Antiope Cruising: Boating beneath the sea

Well, not exactly under water! As I write we are afloat, but 5 meters below sea level.

We have at last started exploring and we are traveling in glorious summer weather. Following a month in England visiting folk, we were able to get back aboard Antiope and get on top of a few jobs. The new washing mashine arrived and was duly hoisted aboard, hooked up and put into service.

Steady does it ! A tight fit through the hatch

We have a new working washing machine! No more smelly shirts.

It is a pleasure to be able to have family and friends aboard again. It is now 11 years since we were in these Netherland waters. We are getting used to the change from France, from the morning baguette to the Dutch coffee and applecake routine.

Away from the boatyard.

So far we have stayed north of Amsterdam, cruising Friesland and the IJsselmeer.

Following a casual dockside chat while exploring the old Hansiatic port of Kampen, I had an invitation to go Botter racing and I found myself crewing in the annual 'Urk' traditional boat regatta.

GT 13, 120 years old and we finished in 3rd place

Your author in a casual pose, mid race

Not much wind on the day

The Botter fleet, post race in Urk.

The Urk lighthouse still shines out over the IJsselmeer. Urk was once an island in the Zuider Zee before 1943. This old fishing settlement is now on the edge of a vast polder of reclaimed land. It is midway across this polder on the man made waterway 5 m below sea level, where we have moored for the night. Sobering thought.