As you were able to read over the last couple of months I am trying to understand more about the business of boats and sailing. Getting some degrees to legally use boats abroad, but also learning the tactics and basics on how sailing works. This was always with an instructor though, someone who makes sure you don't do anything stupid.
I am not a big fan of sailing in the Netherlands in general and that has most of it to do with that the weather is often a bit to cold to my liking, except for these beautiful summer days where it will be super crowded on the water.
But in the after season everyone has lost their fomo as it seems and that means it is the perfect time to head out on the water. Good sun, nice temperatures, no one on the water.
The perfect moment to try out sailign for the first time without an instructor. Scary!
In Dutch all the sailing terminology are words which to me sound as jibberish, so I loved the fact that my previous instructor was a Greek guy speaking English and also learning the English sailing terminology.
But when renting a sailing boat i was a bit scared that the rental company would start to question my knowledge which is in Dutch non existent. Luckily this wasn't the case and we got to take this nice little 'Valk' which is the Dutch word for Falcon with us.
With a length of 6.5 meters long and a mast of 8 meters high this is a small boat which is fast turning and easy to make it sailing-ready.
Or at least that is what I thought!
Lines, lines, lines
Every boat has their own way to attach the lines to raise the sails. The principle might stay the same, but how you actually do this (and some boats are already ready to go with nothing to do on the lines anymore) this is something which you need to sort out beforehand.
So I watched some Youtube on how to do this and read some manuals on what to attach where and decided that trial and error was the best way to learn.
And again..there was no instructor anymore. So we got out on the water on a small engine, started raising the sails, concluded that I didn't attach one of the lines good enough because I had pulled it all the way up in the mast and the hook was stuck in there. Crap....!
That meant going back to the dock, taking down the mast (luckily the rental lady was willing to help and didn't look a second like she hated us) pulling the line loose, mast back up and good to go again.
At this point I had lost my faith a bit in the process, but on the other hand, this was one of the things that is also good to learn that sailing and boats come with just a crapload of errors, and fixing the lines is also one of them.
Second attempt!
Leaving the dock again, nose of the boat in the wind, pulling the lines, raising the sails. And the boat started to pull....And started to sail! We were moving and the wind was doing it!
But then opening the genua. I couldn't find how to do it, and after a search of a couple of minutes and also already thinking that we might just stay on the main sail, I found this little line that made the genua unfold. Victory again!
Once we were moving again all moves also came back from the memory on what to do to keep the boat sailing and it all worked! It was a bit of experimenting with the rutterstick versus a wheel but this was also all just minor stuff.
Make a couple of tacks, try to go upwind for a bit, make a gype, concluding no one was knocked over board in the process and start high fiving!
What a feeling and how good it was to notice that not every skill was lost in the last couple of months. Ofcourse we are not there as yet, but skills need to be practised and this round of of sailing without instruction was a good one to realise that the skills were still there.
And most of all, I wasn't that scared and felt like I was in control the whole time. This tastes like mooooooore!
Gratuliere Dir, du hast einen tollen ersten Törn alleine geschafft 🏆
Fur diesere erste Rund darf ich gar nicht unzufrieden sein! Jetzt ist Ziel einz mehrere Runden und erfahrung bekommen.
What a great adventure journey post! That is something that it's impossible for me! Ahaha I don't know how to swim, besides the passion that I have for the beach side and the sea, I never adventure alone in such a activity... Ahahah
Surely knowing how to swim properly helps in the fun of this. And now the water temperature also is very friendly which means when you tip in there isnt an immediate situation. All of this is helpful in the amount of fun!
Would you join someone who knows what they are doing on a boat though?
I've already joining in a sailing experience many years ago! One old good friend's hubby has his own sailing boat! I've took one day trip around Lisbon and Cascais, by the shore line... It was a very memorable journey for me, as you can imagine! I was wearing a life jacket all the time... ahahah I when we stopped in a spot for everyone in the boat dive in the sea, I also jumped with the vest and enjoyed the delicious warm waters this summer month. I'll try to find out the photos that we have taken and make a post about it Ahahah
In the portugese waters. That is damn beautiful. I can imagine that with a life vest the swimming is so fresh then.
Also had a indian friend who wasnt able to swim but with a vest he would always just jump in haha.
Practice makes perfect, you'll be a pro sailor in no time! ;)
hahaha working on it for sure but will be a multi year process I guess :)
Luckily this wasn't the case and we got to take this nice little 'Valk' which is the Dutch word for Falcon with us.
I can say that "Valk" sounds like a perfect choice for your solo adventure small, agile, and ready for the open water.
I will say the nitial challenges you face while making it sailing-ready will become valuable lessons and experiences that will build your confidence as a sailor if you desire it.
Do enjoy your journey of discovery, and may your sailing adventures in the Netherlands be filled with beautiful sunsets and serene waters.
Exactly. All of this is enhancement to the learning experience and every challenge is new stuff that you take with you. Better to try out in 'safe' waters in decent weather conditions.
Are you a sailor yourself?
Thanks for the find @brumest !