning with made the best of the light breeze and tidal flows.

My log book read that it was “an absolutely fantastic text book cruise, slow and tedious but calm and uneventful, saving fuel at 9 knots an d judging the wind to be with tide for calm and smooth seas. Visibility was surprisingly good even when the ‘breeze’ dropped to less than 3 knots!”.

I had completed the engine checks again for safety and then we pulled out of Lowestoft around 06:15 local time and then, just clearing the breakwaters before dredger Orca came back to work, we set a course due East for The Netherlands. I decided upon the following plan of action to further minimise fuel consumption: A technique often used by slow-moving sailors crossing the English Channel, I set a course by autopilot dead reckoning without constant cross track error correction that would occur by having the autopilot navigating between waypoints. The strong flood tide carried us far further south but then the ebb tide corrected us and so we completed a perfect ‘sine wave’ course track that made best use of time and fuel. Our passage also took us well south of the Ijmuiden approach shipping lanes, threading us between their anchorage and the nearby wind farm and we then made a VHF radio call some 3nm out and had clearance to enter the port.

I navigated us past the popular but expensive SeaPort marina up to the Kleine Sluis. The sluis did not answer my call on VHF22 but I moored behind two other waiting boats (a German and Dutch sailing yacht) where we waited for forty five minutes for the gates open when we were quickly through. By this time, we were very tired and anxious to stop and rest and so I took us down a ‘side-canal’ and past the heavily commercial port of Beverwijk where we found that the port were in the process of constructing visitor moorings at the far end and so we went alongside, moored up and were soon ready for bed. We just had the energy to use the hot water to take showers before turning in for a well-earned sleep.