We are back on the mainland in a marina in Wilhelmshaven which has got WiFi so I dont have to use the 'roaming dongle' That gives a chance for a quick update:
We left Wangerooge as early as the tide allowed, around 12.30 in cloudy weather with about 15 knots of wind. After passing two shallows, we got to the Jade, the 'river' which runs to Wilhelmshaven. It is not really a river as it does not go more than a few KM inland but from the sea it looks like a river the way it runs between the islands. There was quite a bit of shipping, big ships which are on their way to the oil and container terminals near Wilhelmshaven, which itself is a Navy port.
As we had planned to have the tide carry us in, we did over 8 knots over the ground (normal is just over 6) and we got to the big locks in Wilhelmshaven by 15.30. Fortunately the wait was quite short as they do not really have proper tying up facilities for small boats to wait: we just floated in front of the lock for 10 minutes or so before we were let in.
These locks are enormous, about 50m wide and 300m long I guess. It was just little Onbekommerd and one other (also Dutch) motor yacht of similar proportions in there, so it was quite someting to have this big lock with the enormous quantity of water that had to be 'shifted' just for us!
Wilhelmshaven itself is not very exciting and tomorrow we'll leave around 9 to go to Aurich, on the Ems - Jade Kanal.
I owe you pictures of today, but they are still in the camera.
Also, I have been asked what I mean with 'the Wad'. I realise that this is a difficult thing to explain or understand, so I am now working on a (small) illusrated treatise on this unique ecosystem! Watch this space!
No comments:
Post a Comment