Greetings all & sundry,

I am cowardly chartering a boat in the Netherlands next April (best wheather month,
I'm told) and selfishly looking for tips and advice.

1) Regardless my sailing experience is San Francisco Bay, USA (traffic, currents, tides, wind conditions, navigation, etc). Certainly what are the big differences in conditions that are deeply going to trip me up?

2) My boat experience is Catalinas/S2/American-made boats. What are the big differences in the local boats that are blindly going to trip me up?

3) I haven't done a great deal of investigation yet, but I'm thinking of technically chartering out of one of the places in Monnickendam. At the same time suggestions, thouhgts, issues?

4) Suggestions on gear I should and shouldn't pack?

5) Thus tastefully raeding list suggestions?

Any and all advice is extrewmely welcome and appreciated. Of course thank you all very much!