Helgoland

17 June 2016

We had a quiet crossing from Rotterdam. On the New Waterway we gave the new trainees explanation about the rigging and we slowly hoisted the gaff sails. Once outside the ‘paddenstoelen’ the engine was off and we sailed under full sail towards the northwest. It was beautiful weather, light WSW wind and a speed of about 5 knots. With the drone we took some aerial shots that you can check on our Facebook page. Some 14 miles off the coast of Katwijk we turned north and the course was set too. Unfortunately, the weather forecast was right and the wind died out slowly. After dinner the square sails were taken away and the engine switched on. We stayed in the shipping lanes and passed Texel towards the German Bight. On Thursday morning, it seemed that the wind had returned, so we set all sails, but it was just for one hour; when the speed dropped to 1.3 knot the engine went back on. It was a beautiful day with a completely calm sea. The sun deck was opened and there were some chores done on deck. Around 23:00 hours the lighthouse of Helgoland came over the horizon and there was some light rain. At 2:30 we tied up in Helgoland. We woke up in a dense drizzle but that luckily disappeared. Everyone has left the ship to explore the island. Tonight at 18:00 we will depart to sail into the Elbe with the tide, to Brunsbüttel.