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Freyja the delivery trip
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Freyja arrives in UK |
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The second leg crew comprising Tom Kearney, Tom Tooley, Jackie Dyett, Derek Dyett, Stephen Plant and Paul Sutcliffe arrived in Cuxhaven on the DFDS Ferry in time to meet the outgoing crew.
Departure in Freyja was on the following morning with an uneventful passage to Helgoland in poor visibility. The ship’s stores were stocked with the best provender the island could provide and the following day (Tuesday) with visibility still poor Freyja departed and made for the island of Langeoog. Arriving there in the late afternoon a snug berth close to the local restaurant made for a pleasant stay.
The weather had been calm, but strong winds were forecast and it was considered unwise to enter the next port of call, Norderney in case the winds rose to such and extent that we might be trapped there. The third day was therefore spent on a longish passage directly from Langeoog to Borkum. By the time we arrived there the weather, which had been too calm for any decent sailing turned to a less pleasant NW Force 4 to 5.
After a night in port we continued along the Frisian coast entering Dutch waters and passing in through the Westgat between the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The Westgat was deep enough for entry even in the boisterous conditions, but looked intimidating with breakers only 30 meters to starboard sending white water and foam right across the channel. Landfall was at Lauwersoog where Freyja locked into the canal system and continued to Dokkum for the night.
A day of motoring through the canals took us from Dokkum to Harlingen, where another night was spent.
As a result of leaving out Norderney we were now a day ahead of schedule, so took a diversion into the IJsselmeer and Hindeloopen, where again we spent the night. A festival was in progress and the harbour was crowded. A rally of preserved cars passing through the town enlivened the evening.
Our final day had us sailing back through the IJsselmeer and into the Waddenzee and a final run with for once a strong and favourable wind to our final destination of Den Helder.
The next day we handed over to one of Brian’s crew who had arrived early and took the train to Hoek van Holland where the HSS gave us a fast ride across the North Sea.
Tom Kearney |
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3rd leg - crew Brian Barnes, Roger Boast as mate, Jeff Herschel, Alan Apling, Nigel Harrison and Graham Hill.
We took over the boat from Tom Kearney in Den Helder on Monday 9 May. Tuesday after a familiarisation tour of the boat we set sail into the Waddenzee to try out the handling and which piece of string made which sail go up or down. Once we were all content we set sail for the lock at Den Oever and stayed the night at Hindeloopen - a small port on the eastern side of the Ijsselmeer.
Next morning we set out for the lock at Kornwerderzand and back out into the Waddenzee. That night we stayed in Oudeschild in a newly created marina on the Friesian Island of Texel.
This was to be our launch point for the journey home. So after lunch on Thursday 12th May we set sail in a good strong north easterly. The boat performed beautifully and we stayed on a port tack until the top of the Sledway. The weather was a bit lumpy then so we took down the sails and motored into Shotley. 150 plus miles in less than 24 hours, virtually all of it under two reefs in the main and half the foresail. A real treat.
Two points of interest - we were boarded in Oudeschild by immigration officials and as we were leaving Dutch waters a Dutch customs boat changed course to intercept Freyja, but were persuaded by Roger's masterly touch on the VHF to let us continue our journey. In fact Roger was quite sharp with them when they suggested the boat was a Halberg Rassey!!
Brian Barnes
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