When we finished testing the little boat, it was time for the next action. Renaming my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's boat. They have had their boat for several years and pretty soon they removed the old name from the boat. Only until last year they had no idea what they wanted to name their boat. Preferably a name with a Wierings accent. And last year suddenly there was the new name "Skorlebonk" which means bonnefooi in Wierings. And for those who are not familiar with the sea traditions, a boat may not just get another name. You "have to" inform the god of the sea about that. We found on the internet that you have to pour even the most expensive wine or champagne to Neptunes and Aeolis.
Well, then we should go ahead and baptize Skorlenonk as well. My sister-in-law Saskia is the one performing the ceremony. Unfortunately for Neptunes and Aeolis, they have to make do with an old cheap alcohol-free fake champagne. Saskia recites the entire text: "In the name of all who have sailed aboard this ship in the past, and in the name of all who will sail aboard this ship in the future, we ask the gods of the wind and the sea to honor this ship today with their blessing. Mighty Neptune, king of all that moves on and in the waves, and mighty Aeolus watcher over the wind and all that blows before them: We thank you for the protection offered to this ship in the past. We express our thanks for its protection from hurricanes and storms and for its always safe return to port. Now we ask your leniency, to remove the old name of this boat, the Hilde, from the ledger of the deep sea. We further ask you, that if she is again offered for blessing under a new name, she be recognized again and blessed with the same privileges as before. In return we give this ship into your hands, knowing that she falls as forever under the laws of the gods and the sea. In token we give you this sacrifice according to the ritual of the sea." "I hereby give this ship the name Skorlebonk. May she always find good winds, pleasant waves and a sheltered harbor. And may she bring good luck to all who sail with her."
After this ceremony, we had a slightly better bubbly wine together. It was a very comical experience and many a passerby and neighbor boats watched this spectacle with a big smile.
The next morning is the day, I am allowed into the mast early in the morning. We make preparations, study the old windvane again. Then figure out how to get it up and get the old one down again. The mainsail halyard is for my bosun's seat. The spinnaker trap we can use for a bucket.
Well, I climb up the boom and then it's a matter of climbing and not thinking too much. Fortunately, Linde has scooters on the mast that allow me to climb up myself. All Carla has to do is keep the halyard tight. Should I slip and fall, the fall stopper has to do its job to catch me and I won't fall far. Fortunately, none of this is an issue. I approach the first halyard (the first horizontal beam on the mast). Let's see how to pass this one and before I know it, I'm climbing towards the second anchoring. Now I notice that I am starting to get high. The stays (steel cables that hold up the mast) are tapered and I have to figure out the best way to proceed. And then I am at the top. Now I can also see the VHF antenna, how big it is. From below it looks like a sprite, up here it is a tube tens of centimeters long. I study the wind vane and see that the tail has disappeared. Yes, then I understand that the wind vane often changes direction. Carla, meanwhile, is hoisting up the bucket with the spare wind vane. I also asked for my sailing gloves. Not because of the cold, but to protect my hands while climbing. The old vane comes off easily and carefully I place it in the bucket. I place the spare one on the mast and before I know it, I can go down again. I enjoy the view for a while. I can look beautifully over the Frisian meadows, I can see the entire Koevordermeer, but also the Langweerder Wielen. How beautiful this is, too bad I forgot my phone to take a picture. Then it's time to descend again. And before I know it, I'm back on deck. So this job is done.
After we have had another pleasant afternoon with sister-in-law and brother-in-law, it is time to leave again. Once we sail into the Margriet Canal I look at the wind gauge, it no longer goes back and forth. Perfect, reflects the wind well, is it? The wind comes from the east, but the vane gives a completely different value. Looking with the binoculars. Looks like the vane indicates the right direction. The gauge only gives 60 degrees difference. We must have done something wrong. While sailing, I look for a manual on the Internet and yes, I read a procedure for calibrating the meter. You have to set the gauge to calibration mode and sail straight into the wind. Hmmm I don't like that here. Another option is to climb the mast again, hold the wind vane straight ahead and perform the calibration procedure. We decide we will do that tomorrow in the harbor. So the next day I climbed the mast again. I hold the vane straight forward and Carla performs the procedure. When I then release the vane, the gauge indicates exactly the right wind direction. That's settled too, and now that I've climbed 18 meters twice in two days, I know that from now on I won't have to worry about that either. Another lesson learned and experienced 😊
Hans van Groenigen wrote at 21/06/2023: