Autumn's Last Sail

Summer has come to an end. It is time to bring our boat back to the boat yard, for the necessary winter maintenance. It's a two-day trip from our home port to the boat yard, so we get to enjoy one last sailing trip before our season ends. Around Mid-October, the forecasts predict two last days of sunny weather. A great opportunity for us to sail to the boat yard.

On the first leg of our trip, we have to tack

The first day, we sail across the IJsselmeer lake to the Ketelmeer lake. We have to tack on the first leg of our trip. But we do not mind that, because the sailing is amazing. At this latitude, the sun sets early in October. Just after half past six in the evening, the sun dips behind the horizon. The color of the sky changes from blue to red for about an hour, before it turns into the black of the night.

At half past six, the sun already sets

We spend the night anchoring at the IJsseloog, an artificial island in the Ketelmeer. It was built as a dredging depot, but a nature reserve was created around it. In order to leave the animals undisturbed, the island itself is declared off-limits to humans. It is a small but beautiful anchorage, well-known among Dutch cruisers. There are nothing but trees, water and birds here. In the morning, we leave on sail alone, because we do not want to break the morning peace with the roar of a starting engine.

Anchoring at the IJsseloog

Quietly, we sail further, over the Zwarte Meer lake. This lake is a nature reserve also. It is home to thousands of birds. We see all kinds of geese, swans and ducks. The Zwarte Meer lake connects to the Zwarte Water (Black Water) river. We sail upstream, to the small lock that connects the Zwarte Water to the canals of Giethoorn.

Near Giethoorn, the waters are really busy. Even this late in the season, the town is still a tourist hotspot. We are happy to leave this place behind. Just a few miles further, the canals are just as beautiful. But for some reason, the tourists do not come here. 

 

Near Giethoorn, you can spot all kinds of little water paradises like these

We have the water to ourselves again. Slowly, our boat glides through the water. We enjoy the last moments of our sailing season as much as we can. But then, the trip is over. I am already looking forward to next Spring....

We enjoy the last few miles of our trip as much as we can....