| | The regatta would start today (Whit Sunday) around 9:00 and we were berthed alongside as 3rd, so we had to leave in time. Freek and Mia were right on time. Mia was hoisted into a lifejacket and at 9:22 we were ready for take - off from Scheveningen. The weather forecast was particularly good, it would be a sunny day with the wind in our back. Just outside the jetties of Scheveningen we could hoist the sails and shut off the engine. The start of the regatta was nearing, so we decided to first sail a bit further onto the sea and then set sail for Rotterdam.
What a beautiful sight, all those boats against the background of the Kurhaus of Scheveningen!
 
Because of the waves, Mia felt sick and had to throw up a few times, but after an hour it was all right. Freek as well as Mia enjoyed being at sea and of course we were – again – in our element.
Freek and Mia have a father - daughter moment
To distract Mia a bit, we let her do the steering. She stood behind the wheel, although barely being able to overlook it, like a true experienced sea-woman. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, she corrected the navigation when necessary. Thumbs up for a small girl of 9 years old!
The weather got better and better and warmer; we enjoyed it to our hearts’ delight! Fred and I have never sailed the Nieuwe Waterweg (water gate to Rotterdam), so today was a good practice; when we lie in the City Marina, we will sail this part much more often. During the open door day we saw how the traffic service works, so now we could experience how it feels when you are really in the water. At buoy MN1, just before the Maasmond we contacted the traffic control, who told us to stay on the north side until further notice.
 
Sailing just on the Genua, with the engine stand-by we turn onto the river Maas. Fred had explained to Mia how she could see on the pc which boats are in the neighbourhood, what the name of the boats are and what their speed is. She picked this up so quickly, that every time a boat was nearing, she popped her head out of the cockpit, saying another boat was approaching and what the name of the boat was. It felt good to see how Mia was at ease on the boat and, who knows! We might have a joiner in the future! We continued our course neatly, according to the instructions of the traffic control, along the Nieuwe Waterweg. Impressive was it, to see how very big ships sometimes restrained their speed to let us pass. Our respect to the gentlemen of the traffic control, what an excellent guidance! A beautiful sight, to near Rotterdam from the water, it gives you quite a different outlook on this city. When we neared the Erasmus-bridge, it turned out that this one does NOT open on call, but on fixed hours. Whoops, our bad, something Fred and I have patented! Next time, better check it in advance… We missed the opening of 15:30, so we had to wait until 19:00…..
Because it surely was a long day anyway, it was decided that Freek and Mia would disembark earlier. Just in front of the bridge, we entered the Maashaven (Maas harbour), where you also can find the MS Rotterdam. We berthed alongside the pier and Freek and Mia stepped out and went home by public transport. We decided to have a bite to eat until the bridge would open. We contacted the Erasmus-bridge by VHF radio and explained we would like to enter the City Marina at 19:00. We left at 18:30 and still arrived much too early. To kill the time, we sailed to and fro, back and forth, etc. About 10 minutes to opening time, a customs boat arrived, circling around us. They looked at us through binoculars. The Pegasus really looks like a leavers’ boat and apparently they were curious. Sometime later they came alongside and asked us where we were going and where we came from. Of course they already checked this through AIS! They asked us what we had been doing in the Maashaven. After some thoroughly explaining from our side, they left.
 
It was 19:00, the poles of the bridge went down, pedestrians, bikers and cars had to wait for us, the only sailing boat wanting to pass the bridge. Quite an honour to stop traffic completely! Although we felt a bit guilty, when we saw an ambulance coming on to the bridge, reversing and driving back, because the bridge was open (for us). After this large bridge another smaller one has to be passed to enter City Marina, but that all went without any trouble.
Now we had to sail to our own spot in the Marina. We have a quiet lay-by in that part of the marina, where you can enjoy the sunlight the most. After we attached the boat, we could look back on a very nice and instructive day. Another phase was completed in our plans, at last the Pegasus was in Rotterdam!
After a nice hot shower we went for a drink in a café close to the marina. Since we also had an appetite, we enjoyed some moments later the very peculiar combination of Irish coffee and a baguette with garlic butter. Feeling rosy, with tanned faces and tired of being in the open air all day, but with a top-feeling about the successful crossing, we jumped into bed.
Monday 22-05-2013
After sleeping late and having had breakfast, we pack our things. Fred’s van is still in Spaarndam, at the Rietpol, so we first have to take public transport to Alphen aan de Rijn, to get my car and then drive to Spaarndam.
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