Customs custom

20 May 2009
Second part

What a difference compared to the brusk short breaking waves at the IJsselmeer! When leaving the lock Kornwerdersluis, entering the Waddenzee, a relative quiet sea enrolls, with a relaxing long swell. The sun creating an array of bright blue colours on the salt water, across the depth variances. Indeed, the Waddenzee with its sand banks, and strong tidal currents, can be very dangerous in poor weather conditions, one should not forget, but this time she is a 'sleeping beauty'! I put some extra power on the throttle - not just because I am tempted to do so because of the magnificient feeling of freedom, but (down to earth) Cómplice hardly can cope with the pace of the larger Linssens. It feels strong and stable, what can happen? A few seals are noticed at the front of the pack, taking the ships lane from the opposite site, marineradio's crack to ask everyone's attention.

Seals ahead!

We almost forget paying attention to the basic rules. Watch the other traffic on the 'road'. Actually we had seen it coming from a long distance. A very large, robust and fast Customs vessel at high speed. Right on the spot of our portside turn, opposite Harlingen, taking the direction to Terschelling, its tremendous waves hit us, more or less on the side. Too late to take the bow to waves. If one thinks everything is under control, and all belongings are safe and fixed, there are always forgettables. The binoculars, the mobile phone, the handheld marineradio, a coffeepot and even the navigation computer leave their place. This is where the trail on the map above stops... We have to come to grips again, stupid me. But Cómplice itself only shudders a bit, puts herself in the right position again, and continues her way. Bye bye customs. We pick our belongings together, I restart the navigation computer, and from now on pay attention to not only nature, but also to the large fishing boats, and the huge ferry that is approaching us.

GiGi rides the waves. One of the few build Linssens of this type

A cosy come together in West-Terschelling yachts harbour

On the map, from Harlingen to Terschelling seems such a short way. From a long distance one can see the light house, which is deceptive to estimate the time to go. The way to Terschelling is a curving experience, around the sand banks, but not a very difficult one. Very well marked buoys, and with additional help of GPS and map, one can't go wrong. Some make shortcuts, but I won't give it a try. As simple as that: the low tide is coming, and hitting the ground would mean for the next few hours the fix will get worse.

Arriving at Terschelling roadstead at 13:30, mooring places kept free for our Linssen pack close together, at the huge yachts harbour, which gets more crowded by the minute with this long Ascension day weekend and excellent weather forecast coming. Ready for our 'jetty drinks'. But first, quite a few of us, wash the salt away first.


Jetty drinks, at last