February 17-18-19, 2026

The sea trial is an essential step in the process of buying a brokerage sailing yacht. It is a final test to ensure that all key systems are functioning correctly while at sea, or in our case, on the river Orwell near Ipswich. After having completed a major overhaul of the drive shaft bearings, including placement of a new propellor, Astahaya went into the water two weeks ago. Finally, we could plan the date for the sea trial and penciled 18 February into our agendas.

The day before the trial, Piet traveled with Ryanair from Eindhoven to Stansted, marking the 5^th time that he made this journey to Fox’s Marina & Boatyard in Ipswich. The next morning, he was greeted by Rupert from Oyster Brokerage, the Fox’s team, and by Adrian, the surveyor. The weather conditions were perfect. Dry, cold, a moderate overcast, and most importantly, a strong 5 Beaufort easterly wind. The tide was also favorable with high water at noon, eliminating the risk of an unintended grounding. The ideal conditions to test the yacht.

After having warmed up the engine, we cast off at 10:00. The captain immediately showed his mastery of the vessel, turning her 180 degrees within very close quarters, through effective use of prop walk in combination with the powerful bow thruster. Once we cleared the marina and made our way onto the river, we revved the engine to maximum rpm and easily reached a speed well in excess of 7 knots, against wind and current. No cavitation, no vibration. One minor issue surfaced — an alarm linked to the engine filters, likely triggered by a faulty sensor. 

After having cleared the Orwell Bridge, the mainsail was unfurled and we began sailing close‑hauled. The yacht performed beautifully under full mainsail. After about half an hour beating into the wind, we tacked, turned around, put her on a run and headed back towards Ipswich. Only then the main sail was furled, to test the hydraulic furler under a heavy load. The furling system worked flawlessly, although a set of unresponsive switches still needs replacing, something already on the to‑do list.

On our way back toward Ipswich, we unfurled the headsail and enjoyed a smooth downwind stretch. The boat handled with the same calm confidence we had discovered on the Sea Pearl, an Oyster 56 that we sailed in the Caribbean in May last year — steady, strong, and reassuring.

Once back at the dock and after the team disembarked, Adrian and Piet stayed onboard to review previous survey notes and inspect the remaining issues: a leaking tap, a faulty hot‑water hose, and several smaller items. We documented everything carefully and passed it on to Fox’s. Piet spent the remainder of the afternoon studying manuals, with a particular interest for the water maker.

Later that day, during a debriefing with Rupert and Adrian, we all agreed: the sea trial was remarkably successful, especially considering the boat had been idle for almost two years. It was the confirmation we hoped for — no show stoppers, strong performance, manageable issues, and a clear path forward toward transfer of the yacht to The Netherlands and the handover in Breskens.

Piet had planned to stay an extra day, giving time to tackle more tasks. Fox’s made excellent use of the opportunity as well. Several observations from the sea trial were addressed. Troublesome switches were repaired, the leaking hot‑water hose was removed, and they worked on bringing the air‑conditioning units back to life — though they’ll likely need new coolant once we’re in the Netherlands.

The kitchen tap still needs attention, so that will be part of the next round of fixes. Meanwhile, Piet continued familiarizing himself with onboard systems. He received a brief but highly informative introduction to the water maker: pumps, filters, valves — and we tested it again successfully. He also tested the power systems and practiced  numerous switches between shore, generator and battery power. The Webasto heater delivered a steady flow of warm air into the comfortable cabin.

At the end of the day, he thanked Adrian, the Fox’s team, Rupert, and his colleagues with boxes of Belgian chocolates — a small gesture that landed well. He then drove back to Ipswich before flying home from Stansted to Eindhoven the next morning.

Once she arrives, we’ll dive into the extensive refit/to‑do list — more than 200 items ranging from administrative tasks to technical upgrades. The list includes essential safety equipment: flares, first‑aid supplies, MOB gear, and much more. The sails will come down for servicing by the sailmaker; they’re still in good shape, so upgrading can wait until we’ve gained more miles and experience with her current setup.

Our first step will be a thorough wash to remove the green film from her deck and bimini. The bimini and tender still hold some mystery, but that’s part of the adventure — knowing that some elements may need extra care, repair, or replacement.

We will change her name from Astahaya to Adriana— and perhaps also her hull color. The deep‑blue Oyster yachts that Piet saw in Ipswich left a lasting impression. It’s an investment, but one that could make the boat truly shine.

She is a yacht worth the journey —elegant, strong, and filled with promise.

Stay tuned ….

Special thanks to Adrian Overbury, Rupert Knox-Johnston, and the team at Fox’s Marina & Boatyard.

Piet & Ilse