Tuesday, 30 – Wednesday 31 July
We are part of a huge flotilla of boats taking the opportunity of a flat sea and hopefully an Easterly wind to get us to Terschelling without going through the washing machine!
Because there is not much shelter on this North Friesian shore, it’s best to do a 24 hr stint in the most clement weather you can find.
There can be 2 knots of tide against or with you (we are in neap tides so not the strongest) and if you get a strong Westerly against you (prevailing winds) and a tide with you, you can get a ‘steep sea’ aka washing machine.
David and I luckily don’t get seasick much, nor does Kevin, but I’m sure I would in rough conditions and so we go today.
It’s beautiful weather but the wind was only strong enough for motor sailing, we had both sails up and lowish engine revs and chopped along at 8 knots.
David was busy with his rope splicing
David was also top chef
Kevin was top washer-upper!
We changed our courtesy flag from Germany to The Netherlands
As the night fell we saw shooting stars and other wonders in the dark
Kevin and David saw the sunset:
David and I saw the dawn:
We arrived in West Terschelling, the land of Dutch barges it would seem, around 9am
It’s chocker-block in the marina but they squeezed us in and we waited for some to leave, then we re-moored alongside Quattordici.
Billy had already gone for an unplanned swim!
Time for me to do the washing and David to service the engine!
We said goodbye and thank you to Kevin who has been excellent crew for the last week. We got him here in time for his ferry, then a few trains back to Brussels!
While I was busy with the washing 4 burly men climbed aboard La Bamba and asked David for his boat documents. Due to some error, La Bamba has been registered as ‘Arcona 435-41’ on our AIS instead of our boat name, which probably makes us look suspicious.
Initially concerned about the men with guns clomping on board with their big boots, David was delighted to finally have someone to show his impressive file of boat documents!
They liked what they saw – and now La Bamba has a certificate to stay in the EU for 18 months!
However we are still heading home.
Even better, our Quattordici friends, Marc and Monique kindly gave us the courtesy flag for Terschelling – they have their own special one instead of the Dutch one, Thank you!
Marc advised David on getting the engine serviced – there is no end to their helpfulness!
We were happy to welcome Angela and Fin
We can see they are going to be a lot of fun!
Old buoys make great play parks!
So pleased you made the long sail on smooth seas and had such glorious sunsets and rises. And that Angela and Finn made it to Tershcelling. He looks a good Dutch sailor. You had a proper Dutch welcome, plenty of paperwork. Clearly you were worth 4 officials.
Take care on the busy route south.
I never knew David was a 5 year old boy🤣
You are never to old to play!
Wow, the dawns and sunsets look absolutely astonishing on the sea😍.
I love your upside down pic, Eleanor!🤩👍