Day 50 - At Sea

Wednesday 22^nd July 2015 – At Sea – Day 50

Awake at 05.30, engine started at 06.00 out of the harbour ten minutes later and hoisted the main with two reefs in, shortly afterwards we passed buoy VS8, now known as Jack’s buoy, the one we had bounced off on the way in.

By 07.00 we were making good progress down the channel with the outgoing tide and wind in the west force 3 to 4 with a slight to moderate sea, at 08.00 we shook out the reefs from the main.

By 08.30 we were beginning to cross the main shipping separation zones, this is where the larger ships mostly on passage in and out of the Elbe follow this particular route, we are obliged to cross at ninety degrees to the lane and the oncoming traffic.  These lanes are three miles wide and separated by two miles.

The first lane we came to was the north bound lane, on this clear day it was easy to spot the ships coming towards you and with the AIS (automatic identification system) on the chart plotter, this gives you the information on the ships, name of vessel, speed and course, more importantly the closest point it will be when it passes and at what time.

'Heulan'

This invaluable information made us slow down and alter course for one ship, ‘Heulan’ until she was safely past.  I am a great believer in, when on a yacht, plastic gives way to steel.

At 10.30 after crossing both shipping lanes, in the southbound lane there was very little traffic, the engine was stopped, and we set course for Blyth, now 240 miles away.

We settled into our four hours on and eight hours off watches.  I took the 12 to 4, Jack the 4 to 8 and Dave the 8 to 12.

As the afternoon progressed the wind slowly began to ease until at 18.30 the engine was once more started and the headsail dropped.

Dave's night watch attire

Westward Bound

By 20.00 there was no wind at all, mainsail dropped, as we headed westward for the UK coast.

At 21.00 the navigation lights were switched on, as we began our night hours and take in the enchantment of being at sea, the motion of boat on a slightly rolling sea, the stars in the sky breaking out behind the clouds with the occasional light on the horizon of other ships passing by.

Day 49 - Vlieland

Tuesday 21^st July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 49

The wind reached its peak at 03.00 with viscous gusts which pushed the yacht over about 10 degrees onto the pontoon.  There were some of us about making sure there was no damage being done.

At walk ashore in the afternoon took us back to the village, where we visited the church graveyard and found a section being well maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The headstones’ inscriptions told of the allied airmen who lost their lives on this island in the Second World War, a remainder of those troubled times, in this tranquil area of the village.

Village Square

Onto the high street and into the Co-op where we purchased our stores, then sat outside an ice-cream shop, enjoying our cornets in the warm sunshine and shelter from the now decreasing wind.

Back to the marina and into the shower block which was full of youngsters from the many now moored Dutch sail training barges.  They were getting themselves all polished for a night on the town, while we settled to stay close by.

Into the marina ‘De Dining’ restaurant which was also full, we waited some time for our meal of broccoli soup, followed by pork satay which was most enjoyable.

We were back on board and in our beds for 23.00 anticipating, an early start tomorrow and another attempt at the North Sea crossing.

Day 48 - Vlieland

Monday 20^th July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 48


At 10.00, boats started moving out of the marina but not for us, we moved off and found ourselves a vacant pontoon berth to stay for the day.

Spent part of the time carrying our repairs to the damage caused yesterday.  The engine cooling water pump was opened up and impeller found to be in a good condition, the sea suction strainer removed and cleaned.

The cabin port side locker door which had parted company with the hinges was drilled and new bolts fitted, while the port side dodger (canvas wind-break) which had pulled out some of the islets was re-secured.

Along with all of the other facilities in the marina was a hamburger bar, frequented mostly by the youngsters.  Myself and Dave gave it a try but it was not too our liking and we wandered off disappointed towards the village.

 

In the street behind the main thoroughfare we came across these wood carvings in an old tree, amazing piece of art and delighted to see it.

We made our way to the ‘Oord Hotel’ not far from the ferry landing and had very enjoyable evening, drinking the local beer and ould genevers.

Walking back to the marina, the wind which had been blowing all day was now increasing in strength, as we climbed on board around midnight.

Day 47 - Vlieland

Sunday 19^th July 2015 – Vlieland

The shipping forecast looks manageable with winds from the south/southwest quarter and dropping.

With a distance of 256 miles to our home port of Blyth, we decided to go for the crossing of the North Sea.

We bade farewell to the other yachts we had been lying alongside and headed out of the marina. 

With the tide near its highest, we moved along the channel to the slenk over the sand bank.  We kept very close to the small yellow buoys and after half an hour of tense navigation, at 11.45 we were into the main channel and headed for the open sea.

Unlike the forecast, the wind and swell were increasing from a westerly direction and we were making no headway on our intended course.  Decision was made to head southwards towards Texel to find shelter in Oudeschild.

At 14.00 with the tide and wind combination, we were being pushed towards the Eirlandsche Gat with its imposing lighthouse on the north of Texel.

Tacked out to sea, to give us more sea room, after another two hours we were not really achieving very much and the decision was made to return to Vlieland.

Now we were running with a very strong breeze and in a two metre swell which was becoming more and more uncomfortable. 

