Our guests (crew) will join Black Diamond around 0900 hours and will be invited on board by our skipper and offered tea and coffee whilst introductions take place.   All crew along with skipper and mate will sit down and enjoy an on board breakfast followed by the mandatory safety brief.

We will lock out of Hartlepool Marina around 1030 hours setting course to Holland (approx 48 hours passage).   During this passage the crew will operate a 4 hours on and off watch system with the skipper in charge of one watch and the mate the other.   Our route will take us down to Whitby, Scarbrough, Flambrough Head and then through the North Sea Gas Fields across the North Sea.   Our first Dutch port will be Ijumden staying in the Seaport Marina where full facilities are available.   We will spend the next a full day there relaxing and enjoying the local hospitalities.  

The following morning we will go through the south sea lock and enter the Dutch North Sea Canal heading towards Amsterdam. (approx 2 hours)   Our stay in Amsterdam will be in Sixhaven Marina which is a quiet tree lined secure marina with local bars and restaurants.   It is only a 10 minute walk to the free ferry service which takes you over to the centre of Amsterdam in around 5 minutes.

Our return to Hartlepool will be back down the North Sea Canal to Ijumden back into the North Sea and across.   Weather and time permitting we may be able to call into another Dutch port before crossing the North Sea.

During all our passages, we invite our crew to be fully involved with the running of the vessel i.e. helming, setting sails, navigation, use of on board electronic equipment etc.