An interesting Trip to Borkum

In the end, the four days of waiting in Cuxhaven we could have gone to Holland. We *were* waiting for better weather but in the end got it quite bad…

So we started yesterday at 03:40 in the morning with the outgoing tide and had a pleasent sail with about 3 Bft. and were gliding out into the North sea. The sailing was perfect, the weather quite nice and the wind increased to a perfect 4-5  Bft. from the right direction. The kids are happy, the sindvane does it’s job.

But there’s something wrong. We’re in the North sea after all… What is it ? Ah, there….

The air pressure is going waaaaay down. From 1013Hpa to 996Hpa (!!!) But the next harbour for us is Borkum and we’re actually really good underway. So we slide past the Islands Norderney and Juist, the wind is increasing to force 6 and we’re sailing with the second reef. Finally we’re closing in on Borkum and it’s starting to rain. Wind still increasing, now force 7. What’s that ? Didn’t the weather guis talk about easy 5 Bft ?!?

We’re now sailing in the third reef up until the last 8 miles. From here we use the main sail and engine. The Rancho Relaxo is bouncing up and down the waves while the Kids are downstairs and reading (Bruno) or painging (Viola). Gui and me are trying to find our way through the dark. The spray fills the air and the water is now more white than black. I have no idea how strong the wind is but it’s rock’n'roll. And the waves are huge  – despite the land being quite near. At midnight we enter the safe harbour Borkum and fall into the beds.

But now I have to finish my breakfast. We want to go up the river Ems with the ingoing tide. To go through the inland channels towards Amsterdam.