We passed once more this oil platform and at 18.30 the tide was changing in our favour, as we were running in the Terschelling Gat and rounded the top of Vlieland at 19.00.

  

We hurried down the narrow channel towards the marina, while I was dropping the hanked on No.2 foresail on the front, the helm’s man misjudged the combination of wind and tide, allowing us to drop onto the port side buoy channel VS8 marker.

I attempted to kick it away, not a very good idea, as I still bear the scars today.  V68 bounced down our port side very quickly, while the engine lost sea suction and was stopped.

Turned the yacht around and headed back out to sea, while the engine cooling water was re-primed  and engine started.  Dropped the mainsail and called the marina for permission to enter, thankfully they said it was OK.

At 19.30 we were just inside, on the far side of the marina, alongside a large Dutch replica barge ‘Woeswater’.

Very, very pleased to be back in harbour, it had been an awful day at sea and we were now storm-bound.

Day 46 - Terschelling

Saturday 18^th July 2015 – Terschelling –Day 46

The weather forecast is not too good again, so decided to stay another day on this island.

    

In this crowded marina we did not see anything moving out but there were a few stragglers come in.

Wherever they had started from, looking relieved to be here.

Back into the town to revisit the shops and found one devoted entirely to cranberries, it was to be found in all different disguises in drinks, jams, lotions and potions.  I was fascinated by this and made some purchases but never got to identify on the island where it was all grown.

Sat in the square under the lighthouse admiring the purchases drinking iced tea before moving on to the ‘Zeenight’, a restaurant overlooking the working harbour with fishing boats and day trip barges going about their business.  We dined on schnitzels, salad and chips, all very pleasant in the late afternoon sunshine.

We returned to the yacht in the evening for supper on board. With a slightly better forecast, we made preparations for hopefully leaving tomorrow for the UK.

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.

Day 44 - Vlieland

Thursday 16^th July 2015 – Vlieland – Day 44

This morning it is warm and sunny, quite a few boats are on the move out of the harbour with confirmation from the harbour master in his rib, we hurriedly find our way to a vacant box and all secured for 09.30.

Jack not wanting to exert himself declined the offer as me and Dave hire bicycles at 10.30 for the day.  The normal sit up and beg with seven gears to play with.  Armed with the local cycle map for the island, we set off along the north coast line, through a wooded area which contained holiday homes, camp sites and a hotel in amongst the sand-dunes.

Beach

   

Beach Hotel

The beach near to the camps was deserted, maybe a little too early or the campers or they were hiding in the dunes.

Cycling from this part of the beach, we managed to miss our turning on the track and ended up near to the lighthouse on the south side of the island.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse is situated on the highest point on the island, so an ideal spot to take some pictures.

I left Dave watching over the bics, while I began ascending the hillside towards the tower.

My ascent was blocked by a one metre high fence, it looked as though it was electrified but no notices.  I gingerly touched the top wire, nothing, so I straddled the fence touching the fence with both hands and wallop, I was flat on my back with one foot jammed in the bottom wire doing a St. Fettise dance, extracting my foot, the sensation stopped.

There is nothing like being electrocuted on holiday.

Lesson learnt, I circum-navigated the fence and found the correct route up to the lighthouse.  With a visitor’s platform and a friendly guide, I managed to get the panoramic view of the island, which is basically a huge sand mass with a covering of coarse grass and low trees.

Now following the main road on the south side on which there are very few motor vehicles (only locals allowed vehicles on the island).  We passed only two small cultivated fields which appeared to grow fodder for the horses.  The island literature tells of an abundance of wildlife, so far we had seen, one pigeon.

Hotel Posthuys

We arrive at our destination of the Hotel Posthuys with a lot of people here taking lunch.

A little further to the south, it is a no-go zone for tourists, as the military has taken over the rest of the island.  Therefore, this is the last place to take on food and drink.

I was happy with a small lunch, while Dave unknowingly, ordered a hamburger, which ended up the biggest one I have ever seen, though he did manage to munch his way through it.

Beach Truck

Outside the hotel were two large people carriers which take the tourists off down to the beaches for party time, we had our own transport.  We set off down the correct cycle path on the north side of the island.

Cycle Path

   

Circling Gulls

Along here there was more bird life to be seen, with nesting sea birds in the dunes, we stopped for a while and walked across to one of these sites and rested on the soft mossy dunes while watching the gulls circling above.

White Sands

Further along we came to another idyllic spot with fine views across the white sands, lying back on the top of the dunes in the warm sunshine, sleep came very quickly.

Alex's Bicycle

   

Dave's Bicycle

  

We managed to get ourselves along the rest of the cycle path and back into the village.

Parked up the bics and wandered in and out of the shops, before residing in one of the bars for some refreshing beers.

A short ride to the hire shop and we handed back the bicycles at 19.30, returned to the boat, where we had supper on board, tucked up in bed for 23.00.

It had been an adventure, a well recommended cycle tour of the allowed part of the island.  The beaches are in pristine condition and miles of it to enjoy, with an inviting village to relax.