Last year I sailed Folly to my hometown Deventer. The mast has to come off for that trip and it takes a long journey as the current is strong (2 knots). The advantage is that during the winter I can go to Folly more often to do some maintenance. In the end this was not the case, but at least she was one time “home”.

Spring 2024, the 21th of April, Sybren and I left Deventer at 8:30. Quite cold, around 5 degrees. I have sailed up and down the river more than 10 times, but it is always  a bit exciting. The engine must not fail and apart from that in the start of the season you have to be there yourself as well. Enough diesel, all equipment ready. Also energy and warm drinks for us. The rising sun makes it a wonderful trip over the fast-flowing IJssel. We are going 8 SOG. In Zwolle, Sybren would disembark and I would continue to Lelystad alone.

Nienke comes on board as a complete surprise. Very cozy. It is quite a long way to sail and without a mast it also means endless on the engine. Fortunately, you are now allowed to cross the wind farm off the coast of Flevoland, which saves a lot of time.

Arriving at the harbor, after we had neatly moored the boat, Nienke looks at the next bus. It leaves in 12 minutes. It is normally a 24-minute walk to the Batavia Outlet where the bus stop is. Nienke runs, I on the folding bike and we catch the bus and then even the transfer from bus to train (2 minutes). Everything goes well, a successful trip from Deventer to Lelystad. 7.5 hours, 54 Nautical miles.