Directly to the area characteristics
Before Terschelling, large sandbanks dry out when the tide is low
GETTING THERE
Charter ships to sail the mudflats are always on the IJsselmeer. Therefore, the following also applies to the journey to the mudflats: The region around the IJsselmeer is popular because it is easy to travel by car or train. Above all, sailors from North Rhine-Westphalia and western Lower Saxony, but also from Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, can be there in just a few hours. This is environmentally friendly and has the advantage that you can bring your provisions with you on the way, although the supermarkets in the Netherlands also offer attractive products such as Vl (vanilla pudding in a tetrapak), stroop waffles (caramel biscuits) or all kinds of foods with an Indonesian background
You should briefly find out at the charter station where the car can be parked for the duration of the cruise - this is usually done on the marina site or the surrounding area, usually free of charge. As in Germany, free parking is usually only possible for a fee or for a short time. Prohibitions should be obeyed as much as possible, the fines in Holland are significantly higher than in Germany. Incidentally, this also applies to following the maximum speed. A note: From March 2020, the daytime (6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) on motorways is 100 km / h.
The same applies here: With the ThemCharter, Watt actually means IJsselmeer. Exception: flat bottom ships with skipper and mate. They are often in Harlingen, the mini-metropolis of the Wadden Sea. The "Plattis" are popular because of their shallow and variable draft thanks to the swords and the possibility of falling dry. The range of charter fleets is large, regardless of whether it is a yacht or a flat bottom. The charter hotspot for yachts is clearly Lemmer with several large bases. But Lelystad, Stavoren, Workum and Enkhuizen also offer ships of different quality and thus more or less inexpensive. Flat bottom ships are concentrated in the Workum, Gaastmeer and Heeg areas. The ships can be chartered with and without a skipper. Special feature in Workum: Sailcharter Friesland offers Lemsteraaken with furling foresails and mainsails with single-line gaff rig and lazy bag. It's not authentic, but it's extremely practical. This is how you combine the variable depth of a flat bottom with the simple operation of a yacht. The charter prices in Holland are cheap, in Europe they are only comparably low on the Baltic Sea. Very popular with customers and moderately popular with providers is the option of charter only for a weekend or over public holidays, which is much more pronounced in the Netherlands than elsewhere, but is not offered by all charter companies. A ship with heating, which can get cold even in summer, is highly recommended. The heat source also helps if oilskins have to be dried. A dinghy is not required, as you always lie in harbors. Some companies offer gennakers; however, the big sail is more fun for experts. Those who would like to try out the mudflats in company can take part in one of the flotillas on offer. One of them is the YACHT Skipper Training Wattensee, which takes place annually in September.
The Dutch Wadden Sea, like the German coast, is known for its unpredictable summers, even if the super summers like 2018 have been increasing in recent years. From April to the beginning of September, winds from southwest to western directions dominate the picture. They blow on the mudflats in the same way as directly on the coast, the mean is 12 to 16 knots or 3 to 4 Beaufort. Days with rain are always possible, with 13 to 20 days per month from April to October the probability is high, but the rain never lasts long. It rarely rains for more than one day at a time. In addition, due to the perfect tourist infrastructure on land, you can spend this time ideally - hardly a destination that would not offer a perfect alternative program in bad weather. Unlike the IJsselmeer, the mudflats are still navigable even at 6 Beaufort. The sandbanks make the waves less uncomfortable as long as the tide is not against the wind. Well reefed, the return trip from an island to the mainland can be tackled when 6 Beaufort are blowing. If wind and tide are against you, and the fairway is too narrow to cross, engine power is required to ensure sufficient travel through the water over the long term. The Wadden Sea is quite challenging in terms of navigation. The fairways are well buoyed, but the currents and the changing water level require careful planning when sailing the mudflats with keel yachts; Nobody wants to experience a tide lying on its side. Otherwise, the basic principle applies that you go to the island with running water and go back again with running water. There is a lot of literature about driving on tidal waters. A very