20250505

Sailing journalist Klaas Wiersma and I took Hatseflats on a trip for the magazine 'Spiegel der Zeilvaart'. The new article will added to his series about exploring the natural beauty of the Netherlands with sails and oars boats. Klaas was trained as a biologist which made our trip very interesting. Many of the areas that we passed are protected areas which are easily accessed by sails and oars boats but off limits to boats with an engine.
Our trip with Hatseflats was the third of its kind. Earlier trips were reported in SdZ 2024.8 and SdZ 2025.2.

Klaas and I met around 0800 hours at the trailer slip in Oudega next to the camp site 'de Bearshoeke'. While I was rigging Hatseflats, Klaas brought his equipment on board. Half an hour later we were sailing. It was windy. Klaas wanted nice pictures so we only took a single reef. We were both hiking out and enjoying the breeze.

Soon we left the Oudegaaster Brekken. It was too windy to row, so we rigged the mast with a towing line. This way we covered around 25km, towing, rowing and sailing Hatseflats. It was adventurous sailing and Klaas was good company.
Once the article has been published I will add a picture of the front cover of the magazine. Check it out!