Through Holland

Ti Gitu stopped at Borkum before entering Holland again at Lauwersoog. We went through the lock and into the lakes where we stopped at a 3 x 24 free stopping pontoon. It was magic. From there it was a really slow trip through the canals to Dokkum and then on through towards Leeuwarden. Again we were stopping at the free pontoons and at one we met Ewout and Caroline, an Anglo - Dutch couple who are really great and really kind to us giving lots of local knowledge to help us on our way.

The stern gland of Ti Gitu was leaking so we turned off the direct mast up route and headed to Harlingen and out to the Frisian island of Vlieland where we dried Ti Gitu out on the beach and changed the seal also the shaft anode and scrubbed the bottom again, which actually was fairly clean.

A gale was forecast so the next morning we headed back towards Harlingen, having to tack to windward for 20 miles, thinking that we might carry on towards the Ijsselmeer but the current was very strong against us as we turned to go South West along the coast and being rather tired from the previous days exertions we telephoned Willem the harbourmaster of the H.W.S.V. yacht club who had a berth for us. This yacht club / marina is a gem. It is in the old moat from when the town was protected with 'star' embankments. It is a bit narrow to get into but really well sheltered and very quiet unlike the moorings in the middle of the town which are surrounded with restaurants and bars. We have decided to stay here for a couple of days before taking a good tide down to the Ijsselmeer.