Amsterdam-London

26 August 2015

After Sail Amsterdam (what a great and crazy event) it was time for a ‘normal’ trip. Monday morning we welcomed our new guests for the trip to London. As soon as everyone was on board, we left as quickly as possible because the weather forecast was not great. After the IJmuiden locks we immediately hoisted the sails and spent the afternoon sailing in the easterly wind. At nightfall the wind stopped, we were in the heart of the depression that had given us the nice breeze. We reefed all our sails, because on the other side of the heart the wind would be strong!
And as expected, the wind came, slowly from the northwest. 3 Bft 4 Bft, 5, 6, 7 Bft. but a northwesterly was good for the direction we were going, so with a close reefed vessel it was still good sailing. But of course, the wind backed quickly and we had to start the engine and sail on clause-hauled.
We had to tack a few times to get closer to our goal. Eventually, the wind backed further, it was straight into the wind between the banks, so tacking was no longer an option and we took away our sails.
With the current with us we entered the Thames estuary with a speed of about 6 knots. Tonight, the current went away and we were just in time at the anchorage at the entrance of the Thames. Early this morning we will depart as soon as the current is going in. It actually will be really nice because we will be able to enter the Thames in daylight.