Family weekend at Stavoren

Thu June 19th: first family weekend at the boat in 2025. Forecast was N-NE, later E Bft 4, but soon after leaving harbor realized Genoa 1 was slightly oversized, esp. for the first sail of the season. Crew held very well, even the little Eric which didn't get the car-seat-in-cockpit treatment as in the previous years. He spent most of the trip on Mommy's lap though. Dan was very excited about heeling. We decided to stop at De Kreupel, and I decided to throw anchor at the Southern tip of the island, hoping he'd be sheltered from both the Northern and the Easter winds. After dinner and putting Eric to bed we realized the now Eastern wind and swell was hitting us from the side, so we moved anchor 2-300m further north. Bed decision of not going directly into the island's small harbor, since we were rolled the whole night, both me and Annette not closing an eye at all, and Dan being thrown out of berth at midnight. 

Fri June 20th: We had another neighbor boat, which left at 6 - prolly going through the same toils and tribulations. We also weighted anchor soon after, realizing even brushing teeth was impossible, and moved into island's harbor. It was still sweelly, but no comparison to outside, so we had a nice breakfast (with teeth hygiene afterwards). Despite feeling a tad sea-sick, we bet on weak winds and decided to sail to Stavoren - great sail, lifted all our spirits after the sheit night. Moored in Stavoren Buitenhaven (no answer on VHF31- need to check antenna again), on the steep side (30€) but felt heavenly still. Great walk to downtown over the locks (boat show guaranteed), along the channel (hundreds of boats, lots to see), visited the fish fountain and licked the mandatory ice. Spent the afternoon at the beach close to the harbor, with a lot of small cats belonging to the campers in the adjacent camping site. 

Distance: 7.9nm, 3:48hrs, avg 2.1kn, Bft 2-3E

Sat June 21st: Slept like 4 babies, made up a tad for the previously white night. Left Stavoren at 11am, and decided to go directly to Andijk due to stronger winds/rain forecasted for Sunday. Absolutely gorgeous sailing day, wind on the beam (E Bf 4-5), but the waves on the after quarter made Eric a bit seasick, so he spent around 2hrs on the lee berth in the cabin. Dan took a couple of pillows and spend hrs on the foredeck, thankfully didn't get a sunburn. We rounded de Kreupel's southern tip/shallow and changed course towards Andijk. Short trip to the pump out, and no problems mooring in the box. Made ship tip-top while sweating 3 liters, and realized the engine was completely oil-empty. Decided to postpone filling, and replace oil next time with the previously 10W40 with the right 15W40. I''ve also noticed that the boat is quite starboard heavy for unclear reason, will have to ponder redistributing weight. Used the great weather to spend the afternoon at the nearby beach, and closed the day with fries (and diahreea for Eric). Enjoyed another quiet and warm evening with the great view of the lake from the cockpit and a great quiet night. Next day strong winds and rain - confirming our decision to tuck in one day earlier. Drive home was 5+hrs (border control stau included), with 38C after the border, so cooling down in the pool @home was a bliss.

11.5nm, 3:15hrs, avg 3.5kt, Bf 4-5 E

First sail 2025

Day 1, May 30th It took me almost 6 months to get to the boat, but I've finally made it. Weather still sheit tho. Arrived on May 28th, did a big cleanup(white raining) on the 29th, and today I finally made it out of the harbor. Tried something new, wrapped a Line around the poller and connected it to aft and other end to misdship, so that I can turn around the poller in the right direction when reversing - worked somehow, since bow got stuck on opposite poller, but once I got it free worked well with a bit of revs.Need to play around with the line length so that bow doesn't get stuck. Blowing a stiff WSW force 5, gusting 6, so I was able to test my reefing system. Started off with a full main and a Genoa 3, put a first reef when autopilot complained that it can't cope, and a 2nd reef 30 mins later since it kept complaining. Both reefs while sailing, for the first one I just let the main sheet go, the 2nd one while heaving to - same procedure letting the main go out. Maintained over 6+kn even with 2 reefs, so it was the right call. Boat girlfriend behaved A all throughout. Now finally found a nice anchorage near Oude Zeug, 25m from shore, only 2 other boats here. Took the main down while sailing(main sheet all the way), but foresail just engine. Of course, force 6 with thick clouds and come wind, anchorage sunny to sunburn danger. Some dinner, ankerdram, and now will play around with the GOPro. 

20.3nm, 4h30, avg speed 4.5kn, Bft 5-6WSW

Day 2, May 31st: great night, quiet and I was rocked in my sleep like a baby. Wind kept it's promise and didn't change directions. Woke up to a great weather, sunshine and warm. Def missing my hat - got a sun burn already. Leisurely breakfast and reading, left anchorage around 11.30 under engine so that I don't crash any neighbors. Very weird situation, wind forecast was WSW, wind mills turning to W wind, on the lake E wind. It took me a while to grasp it, and later on the wind turned all over the place, but very weak no matter which direction. So weak that I took the foresail off, and attempted to set up the Spinnaker - which worked beautifully. No idea if I connected it properly, with one end on the bow, one on the foresail sheet, and rhe top on a spare halyard (I need to remember to buy some bigger snap shekels to accommodate these sails), but it went off as a charm and even gifted me 5kn.ut the wind started turning again, so took it off and lay on the lake unmoving till the wind picked up again. Joined the WSV de Kreupel bunch at their yearly het Rondje in Den Oever (no wind means easy mooring, rite?), shower and now going for fritjes. Tomorrow trip to Andijk and then Germany. 

PS. Of course, got neighbours at 8-9pm, which asked me if they can moor behind me instead of the visitor's pier.

5.2nm 3.30hrs avg speed 1.5kn, Bft near zero from all over

Day 3, June 1st great night in the harbour, but woke up to a force 5 pressing me against the pier. Of course the later joiners behind me woke up at 10, and I had no chance to squeeze between them and a pole. I helped them get off the dock without a scratch, and I had to follow, albeit singlehandedly without any help on pier. I tried to keep the bow line connected and motor the aft away from pier, but wind was too strong. So I reverted to pulling the boat by the mooring lines to the end of the pier, and then reversing with a big push against the pier, which worked wonders. Great Stb beam reach Bft5-6  all the way to Andijk with virtually no swell due to the windward shore being just 50m away, and did around 5kn constantly. Getting into the box in Andijk was a tad less successful, with me taking the turn into the box too early, and wind pushing me into the lee pole. No marks associated with the bang, so all good. 

12.8nm 3hrs avg speed 4.2kn, Bft 5-6 W

You can see all manoevers explained here: https://youtu.be/8lgC1Q4fGXI