It was another pleasant day for inland cruising and we made a relaxed passage south westwards from Sneek making a fairly early start once the bridges opened at 9am. An easy trip it was only marred by the loss of our autopilot and the need to actually turn the wheel now and then. We used the buoyed channel to cross the Heeger Meer, enabling us to keep to the deeper water. This is another large lake offering a superb sailing ground which has not yet fallen victim to the passion for polderisation. Not surprisingly, as the leisure boat industry must be an important part of the region's economy, with several hireboat companies based here.

We made a poor job of planning our arrival at Workum's rail bridge, getting there just at the beginning of the 12-1pm lunch break. Judging by the 30 or so other boats who soon joined us on the waiting stage, we were not the only ones to have misjudged the timing. We used the enforced stoppage to investigate the autopilot problem, concluding that we would need further assistance to resolve it. The rail bridge normally stands open apart from the two hourly services and once the initial rush had passed through we made our way into the town. Rather than continue onto neighbouring Hindeloopen as we had originally planned, we decided to stop at the visitor moorings of the Jachthaven Kuperus between the town's central bridges. Here we sought technical assistance from a local engineer, who helped us by repairing the clutch surfaces of the autopilot motor and identifying an electrical fault.

Workum itself is a practical town on the coast of the IJsselmeer, in the south west of the Friesland province. The main street, originally the waterway through the town, runs parallel to the canal, and boasts the usual array of weigh house, VVV office, churches, and town hall, as well as a selection of shops, cafes, museums and supermarkets. Dominating the market square, the great church and tower were originally intended to be joined together - unfinished, the plan was abandoned in 1615 and left as separate structures. The picturesque 17th century weigh house contains the Museum Warkums Erfskip - delving into the history of the town and its shipping and pottery industries. Workum also boats Friesland's most visited museum in the Jopie Huisman Museum. Featuring the artworks of scrap metal merchant Jopie Huisman, who died in 2000, the collection depicts the daily grind and drudgery of the ordinary tradesman and housewife.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 12 nm

Total to date: 1246 nm

Avg Speed: 5 knots

Duration: 2:30 hours

Diesel: 25 litres

Mooring: €17

Electricity: Included

Bridges

Geeuw (lift)

IJlst (lift)

Osingahuizen (lift)

Workum rail (swing)

Sudergoabrege (lift)

Noarderbrege (lift)

Charts

ANWB B "Friese Meren"