The reason I defied the bad weather yesterday was that I wanted to have a good starting point for 70 miles to Borkum, the first of the German Friesian islands. If I could be at sea at five in the morning, I would have two good tides pushing me forward and one bad inbetween. So 4:50 I steared out from Vlieland. Good winds were forecasted and good winds I got. So good so when I passed Borkum it was still early afternoon. Too good winds to be wasted I figured and saw that I could reach Norderney on the last of the east going tide, 20 more miles. Close to 90 miles, that is the longest daysail I have made.

The only problem was that I would arrive very close to low water. The long approach channel is very shallow and narrow as well, but a phone call to the harbour master gave me the courage I needed. He said it should be at least two meter, which would give me 35 centimeters clearance. The lowest reading I had on the depth sounder was two decimeter, but that was when some big waves throwed me to the side of the channel. And I have 40-50 centimeters offset on the sounder so maybe the harbour master exaggerated a bit to keep me on my toes. Keep close to the buoys and be very careful, he said, the bottom is very hard sand.

Norderney is the most populated of the Friesian islands with 6000 inhabitants. Not far from the marina is the town with the same name, with some high riser hotels. More than 400 000 tourists per year come here, I guess it is pretty lively in the summer.