After the previous evenings rain the morning started a bit dull and overcast, we set of around 10:00 and waited at the Six Haven entrance to cross the channel, which was very busy with barges and ferries, then headed East towards the final lock Oranjesluizen and under the last bridge into the Markermer.

 Soon as we were out we hoisted the sails and set off down the channel watching the radar as visibility was only about 1 mile. The plan was lunch in Marken and then on to Monnikendam for the evening and to get fuel and provisions (well mostly beer and wine).

By lat morning the sun breaking through and with a steady F5 we had a good sail on 2 easy tacks up the East side of Marken island around the Mole on the North end and then motored down the channel. Well if you worry about depths in the Solent don’t sail here I thought Gouda at 2.2m was tight but here I was watching 2.1m and then 2.0m and with a 2.0m draft you can’t go much less and this was in the dredged channel, but at least there are no tides to worry about.

Once in Marken we offloaded the bikes and Hollie set of leading us around the dyke, halfway round we stopped at the lighthouse for a picnic and probably did about 8 miles. That evening Suzanne cooked fish pie (from a Rick Stein recipe) and we all ate on Suzie Too