Rolling along the North Sea coast

It is going well. Still warm and sunny, and the sea is not too rough. Wind is blowing from the east or northeast. Since there is so little wind,that is in my advantage, although the engine has to help at times. I covered IJmuiden to Borkum (140 nautical miles) in 29 hours. Night sailing made possible by enough wind to steer with the vane. A few other sailboats that kept out of the way, as did the numerous fishing trawlers. Getting to Borkum was a shock. Earlier I visited Norderley, where it was so nice. This place, Borkum, is the uggliest place I have visited so far. Large concrete buildings, and totally unplanned. The harbor is a hole in the shoreline. There is a cosier private harbor just west of the sea port, but it is shallow, and dries out at low tide. I met some more nice boat neighbors and that made it more pleasant to be there. This morning it rained and thundered a few hours, but before lunch it cleared. I set off with high tide and had the positive current with me the whole time. It turned out a great sailing day. Got to Norderney a good few hours earlier than expected. I got the bike out and filled a spare can with diesel at a nearby gas station. Just to be safe. So I am in Norderney again. No touristing this time. I catch the tidal wave early tomorrow and sail to the Elbe at Cuxhaven. Grateful for it going well.

Author: captain

Johannes, born in 1960 in Zierikzee, The Netherlands. Owner of S/Y Isabell. Retired environmental toxicologist, now living aboard and sailing south.