Winches, sails, neighbours with 160 years of experience between them — and our first real sail.

By Ilse & Piet – Breskens Marina – 11–14 June 2025

We have a lot to tell. But where to begin? Perhaps the easiest thing is to work backwards — starting with the best part.

Sunday 14 June

We Actually Went Sailing

Sunday. We actually went sailing. And it was good.

With the help of our berth neighbours Arie and Else — and Nico — we slipped out of Box A6 without a single hitch. Box A6 is our permanent berth now, and the neighbours that come with it happen to have a combined 160 years of sailing experience between them. That is not nothing.

Together, Arie and Else carry 160 years of sailing experience between them. We could not have picked better neighbours if we had tried.

Just the two of us out on the water, into the mouth of the Westerschelde. The conditions were close to perfect: a Force 4 wind, a few waves, a hint of contrary current, the sun doing what sun does in June, a cloud or two for texture. The mainsail rolled out smoothly. The genoa went in and out, in and out, repeatedly and without complaint. Everything behaved exactly as it should.

After the sail, we came back to find Arie, Else, Ineke and Nico waiting with drinks in the evening sun. Stories were swapped — many of them involving cats, dogs, and adventures we may never fully verify. We laughed a great deal. It was, in the truest sense of the word, gezellig.

Friday 12 June

The Winch Overhaul

Friday was for the winches. Piet and Jacky took them apart completely — cleaned every component, replaced the small parts, reassembled everything with fresh winch grease. It is the kind of task that sounds straightforward until you are actually doing it, and then it turns out to be a proper job.

Piet now has it completely under control. He could do this again entirely on his own. That is exactly the kind of knowledge that matters on a boat.

Thursday 11 June

A Long and Productive Thursday

Thursday was the big work day, and there was a great deal of it.

• Engine & generator service – Old diesel out, fresh diesel in
• Heating system – Dismantled, sent to manufacturer
• Dinghy & cushions – In the water & at the upholsterer
• Washing machine – Attempted — project for another weekend

Piet and Peter worked through the engine and generator service together. The old diesel was pumped out of the reservoir, fresh diesel added. The heating system was dismantled and sent off to the manufacturer for proper maintenance. The dinghy was lowered into the water and handed over for its own service. The cabin cushions made the trip to the upholstery workshop in Schoonendijke.

The steering wheel received a fresh leather wrap — a small thing that makes an immediate difference every time you touch it. The new spherical fender was inflated. It is a more demanding task than it sounds: a focused workout for the arms and legs both, and Piet can confirm that it functions excellently as a substitute for a gym session.

The washing machine did not cooperate. Piet made an attempt at a repair and concluded, reasonably, that this one belongs on the list for another weekend. It will keep.

In Between Everything Else

Somewhere between the mechanical work and the logistics, there was also cleaning. The interior of the boat has been scrubbed thoroughly from bow to stern — because next weekend is the celebration weekend, and Adriana deserves to look her best when she meets Jeroen, Jolien, Luca, Rudy and Tania for the first time properly.

The christening is coming.