"Mini tornado" and drama in the lock on our way to Amsterdam

26.07.2023

Nice short leg of only 39 nm. Cloudy but flat and nice water.

Only 5 hours of sleep before we head out to sea again.

We encounter some really dark clouds with rain and thunderstorms that we luckily just barely escape. We also experience a "mini tornado" right behind the boat.

When we arrive at the North Sea Canal, which is the gateway to Amsterdam, the tension in the boat rises somewhat - we are going to enter a lock for the first time! It starts painlessly, but when we are inside the lock and they lower the water level (Amsterdam is below the water surface), something we don't want happens. One of the mooring ropes against the lock wall has become stuck in the crossbeam, which means that we risk the boat hanging on the wall, or that the entire crossbeam attachment breaks. Fortunately, the Skipper hears it creaking, and quickly cuts the mooring rope. Now we have learned this too.

Is a nice and quiet walk inland towards Amsterdam and Amsterdam Marina. A great place to stay with brand new facilities with showers and even bathtubs for guests in the harbor.

5 minutes from the marina there is a free ferry to the city center. We get in in the nice weather and take a short walk around the city. We get some food and some shopping before we head back.