20190811

Noorderraid 9-11 August 2019

Louis, Mark, Ymke: Koh-I-Noor, 5m decked tender.
Matthijs, Barry: Zeefier, Converted alloy Verhoef life boat
Walter, Eilert: Ika Drascombe Coaster
Hubert and Klarie Bakker: Hatseflats, 15ft sailing pram

The Noorderraid is held every year on the Lauwersmeer during the first weekend of August. It is very loosely coordinated by Matthijs van Kempen. The 'raid' boils down to a weekend of camping, sailing or just lazing about on one of the small islands in the Lauwersmeer. The weather forecast was grim with wind and rain predicted for Friday and a summer storm on Saturday and Sunday. We arrived at Hunzegat Marina in Zoutkamp on Thursday afternoon. Our tent was still wet from our stay at the Schlei Fjord. We put up the tent and left Hatseflats on the trailer.

We met Matthijs, Louis, Mark, Barry and Ymke on board of Zeefier, an alloy life boat converted for sailing. The plan was to sail to an island between the Balstiengat and Zuidelijke Ballastplaat. We would sit out the storm on the island and return to Zoutkamp on Sunday in more favourable conditions. Friday morning, Eilert and Walter arrived towing their Drascombe Coaster. Our little fleet now counted four boats. Eilert proposed to sail to the island and return to Zoutkamp instead of camping out. And so it was decided.

We put on our oilies and sailed out of Hunzegat running with a SE4-5 wind. It was raining and visibility was poor. Behind us we made out the Drascombe of Walter and Eilert and the junk-rigged Zeefier. Despite the rain it was easy going at 4 knots. Once we left the channel and reached the Slenk the waves started to build up. We made our way to the island and celebrated with beer and crisps. We sailed at about 4.5 knots making sure that we stayed within the channel. After an hour we crossed the Slenk.