Borkum to Delfzijl

The forecast is for SW 4-5 veering W 5-6. This does not sound pleasant so we decide to proceed to Delfzijl and then on into the Dutch waterways.

We depart at 11:30. The wind is around SW F4 and the sky is overcast. I decide to try to sail but have to tack back and forth in seas which are increasingly short and steep with a SW wind over a flooding tide.

"Aurelia" is motoring and starts to move away. By Ems buoy 29 at 12:40 I drop the sails and proceed under motor alone. We make good progress with the strong flood tide but at 13:30 "Aurelia" suffers engine failure and Joseph requests a tow. "Kiriwina" is only 4 tons compared with"Aurelia's" 7.5 but we deploy a towline without difficulty. Fortunately "Kiriwina" has a robust stern roller and despite the very choppy conditions she manages to make headway of about 0.5 knots. With the flood tide we are making about 2.5 knots over the ground.

A quick check shows that at this speed we will not reach Delfzijl before the tide turns and Joseph wisely places a call for assistance to the Dutch lifeboat service at 13:45. They respond quickly and at 14:15, just past Ems buoy 41, we cast off "Aurelia" who are soon taken in tow by the lifeboat.

We resume our passage and with wind up to SW 5-6 and heavy rain falling we enter the Delfzijl channel at 15:15. At 16:10 we are all fast to berth 64 at Neptunus Jachthavn, Delfzijl.

After berthing I discover that prior to leaving Burkana Hafen I had neglected to fully close the port centre saloon window. Despite it being open only very slightly the choppy seas and heavy rain have ensured that a lot of water has got in. Several port lockers are partially flooded and the upholstery is wet in places.

I go into town and pick up a chinese takeaway.

DaiIy Run 15.6 Miles



"Aurelia" about half an hour before engine failure.