Fortunately, the mechanic called to say he was coming to help me first. My suns were just ready with their bags on the jetty, so I waved them goodbye quickly. The problem with the engine turned out to be in the power cable to the starter motor, which also powers the instrument panel. Corrosion from the inside or something. Attached a new plug and it was fixed in half an hour. I almost good asked my boys to return, but they were just getting on the bus back home.
Quickly getting everything ready to sail. I’m a little bit hesitant: a whole stretch across the North Sea, late arrival in Harlingen, or lots of bridges and going through Sneek tomorrow. The tide is against me at first, but eventually in my favor towards Harlingen. I’m going for it. Being on the North Sea alone is much nicer than going through all those bridges. However, the engine needs to be running hard to reach at least 6 knots through the water. Heading out of the channel, that drops 2.5. And on the North Sea, it drops another 1 first. The wind is lovely. Engine and Genoa combined make 7 through the water. Halfway to Ameland, it goes like a rocket. The current is in my favour and I am making more than 8 knots SOG. An hour at every waypoint, usually near a north cardinal, I sleep for 20 minutes each time.
When you see the Brandaris, you are still a long way off. The channel runs past Vlieland, so you actually have to continue quite a bit to the West. I had already plotted the route on the plotter earlier and want to cut across the Westergronden. It is quite exciting, as I see breakers there. Chart depths in the Wadden Sea are not always accurate. It changes continuous, due to mudflats. And this (my) route is not marked with buoys, for a marked channel I would have had to sail further west.
The 2 to 4 meter depth zone is too risky with these waves and wind. The 4 to 5 meter depth flats and the narrowest strip to deep water should be possible. I furl the genoa and, with less engine power and manual steering, with the wind from behind, I calmly sail over the shallows of the Westergronden. At 4.5 knots and consistently more than 5 meters of depth, I am sailing due south, concentrating on my course. A MFD in the cockpit would be handy. From the port side, right at the front of the cockpit, I can just look inside to see if the waves are pushing me too far off course. Eventually, after half an hour, I safely reach deeper water first, and another half hour later, the navigation channel.
Delightfully calm water, no real swell any more. Beautiful setting sun, plenty of wind. Until the very last moment, I consider sailing on. Anchor at Makkum, continue to Lelystad? However, the (north) wind is expected to pick up in the morning. Then anchoring at Makkum is exposed, sailing into my berth in Lelystad at night would likely wake people up, and there are unlit fishing nets scattered here and there on the IJsselmeer, which are already almost invisible during the day in bad weather. At 21:50, just before the bridge is closed for the night, I sail into the inner harbour of Harlingen and moor alongside a young couple who previously sailed around the Atlantic and are now restoring a real ocean cruiser for new adventures. It is wonderful to hear about their experiences. I also took a quick look together at my ship’s rigging; the shrouds indeed need much more tension. I go to sleep at midnight.
- Departure: 17-07-2026 09:50 (Lauwersoog)
Arrival: 17-07-2026 21:50 (Harlingen) - Sailing time: 8 h
- Engine time: 4 h
- Sailing distance: 72.9 NM