extensive work is "Sailing in Tidal Waters" by Wilfried Krusekopf. There are five inhabited islands in the Dutch mudflats. From west to east these are Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The first three can always be approached from the mainland. Ameland and Schiermonnikoog can only be reached via flat areas. Most of the port on the easternmost island is actually dry, and there is often less than a meter of water in the rest of the basin. Here it is strongly recommended to contact the harbor master and clarify whether the island can be reached at all with the draft of the charter ship. Up to three nodes of electricity are definitely possible Bridges and locks: Actually they are only locks, the mudflats simply don't have any bridges. The locks in Den Helder, Den Oever, Kornwerderzand, Harlingen and Lauwersoog are operated normally. When discharging salt water, it is essential to pay attention to the current into the lock chamber and to fasten the stern line first. Otherwise the locks are not critical, but in the high season it can get very crowded in Den Oever and Kornwerderzand. Then patience is required. The Tsjerk Hiddessluizen in Harlingen offers a special feature: it is sometimes "flushed" through it at low tide. The lock is simply opened and large amounts of water flow from Friesland into the mudflats Chamber. Perhaps you'd rather not go through. The "Spuien" can be recognized by three red lamps in a triangle. The Kornwerderzand lock in the evening light A very attractive alternative, if the depth allows it: a round through the eastern mudflats and back through Friesland Especially on the islands, the ports are well developed and prepared for guests. In Oudeschild on Texel you lie in boxes with short side bars, on Vlieland you can lie lengthways or in boxes, Terschelling offers lengthways berths. This also applies to Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The harbors are often full in summer, some are simply closed when full, Vlieland in particular is known for this. Then you have to anchor in front of the harbor and wait for the harbor master to call you in. Or you can plan your own trip in advance using the www.waddenhavens.nl website. On it, webcams can also be used to see what is going on in the port. Anchoring is only possible, if at all, in front of Terschelling and Vlieland or in suitable troughs. Attention: When anchoring, calculate the height of the tide and determine the shallowest water depth. Is this enough? It is also important to bear in mind that the current will capsize and the anchor will then have to hold in the other direction. On the mainland there are harbors in Den Helder, here the one of the Royal Navy on starboard next to the entrance, in Den Oever outside the lock, in Harlingen in the Noorder- and Zuiderhaven and in Lauwersoog is recommended. What they all have in common: The water level is logically variable, floating jetties are not always available (Noorderhaven Harlingen to starboard). Then it is time to look at the lines, even at night. At the locks Kornwerderzand and Den Oever it is also possible to lie down for one night after asking the lock keeper. If you only have a shallow draft (less than 1.60 meters) and like it quiet, you can turn sharply right behind the Tsjerk Hiddessluizen and drive into the Harlinger inland port. When full, closed. The ports on the islands are very busy, especially in summer It is generally advisable to follow the instructions of the harbor master and the length tables on the jetties. On the islands, parcel beds are more the rule than the exception. If you don't like that, you should stay away from the islands. The water almanac of the ANWB is an indispensable reference work for every trip. The two-volume work lists, among other things, all telephone numbers, VHF channels and opening times of bridges and locks; In addition, there is all port information. 19.95 euros per volume, available from specialist retailers. Nautical charts: The charts of the ANWB, set 1811 and 1812 Waddenzee West and Oost are used most frequently. The cards from NV-Verlag, set NL 3, 49.00 euros are also good. Nautical information is available at www.vaarweginformatie.nl. General information on the fairway, dates, activities, country and people are available on www.stegfunk.de, a portal for water sports enthusiasts in the Netherlands. The Atlas HP 33, which indicates tide heights and currents, is very useful for tidal navigation. Information on tides can be found on the website waterinfo.rws.nl. The website nautin.nl also offers a lot of information about the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea is officially an inland area, but tides and weather ensure a real seafaring feeling. And it smells like salt water. Sea fog is notorious, especially in the preseason. Then navigation becomes difficult. It becomes just as difficult when wind and