Sailing Hatseflats
A 15ft Pram for Dinghy Cruising
20180624
20180625
20180626
20180627
20180628
20180629
20180915
20181014
20190422
20190510
20190511
20190512
20190525
20190601
20190803
20190804
20190805
20190807
20190819
20190820
20190821
20190822
20190823
20190828
20200216
20200603
20200612
20200712
20200718
20200719
20200727
20200822
20200905
20200910
20200911
20200912
20200913
20200920
20210305
20210509
20210724
20210905
20210912
20211003
20220430
20220508
20220603
20220618
20220821
20220828
20220904
20220911
20221009
20230423
20230520
20230528
20230625
20230805
20230806
20230810
20230903
20230906
20230910
20230911
20231001
20231008
20240423
20240603
20240623
20240710
20240714
20240720
20240723
20240725
20240726
20240727
20240730
20240908
20240915
20240929

Hatseflats Design

Hatseflats Hull Build

Fitting Out Hatseflats

Building TooPhat

<< >>

20180629

Published in Dinghy Cruising Journal 239

The Raid NL 2018 5

Day 5 - Ossenzijl to Beulakerwiede - 21km

After breakfast we walked over to the other side of the marina to look at a Freedom Canoe with a Balogh sailing rig. We met Arij van der Kooij and Rick Kramer from canoeing school Herbie Bird. Arij and Rick found our boats very interesting but we had to move on.

We slipped into the narrow Vaartsloot. Joost, Koos and Mark were paddling. I hoisted sail and soon passed them. The creek was so narrow that you got almost touch the reeds either side of the hull. It was beautiful sailing with water plants everywhere. Sometimes there were trees alongside the creek and we had to paddle. Apart from us, there were only a few open motor boats quietly chugging away. When crossing other boats, it was often a tight squeeze.

We skirted the Weerribben like this for a couple of hours and then reached the Roomsloot which connects to the lake of Giethoornse Meer. Giethoorn is called the 'Venice of the North' and is especially popular with Chinese tourists. After the lake, one more canal and then the big lake of Beulakerwiede.

On the lake there was a stiff breeze. Joost and Mark sailed their canoes very carefully to prevent nosediving. I sailed for Hatseflats without reef. The blunt bow lifted up with the waves. It was very nice sailing. Joost paddled behind.

All too soon we sailed into the Beulaekehaven at Blauwe Hand. We took the canoes out of the water and left them on the grass. I left Hatseflats at a jetty. There were rumours about a strike of the public transport so we had to improvise the trip back to our cars. First we took a taxi to Meppel. We found that the train service was still working and took the train to Groningen. There we took another taxi to our starting point at Aduarderzijl. We drove the cars back to Beulaekehaven and collected our boats. Once we were ready for the trip home we stopped at Elly's Beach Bistro and had a enjoyable goodbye meal.

Over dinner we discussed the past week. Overall the weather had been very good. The winds picked up in the afternoon to make for some pleasant sailing. The event could not have been planned better. Since the school holidays had not started, marinas and camp sites were not crowded at all and the people that we met were friendly and relaxed.
When sailing, the boats were well matched in speed. The canoes were as fast as Hatseflats with its big lug sail. When not sailing the heavily laden Hatseflats was no match for the slippery canoes.
Apart from good company we all enjoyed the beautiful landscapes and villages that we had passed. The trip through the Weerribben was possibly the best part of the week.

After dinner we all went our separate ways. Want to see more of our trip? Watch the video diary created by Koos