just curious...

Are there people out here who will be present on Texel in two weeks??

Let's hope it heats up a bit by then.
Northsea still way too cold for this time of year.

Pussy

But the conclusion is, that I'm almost alone over there :-)

Arjan, roughly there are three types of participants of Texel:
the (semi) pro's who wants to go for first places, the members of the beach catclubs and finally the sweetwater catsailors.

The last categorie wants to go out on the northsea once or twice a year and is looking for the given safety and support in the Round of Texel

So, you will be not alone, but all these categories are not that much represented on this forum.

Nevertheless, in order to warm you up a little bit, here's a little vid which I shot yesterday.
The circumstances on Texel can look a bit like this (that is to say if the Round is not cancelled above 20 kts!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYPpTmRpPS8

If you really want to get a real impression, switch to full screen and full sound.

is that a semi-retractible spinnaker pole?

No, it's a "auxiliary" pole for raising and lowering my mast (making a lever against the mast).

Plus it's a pole for righting my cat after capsize (if the normal uphaulline doesn't work).

The fork on both sides of the pole work in both applications.

Hi Ronald,

Nice video, and it looks familiar to last weekend.
We've learned last weekend when we were training on Wassenaar. The saturday we went out on a sea like that in a rubber boat. (even that was challenging) the Sunday we went sailing. Really interesting for people like us. (with no sea experiences) It was indeed up and down.

But we managed it rather ok. getting from the beach was interesting while the wind was exactly towards the beach and not too strong. Also the spi sailing was different. (normally when the cat lifts that is wind and not a wave, you can imagine the first reactions)

Arjan,

I'm glad that you were excited by the Northsea and sailing on it.
Pay attention though that you don't get caught by the real addiction, because otherwise you'll endup like me:

An old fool of 67 who creeps in the morning laboriuos out of his bed with pain in all of his bones. And who calls himself a Northseajunkie.

The weatherforecast expects this weekend a northeastern wind, so I'm sure that a lot of participants will sail these days via the sea to texel. So I will meet and greet some old friends far out at sea. They pass my spot.
Also I look out on the provincial-road to the Texel-ferry, so I see all these trailers with cats pass by.

Anyway, lots of success next weekend on Texel and please report back in this thread how you found it.

Its also smart to understand a thing or two about the current since that plays a big factor when sailing on the coast.

Basic rule is that there is less current inshore and more offshore, so for example you are going upwind against the tide you want to stay as close to shore as possible and vice versa.
(But not too close so that you sail onto a sand bank, dont ask me how I know )

yes we've tried to learn one or two things about tides and currents. And shallow waters... that's our specialism :-)

Ronald,

Yes indeed quite a few sailors will pass you. I've learned that at least 10 boats will pass you on their way from Wassenaar

Huh, Tony,

What, what, what are you stating there???????

I would never say that in general. Maybe you have experienced that some times at some places. But I would say that in general the opposite is true.

Look, I can give a lecture of an hour about tidal streams near the coast and there are many factors which play a role there: moonphase,seabottom depth/angle, winddirection, coastal situation, etc.

With regard to Texel where I've sailed a lot, the situation is even more complicated because the tidal streams go around the island and meet each other on the other side (het wanty) where there's no current at all.

So, I would never give this as a basic rule to a sea-novice like Arjan
.

You dont have to agree with me but as a rule there is less current close to shore, regardless of where you sail.
Another tip for Texel is to stay close to shore when the wind is coming of the land.

I strongly disagree the declaration of this rule.

a. because it's not true
b. I would never state a general rule for this matter.

There are differences here...open ocean with surf, yes, current is usually on shore due to wave action. Harbor, river, creek; there is MUCH less current near shore.

My experience and what the textbook says for sailing in the fjords. Less current close to land.- Fluid dynamics in pipes are similar, less flow close to the pipe (I already regret using this as an example on this nerdy forum )

Yes Rolf and that's exactly the pitfall for this theory about tidal streams.

First I have to say that my reactions only apply to the Northsea (where I have the most experience with tidal currents). So with regard to fjords and/or oceans, I really couldn't say.

Second I have to point out that I'm not only a catsailor but also a windsurfer ("off the first hour"). We started windsurfing on the northsea about 35 -40 years ago on the Original one-type american windsurfer-board.
Later-on with the funboards, we discovered that as a windsurfer you suffer much more from the tidal stream then as a catsailor. That's because you can go less upwind then a cat.

So tide and wind direction play a major role in the comfort of a windsurfing session at sea.
It happened innumerable times that I had to walk back on the beach because the tidal stream hold me back to reach my starting point. And that ment always stumbling back against a strong wind with all my gear through soft wet sand.

So, I think I know something about tidal streams and where they are the strongest.

Sailing a deep track close-hauled far out at sea and hoping to win upwind ground and finally discovering that, sailing back, you loose it more and more approaching the coast by the tide.

Because of all that; for me it's not an opinion where we discuss about. This concerns physical facts , which are true or not.


Let me finally tell a little story of my childhood:

I was used to go fishing with my father on the northsea round Texel when I was still a little boy. We did this in a small oldfashioned rowing-boat.

One day we were fishing just very close to the south coast (near the Mokbay) when the anchor was catched by the very strong tidal stream.
We, stupid, have had the anchor-chain hung midbeam overboard where it was so clamped down to the sideboard (by the force of the tide) that we could't shift it anymore to the bow.

So, the boat was more and more heeling over and water was starting coming in.

My father and I nearly drowned that day (I was 10 year).


It happened 57 years ago, but maybe my whole life as a sailor has to do with this traumatic experience.
But one thing is sure; since that day I was and still am always keen on tidal streams!!!

Ronald, maybe the nuclear plant at your beach is messing with the tides!
The theory is that because deeper water contains more water volume it causes a stronger flow of water,
but I think I'm swimming against the tide trying to convince you so I will go with the flow here.

Was kitesurfing this weekend at what is called the Sand Motor which has some really strong currents.

Here's a (very geeky) video explaining it:

Tony, I agree, swimming against the tide isn't very wise, so lets rest this controversial subject of tidal streams.

Maybe I'm carried away too much by emotional grounds, as I explained in my post.

By the way the sandmotor which you showed to this forum is just a good example of the trial-and-error approach by the coastal-experts. They differ also in opinion about sand-erosion as the result of tide, wind, coastal geography, etc.

I didn't know you were kiting also.

In can not rest on a lot of experience, but I do have read and listened to a lot of theory regarding the Texel race. And I think I agree to both stories. In general yes if you are closer to shore the streams are weaker. But with regards to texel it's another story. It isn't a world famous race for no reason. There are two sides of the island, two total different seas. You have a filling effect of the Waddensea which is very strong, and there are many theories about the tides and currents. Even the best sailors chose tactics (follow everything the other guy does) because they are not sure. So I think we have to conclude that this region is a special case.