electricity come from the front. Then the ground speed drops rapidly. This has to be planned in, but sometimes it can hardly be avoided. By the way, it is best to have electricity on your side, but that is not always possible either. Many tips for driving on the mudflats can be found here. Driving on the mudflats is actually only dangerous in the Seegatten. There in particular when northerly winds blow and the water runs off the mudflats. Then so-called ground lakes form, which can be dangerous for yachts. The Molengat west of Texel and the Seegatt between Schiermonnikoog and Ameland are particularly well-known for such situations. However, if you drive into the sunrise or sunset with the electricity and a suitable wind on the mudflats, holding a coffee or tea in your hand, you will quickly realize how beautiful it can be here. Maybe a seal or a porpoise will come and watch. And: A voyage across the mudflats, if it was successful, leaves the skipper particularly satisfied, as the challenge was a little higher than on the IJsselmeer due to the current. A typical round with a keel yacht could look like this: Day 1: Lemmer to Den Oever, approx. 25 nautical miles Day 2: Den Oever to Oudeschild, approx. 11 nautical miles Day 3: Oudeschild to Vlieland via Paardehoek, approx. 32 nautical miles Day 4: Vlieland to Terschelling, approx. 10 nautical miles Day 5: Terschelling to Harlingen, approx. 16 nautical miles Day 6: Harlingen to Lemmer, approx. 40 nautical mile Then you have approached all the important goals without really getting stressed. Depending on the tide, the round goes without extreme times. With the exception of the stage from Oudeschild to Vlieland, all sections can be driven at any time, but then the tide may run in the opposite direction. So a 5 knot speed through the water becomes only 2.5 knots above ground, it then takes longer. On the stage away from Texel it goes over a flat, provided you take the shortcut over the Scheurak / Inschot / Paardenhoek. You should arrive there about 1 hour before high tide Kornwerderzand, then it will also fit with a two meter draft (provided that the map depth remains unchanged!). Famous landmark and visible from afar: the Brandaris on Terschelling It is advisable to navigate the mudflats very carefully. The current quickly carries you out of the fairway or you get mixed up with buoys, next to the fairway it is usually the same shallow. Exception: In some places there are yellow buoys outside the fairway, they show a two-meter depth line. The area between the fairway and these yellow buoys is expressly intended to be used by recreational skippers, also to give the sometimes very fast ferries enough space. A special feature on the Wadden Sea is the so-called brown fleet; it is so named because it used to wield dark (brown) sails. These are old cargo ships that have been converted into passenger ships. The captains on the ships are usually a bit headstrong. They are considered professional shipping and therefore enjoy right of way on inland waters, which they also like to take. So it is advisable to keep your distance. Sometimes very fast: the ferries on the mudflats The islands themselves are all different. Texel is a family island with huge beaches and the seal center Ecomare, Vlieland is a very small island, which in summer almost reminds you of the Ile de Porquerolles in southern France: pine forests, beach, no cars, a small place and just peace and quiet. By the way, the beach begins practically at the marina. Oh yes: no cars are not quite right. The Vliehors Express is of course legendary. The area includes: the flat-bottomed ships of the brown fleet Terschelling, on the other hand, is a livelier island: many restaurants and pubs, several places and of course the beach. One of the most beautiful corners is the "Paviljoen de Walvis" in West-Terschelling. Sitting there with a cold drink, the ship traffic to and from the port can be observed and commented on. It gets full on Terschelling, especially at the Oerol Festival. Every June the island is transformed into a cabaret, colorful, flashy, extravagant. Should be seen. Ameland is also a family island, and Schiermonnikoog is very quiet. On the mainland, Lauwersoog awaits guests with its fish stalls, but there isn't much else going on here. Then rather on the way back to Lemmer, when it is the big wadden circuit, drive straight through to Dokkum. Harlingen is the next city on the mainland. It is also worth stopping here. Den Oever and Den Helder don't have too much to offer, although the lifeboat and naval museums in Den Helder are definitely worth seeing. But one thing is clear: the highlights of the area are the islands. And they are really worth a trip at any time of the year!CHARTER
CHARTER PROVIDER IN THE NETHERLANDS
WIND & WEATHER
NAVIGATION & SEAT CREW
PORTS & ANCHORAGE
LITERATURE & SEA MAPS
AREA CHARACTERISTICS Wadden Sea
