Our sail back to the mainland was a sunny beam reach in 12 kns of wind, near perfect sailing conditions. The sea covers a huge area but the channel for shipping is very narrow and winding, resulting in some close encounters with other ships. The lock and bridges opened as we arrived in Harlingen with no waiting around. Once into the canal we passed through the usual industrial areas, then into countryside arriving in the pretty town of Franeker. We moored in the ...

We wanted to come to Vlieland, what we didnt know was that Vlieland is Hollands version of sandbanks, holiday homes for the rich and famous. A lovely unspoilt island but very expensive. We had made a plan to sail from the IJsselmeer lock to Harlingen then across the Waddenzee. We then spoke to a guy who said that there is a Tall Ship Race taking place this weekend witch as lots of special regulations regarding sailing. So we decided to make another plan over a dr...

Sailed up from Hoorn in a F2 mostly at 3 kns with a brief run of 6 kns in the gusts. Only12 miles and all day to do it. Tomorrow we head to the sea lock about 22 nm, then Friday out into the sea again and cross to the island of Vlieland, got to find the tidal atlas again, it's been a while now without them. We will have to get into a safe secure area somewhere by Tuesday as a full gale is forecast. We have had a short walk around here this evening before a barbi...

Marken to Hoorn 12 nm force 3 to 4. 40 deg to apparent wind in the sunshine, a great 2 hour sail. We arrived mid afternoon and decided we would anchor in the outer harbour rather than go into one of the marinas, we took the dinghy ashore and had a walk round, as it was Sunday there was lots going on,Beach volleyball in the town square, music on most street corners. We identified a good bar for later as our newly adopted football team were playing Mexico at 1800. ...

We had a good sail up from Amsterdam, filling up with fuel on route. The wind increased to about a force 5 as we arrived at the small harbour Marken. We could not work out the layout very well and another boat directed us to a box mooring side,on to the gusting wind, the box was for a larger boat than us so we had all the wrong ropes on, we had to get out the longer ones. Our first proper box mooring, we need a bow thruster!! in any sort of wind our bows just ge...