20250504

Punter weekend 2,3,4 May 2025

Friday

It was rather very cool and windy, so we were not in a hurry to get to the Beulakerwiede. We rowed towards the Belterwiede and set two reefs. Maybe that was too cautious, but I still had to get used to the new sail. Before long we shook out one reef and Klarie did much of the sailing. Late in the afternoon we moored at the 'punter island' and I set up Hatseflats for sleeping aboard. We enjoyed dinner and the company of our friends of Natuurlijk Varen.

Saturday

The night was chilly and we slept in our clothes on board Hatseflats. We decided to invest in some down-filled sleeping bags on our return.
The morning started sunny with little wind. While others were under way I was still converting Hatseflats from a floating tent into a sailing dinghy. When we reached the Belterwiede the wind dropped to almost nothing. I had expected to overtake the 'punter' boats without much effort but the young folks were sailing them too well. We drifted half an hour until there was a new breath of air. This time our powerful new sail pulled us past the slower boats and got us to the lunch spot on the Boswijde. After lunch the wind picked up and we set a reef before we started. We deciced for a broad reach down the narrow canal back to the Belterwiede. We were hot on the heels of Ben and Yvonne. Ben had reefed the mainsail on his Vivier Jewell and we were gaining on them. The canal was too narrow to overtake them so I stalled on Hatseflats until the first opportunity to reach the lake. The wind was now piping up on our downwind run to the bridge at the end of the Belterwiede. I sailed into the reeds at the lee shore to lower the rig. We rowed past Ben and Yvonne. They had tied Jewell to a jetty and worked hard to get the sails and the mast down. Once past the bridge it was quite an effort to row to open water. I put the rig back up and we sailed from the lee shore back to the base camp. It was a windy ride but very enjoyable.
At the base camp I put the tent up on Hatseflats. As I got ashore, my iPhone slipped out of my pocket. I cursed and jumped into the water. With my head under water I saw some blurry shapes on the sandy bottom. A few minutes later Klarie took my soaking phone to dry out in a box with oatmeal while I changed into dry clothes. I was very embarassed with my own stupidity. All the same it was an enjoyable evening with excellent cooking by Berrie and his helpers in the kitchen.

Sunday

It was too cold for the midges. Despite the cold we slept much better than the previous night. Maybe we were just getting used to sleeping on board. After breakfast we helped to clean the camp site and prepared for the final scenic trip of the weekend.
The route took us along the tree-lined Kerkgracht. Halfway the route, most participants went ashore for a Sunday morning walk. Since I am no good at walking, Klarie and I sailed on. It was a windy upwind stretch so I took in two reefs. Sailing upwind went well and soon we made it back to the trailer slip at Beulaekehaven.
Later that evening I found that my iPhone had miraculously survived. Probably because the cover had kept the water out of the simcard slot.
It had been a very enjoyable weekend. Thanks to Sybren, Tineke, Berrie, Corine, Klaas and Jannie!