Hello again.
I'm not back, but I'm on solid ground again and glad of it. I'm in Paris for a few days, but last week and the week before I was sailing with three younger Dutchmen who were luckily much better sailors than I am.
We sailed from Den Helder, near Amsterdam, with 40 other sailboats doing the Driehoek Nordsee, or North Sea Triangle. It isn't a race, but more of an endurance contest. 22 boats finished the first leg -- I'm not sure how many finished the other two legs.
We went NNW 500 nautical miles (about 600 statute miles) to the Shetland Islands, and stayed for two nights in a village called Lerwick. Then we sailed 270 nautical miles ESE to the southern tip of Norway, and stayed two nights in a town called Farsund. Then 330 miles more back to Holland.
I was glad to step ashore. I think it was the most physically and mentally demanding thing I've ever done. Big waves, storms, big ships passing in the dark with little visibility, a bouncing, jarring ride much of the time, and not much space with four people on a 36 foot boat.
Next time I'm going sailing in the Bahamas, where you can sail 3 or 4 hours, drop your anchor and jump in the water for a swim.
I've got some pictures I'll post when I'm back. Right now I'm going for a walk in the park.
Hope everyone's had a nice weekend.
Jim