Frisian Islands-man or mouse?

[speedfiend]

Just off to the Frisian Islands for a 2 week cruise. Princess V42.(1.1m draught)
Straight through the Waddenzee or round the outside?
Have all charts but lot of noise saying need balls of steel to go through middle.
Thoughts all?
Thanks
SF

 

[Mr Googler]

Had to look on google to find the islands!!!

No doubt someone on here will have "local" knowledge and be along soon.

Have a great time

 

[bitman]

de waddenzee

not sure what you want to do?

but you can't just drive over the waddenzee from east to west (or west to east) in one go. you really need to have knowledge of the tidal situation and tidal calculations!

always have a laugh if i hear people talking about tidal problems and then refering to the solent!

de waddenzee is another animal all together, beautifull water to sail on with lovely islands / marinas, sand banks to dryout, streams etc.

but make sure you prepare your selfs very well. also becarefull of sailing between the islands going in or out the northsea at the wrong tides.

also bear in mind that de waddenzee is an ATIS area!!!! and NO seatoilet thank you. (we like our seas)



other then that enjoy

ps. tune your AM radio on 1602KHz and you will find radio seagull from a light ship moored in harlingen (my birth place)

more info at http://www.wadvaarders.nl/ you might need google translate

 

[speedfiend]

Many thanks for your input.
Just going to spend 2 weeks pottering about the islands. Naturally I have all tidal info and charts ready. I wondered how tricky it is going across the drying areas with no local knowledge . Dont have any particular plans to get out into North Sea North of the Islands. Any decent anchorages for overnighting on the hook?
Got young kids so will mainly be looking for marinas at night.
Couldn`t seem to find any decent cruising notes on the islands.
Will look at website.
Wheres the best "shorma house" on the islands?
SF

 

[bitman]

info waddenzee

have a look

here; http://www.dutch-frisian-islands.com/
and
here; http://www.waddenzee.nl/English.452.0.html

may be this gives you some info in english to start with

you can always ask the local coast guarts for info about anchoring etc


i love this sea very much and have very good sailing memories. the island marina's can be busy during the summer holidays. also nice to visit is my birth town harlingen where you find plenty of pubs, food, shops etc. the pub i was born (groote breede plaats 35) is still there

 

[speedfiend]

Now that sounds like an invite I cant miss!
Will certainly visit Harlingen and visit the pub (groote breede plats 35).
Thanks for the links ,i will look them up and add to my sketchy cruising notes.
Would you consider it best to go east to west or vice-versa and which are the not-to-miss places?
I leave this sat for ijmuiden, thru the nord-zee kanal to amsterdam, up the ijselmeer to den helder, then a leisurely cruise (probably east to west )thru the waddenzee. We will endeavour to move straight across the small channels and drying areas to get "the local flavour" of the waddenzee.
I may even keep you updated on our progress via this thread!
Thanks again bitman.
SF