20250910

September Sail

The September Sail event of Natuurlijk Varen was created to fit between the Raid Extreme and Dorestad Raid. It was organized by Marlies with a little help from Hubert and Joost.

Sunday 7 September

Camping De Bearshoeke was our base camp during this first September Sail event. Pierre-Yves and Caroline from Switzerland were the first to arrive with their Aber 'Incognito'. Anton from Germany sadly couldn't make it due to car trouble. Hans and Margreet arrived with the Weerlicht and Herman and Eliane arrived early for some last trials before the christening of their new home-built Welsford Longsteps. On Sunday the other participants settled in.

Klarie and I arrived hot from the Raid Extreme after dropping our party tents, barbecue and other paraphernalia at our home. I wasn't feeling too fit after the previous days and had forgotten my maps and the fire bowl which I had promised to bring for Hans. So there was not going to be a bonfire to lighten up the Sunday evening.

It was the first Natuurlijk Varen event for Diederik (Sooty Tern), Pollus (Tirrik) and Jan (Swampscott Dory). At 1700 hours we all joined the christening of the new Zeezwaluw of Herman and Eliane. Many of Herman’s helpers had come over as well. It was a festive afternoon and a good time to admire the new boat.

Monday 8 September

The weather forecast was sunny with a SW2 veering to W3. When we left the Oudegaaster Brekken the water was flat with hardly any wind. Halfway through the morning the wind increased a little. Getting from Workum to the Kleine Wiske was hot and tiresome. With so many bridges rowing was better. I found out the hard way and lost his GPS overboard when hoisting the sail for the 10th time in a row. Once we got to the Nije Feart we started sailing again and the real reward was the stretch from the Swarte Walde all the way along the Fluessen. Hatseflats with Hubert and Klarie and Jan and his Swampscott Dory arrived well after sunset and were greeted with applause and a hot meal.

Tuesday 9 September

I woke up from a drizzle on the tent. We took the galley and food container to the recreation room to have breakfast under the awning. The forecast was a force 3 and rain. Marlies had prepared a shorter trip to the village of Gaastmeer and a visit to Andries van Netten for a sandwich with smoked eel.

The open boats took a short route along a canoe track while yachts Weerlicht and Jewell took a longer route to Gaastmeer. Despite the rain it was good sailing and we were in good spirits.

Josien bought sandwiches with smoked eel for all of us which we enjoyed standing in the rain in front of the public lavatory. On the return trip our sailing gear couldn’t handle the rain anymore and we got soaked to the bones. Back at the Bearshoeke we had a good borrel in the recreation room at the campsite and shared drinks snacks and meals while we left our wet clothing to dry.

Wednesday 10 September

We packed up after breakfast with half of our fleet preparing to join the Dorestad Raid (after buying some ‘heavy duty’ oilies from Guy Cotten in Heeg). It had been a very nice event and a successful first event for Marlies as an organizer.

After putting Hatseflats in the garage, I bailed the anchor well and removed the floor board to bail the cockpit as well. To my surprise I saw my trusty GPS lying in a pool of water on the bottom. It must have been soaking for two days. I replaced the batteries and voila: it still worked. Amazing! Thank you, mr Garmin!