But it is high season. Maybe it’s not very reasonable to think that they have been waiting all week at Venturi-Sailing for me to call them for a sailing lesson on Saturday afternoon. Hmm… Very good idea about sailing, now it has to be done…
The fact that I know a few people at Venturi-Sailing may have helped, but sometimes the universe also seems to want to help with a good plan. It turns out that the training boat has to be used for hiring because there is damage. Very unpleasant of course, but by shifting boats, a beautiful Dehler 38SQ appears to have become available. Later, I hear that it is aptly named “Breakfree”. Meant to be breaking free today.
After my euphoric mood has calmed down a little, I realise how rusty my sailing skills are and that I cannot ask an 11-year-old girl to compensate for this. Besides, I really want to take some photos. So either the boat is too big or the wind is too much. As the boat is really cool and I am aware of the opportunity, I don’t want to change it and to ask God to turn down the wind… that is asking a lot. After a short consultation with myself I come to the conclusion that I need reinforcement. After a few phone calls, I have a very enthusiastic colleague. With husband and 10-year-old daughter, they are coming to reinforce us. One small detail: none of them has ever set foot on a sailing boat.
Vincent, Venturi Sailing’s instructor, doesn’t seem to mind at all that our company excels in sociability and ignorance. As soon as he has started the engine and the boat sails smoothly out of its box, we are instructed on how to neatly hang the fenders on the stern railing. We learn how to do this with a mast throw with slip stitch. In the lee of the harbour, we can still move about the boat reasonably well, but as soon as we leave the harbour we notice that we need sea legs. So we don’t go to the foredeck unnecessarily anymore. When the sails need to be hoisted, Vincent distributes the rolls. The heaviest job is operating the winch, so that goes to the husband of my colleague. We are selectively emancipated. Probably due to the visible degree of clumsiness, Vincent chooses to steer the boat into the wind himself and we understand that.
During our trip on the Oosterschelde we all take our turn to receive nautical instructions. Ropes do not appear to exist here, but lines do. How exactly to trim the sails with them is something we will not master today, but it is an awesome sight to see how the wind plays with itself. Full to the wind with sails set as tight as they can be, we sail more slantingly than we could have prepared for. Vincent is clearly in his element and we enjoy it with him, because such a beautiful boat and such beautiful sailing weather is something that makes us very happy.
After some more exchanging of positions we return to the harbour. We now understand how funny it was that we had brought a bottle of wine with some glasses for a lounging moment during our sailing trip. If we had dared, I am sure the Oosterschelde would have claimed the contents of the bottle. Luckily we could go to Brasserie ‘t Kaaigat afterwards for a drink, because that really is a better idea. Venturi-Sailing, thank you for this fantastic experience, it was great to break free, and we will definitely be back!
Love,
Anna