Day 45 - Terschelling

Friday 17^th July 2015 – Terschelling – Day 45

The shipping forecast is not too good with an increase in wind speed with showers but armed with the Harbour Master’s information on the new route across the sandbank, which would half the distance to our next port, we made ready and left Vlieland marina at 09.00.

Three-quarts of an hour later with our little chartlet, we approached the new slenk (channel) entrance, marked by small yellow buoys, with half hour before high water, we made our way across the sand bank keeping very close to the buoys.  In half-hour we were across the bank and congratulating ourselves, when a little further on, the depth sounder reading began reducing until zero, bump and we touched bottom, stopped the engine, bump again and we were aground. 

Engine full astern and we slowly slide our way backwards until we were afloat again.  Ninety degrees to our right, we could see other yachts and a sailing barge heading towards us and further on, another little yellow buoy.  We headed towards them and when passing the sailing barge their skipper hailed, keep the buoys on your left side.  Sheepishly, I replied, ‘I know’.  Our navigator lost all of his brownie points that day.

At 11.00 we were entering the Dellewal marina on the island of Terschelling, the marina appeared full and trying to find a berth, heard over the tannoy system, garbled messages, so headed for the vacant fuel berth.  A gentleman came strutting down from the office, shouting, if we understood English.  He had spotted our British ensign and it was he, the harbour master, who was giving us instructions on where to go.  I told him, I did understand English but not his quick firing statements.  After we both calmed down and re-addressed the situated, he told me where to park the boat.

Dellewal Marina

  

School Holiday's Parking

We duly went down the correct waterway and ended up on the outside of three other yachts, who thankfully all turned out to be very friendly. 

When, I went to the office to clock in, even the harbour master was more at ease and when enquiring where to go for the night, he told me, it was all around the lighthouse.

Town Centre Lighthouse

The rest of the afternoon was spent tidying up the yacht before venturing ashore at 19.00 and it was only a ten minute walk to the lighthouse. 

First stop the ‘Bandaris’ restaurant where we dined on lamb cutlets with cranberry sauce and the local beer, which was all delightful.

Found our way into another establishment and sat at the bar with a Dutch couple, who were from Den Helder and just there for the weekend, who gave us all the information we needed for these parts and thoroughly enjoyed there company.

Around midnight even more people came into the bar, looking as though they were going to stay for a while.  For us, there had been enough excitement for one day and headed back on board for 01.00.

We had only travelled 7 miles from one island to the next; a lot had been packed into the journey, never to be forgotten.