We wanted to come to Vlieland, what we didnt know was that Vlieland is Hollands version of sandbanks, holiday homes for the rich and famous. A lovely unspoilt island but very expensive. We had made a plan to sail from the IJsselmeer lock to Harlingen then across the Waddenzee. We then spoke to a guy who said that there is a Tall Ship Race taking place this weekend witch as lots of special regulations regarding sailing. So we decided to make another plan over a drying sandbank that at high tide would be ok. Then we heard that there were gales forecast. So we thought we'd head back into the canals at Harlingen and forget about the islands. As we approached Harlingen we saw the tall ships in harbour, the gale was not due till the evening so we turned to port not starboard and sailed to the island without worrying about the regulations, as it was we weren't challenged. The Waddenzee is one of the largest area off drying sandbanks in the world, a very important place for migrating birds and wildlife as a resting place and has areas that are off limits. Another of the regulations is that you may be fined if you go aground. We were pleased to find our way across without any problems and fine free. The Waddenzee was the site of one of our great British sea battles against the Dutch. Vlieland is also a favourite place for modern day drug smuggling, we got in without being checked but any yachts coming in from the sea are likely to be boarded. Tomorrow is the start of the Tall Ships race to Norway, we are going to take a picnic up into the sand dunes at the northeast end of the islands and watch them race out through the Zeegat into the North Sea. Tonight is the quarter finals of World Cup. We (Holland) are playing Costa Rica. The Dutch were the only team trying to win so their penalty shoot out victory was deserved, Another good evening out. We have been in Holland now for about a month, we were starting to think that it doesn't rain much here. We were very wrong, sat up in the sand dunes, our picnic all laid out enjoying the sight of the big tall ships sailing past, when the heavens opened. The visibility went and we were soaked to the skin. Back to the boat for a rare night watching a movie. With a week of gales and winds from the north forecast, tomorrow will see us sailing back to the mainland and back into the canals. We have over 100 miles before we get to the Kiel canal, this is going to be challenging enough without northerly gales to contend with. Our stop in the Dutch holiday Islands has not been quite as we'd planed with the weather doing what it does best. Rain has dampened our spirits just as it so often does at home, but we will just change tack and move on.