Feeling slightly anxious, we cast off the lines and reversed very gently out of our mooring. First time with just us on board. We probably both looked like Cheshire cats. This chap was our only spectator:
…but he - or she - soon cleared off
Well, the rain soon cleared off as well and we motored slowly NW out of the marina at Elburg Jachtcenter towards the Drontermeer and our first pilotage challenge: a bridge! The Elburgerbrug is a lifting bridge (marked BB on the chart) but its air draft is shown as 5.6 meters, confirmed by a very large clear sign on the bridge structure. Our air draft is a bit over 6 meters to the top of the VHF aerial so I lowered our mast and went through - at about 2 knots.
About 1 mile SW of the bridge is a fueling station. Our fuel gauge was showing about 20% remaining but as the boat is new to us, we have no idea how accurate it is. One job for the future is to install a sight gauge on the tanks if it is possible; by far the best method of knowing the fuel level, especially when the electronic gauge decides to play up.
The fuel berth is part of the JH (Jacht Haven) Rivera Beach. Very easy access, but shallow immediately to the N of the pontoon. We came alongside although the place looked deserted. We looked at the pumps, trying to work out how they operated - there appeared to be an automatic card machine alongside one of the pumps but it had been taped over and clearly was not operational. However, after less than a minute a helpful chap arrived on a golf buggy to operate the system for us. We had learnt that almost nowhere in the Netherlands accepts credit cards - including ones issued by a Dutch bank. Either you use a Dutch debit card or pay cash. We filled up with €300 at €1.40 a litre, giving us 214 litres. I said to our new fuel pump friend that if he had taken credit cards, we would have bought 600 euros worth. The fuel gauge was now showing just under half, so at least it appears to register something. The fuel pumps are open 0800-2000 every day in season and if the attendant is not around, but available, he leaves a notice with his phone number on the pumps.
Passing back under the Elbergerbrug, we carried on for a couple of miles to one of the many 'Nature Moorings' for a lunch stop. This place is called Kleine Zwaan. Very peaceful and probably mossie city in the summer. The grassy bank was fine but the wooden pontoons were extremely slippery at this time of the year. It is a lovely place:
And then a return to our berth at Jachtcenter Elburg. So ends our first voyage on Pirramimma.
/Rich.
Lovely!
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