Making presents

5 December 2019

Update Daan: “Two weeks before this voyage started, I did not know I was joining, the unexpected is always the best. This is my third trip with the OOSTERSCHELDE, and it always feels like coming home. As an ex sailor/fisherman you miss the sea, I can’t explain, but it’s the wind, the waves and the isolated way of life.

We have a great group op 12 men and 1 woman and 7 crew members. Via Falmouth and Douarnenez we have crossed the Bay of Biscay and on Thursday at the end of the afternoon we will near Lisbon and ahead of schedule.

Tomorrow it is 5 December and we expect a visit from ‘Sinterklaas’. This brings a bit of stress as we have to arrange presents and we poems. But the Dutch speaking people have also the task to teach the famous ‘Sinterklaas’ songs. Can you imagine teaching this to a Finnish and Czech? I can’t but we will see.

There is also a bit of a raid going on to arrange gifts. Nothing is safe and our cook Richard is defending his kingdom pretty well, but the silver foil is going pretty fast at the moment. Everyone is walking around with notebooks and pieces of paper to note down any inspiration they might get along the way. I saw ships and globes and what not come by. It is quite difficult to create something that you don’t really know yet, but we will figure it out.

I am planning on filming the festivities tomorrow so everyone at home can also see who creative their partner, father, mother, son and daughter are. For now I am going to stop writing. The atmosphere on board is great and everyone who is not on watch will go to their cabin. Good night and until next time!”