This year the destination was Drimmelen, which is only about 3.5 hours sailing.
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Last weekend saw the 2025 Season opening trip of our Marina. It is a tradition that dates back several decades. Every year end of May, we have such a trip for our members. This year the destination was Drimmelen, which is only about 3,5 hours sailing. You will have seen me going there several times over the last year and a half.
In all, we had twenty boats and 50 people participating. Everybody is supposed to put some flags and decorations on their boat.
Sirion is kitted out with additional flags!
The weather was atrocious. Cold, windy (Force 4-5) and a lot of rain.
Here we are leaving our Marina, going south on the Linge towards Gorinchem and the Merwede lock.
The lock operator accommodated all twenty yachts in one go!.
Out on the Merwede heading west.
We came across this Drammer 935 Classic going the other way. Its one I had not seen before. He was taking images of us. I have posted this image on the Drammer Facebook group. Hopefully, the owner will see it, and maybe he has an image of Sirion as well.
The opening trip starts on Friday evening. Around 20.00 hours, there is a briefing of all crews. Nice social gathering. A lot of our members have been part of this Marina for decades. So a lot of people have known each other for a very long time. And most have been on these trips, have done time on various committees and so on. So it was a good way for me to get to know a lot of folks and see how things are done. Most people would sleep on their boat. The committee went around the marina on Saturday morning at 0700 with pots and pans, making a huge racket at each participating boat. Making sure everyboyd was awake. Each crew got one of these bags. Full of goodies and some assignment to be done by the crew.
There are two routes to Drimmelen. One, the short one, is to take the Biesbosch lock and sail along the eastern edge of the Biesbosch. I have done that many times. Or to take the long route to sail all the way down the Merwede and turn into the Amer and sail back to Drimmelen, effectively sailing around the Biesbosch area. I choose the latter, for no other reason I have done that a few times less, and I like being out on the big rivers.
The weather was getting worse and worse.
We stayed overnight at WSV Biesbosch. The committee had worked with their counterparts and all our boats were given berths near to one another and very near to the clubhouse and toilet facilities.
I am always a bit anxious having to berth in an unknown marina, especially with a lot of wind. I am sailing solo, so it takes good preparation and planning to ensure Sirion docks safely and without bumping into things. It was pretty narrow with a force 5 blowing across. I have to say, I did very well! You will have to take my word for it.
A lot of the original activities were planned to be held outside. But due to the weather, the committee had to rethink everything. So they organised some quizzes and musical Bingo, which was great fun.
In the end, it is all about socialising and having some fun.
The next day, we left Drimmelen at around 10.00. Even more rain and wind!
One of the oldest and nicest yachts in our flotilla, the Piccobello.
This time, everybody chose to sail back the short route, through the Biesbosch. The old power plant is in the background.
At 16.00 we had the final get-together in our clubhouse. And the announcement of the winners of the various assignments and quizzes.
The top 5 folks are automatically assigned to be next year Opening-trip-organising-committee!
I am also happy to report that the modification on the bracket seems to be working quite well. The bracket does not vibrate at all anymore. And the resonance on the throttle handle in the cockpit is noticeably less than before.
Jeroen
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