During this year’s sailing cruise we sailed our boat
Manokwari to the northern islands again. Here is a report on our visit to the isle of Vlieland. The approach from the south takes you almost out to sea in the Terschelling sea entrance. Persistent north-westerly winds had set up quite a swell, which even makes itself felt behind the sandbars out to sea. The tide helped us along on the final leg, as can be seen in the chart track below:
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| The track of our final approach through the Terschelling sea entrance |
As we sailed north, well reefed against a force 4 gusting 5, the sky showed a weather change in the offing:
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| Sailing on a northerly course |
That same evening my spouse made the photos below, showing a wild sky, and the last one who came in on the evening tide:
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| Vlieland harbour at dusk (Henriette Schalkwijk) |
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| The last one in with the tide (Henriette Schalkwijk) |
Vlieland is famous for walking and cycling. The lonely beaches, the dry sandy soil, the pine woods and and the sheltered shore on the landward side offer a variety of plant life:
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| Thistle in full bloom |
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| Man Friday discovered by Robinson Crusoe on a lonely beach? |
A visitor to Vlieland is the British motor yacht
Amazone, formerly named
Mermaiden, which took part in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940.
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| Amazone, formerly named Mermaiden |
The cold northerlies and some showers persisted during our stay. After a few more days we returned to the mainland at Harlingen. Here is the flaming sunset on our final day here:
The isle of Vlieland plays a minor part in two of my books: The Directive and Two Fathoms Down.
