This year Folly was again at MetJaap during the winter. She survived mostly the storm Eunice, however the panel got leaky with resulting water damage inside the cabin. Jaap did a good job though: all ships stayed on their cradles. Only a few weeks ago Folly was launched into the water, quite late due to some non-sailing events. Also Jaap and I prepared the heater about I will write later.

Before shoring the impeller is removed and regular antifreeze gets in the cooling system of the Volvo Penta 2002 (direct cooling system). The impeller looked ok when I put it back this year, but when I sailed from the boat lift to home the amount of cooling water felt like less than normal. But what is normal? It’s a new year, it’s a feeling, the checks where ok. Always trust your feelings …

Yesterday morning (7:00 am) I started the engine to sail to Stavoren. Some white smoke, uggh ?, it’s cold, it’s early, it’s normal (…) In the Johan Friso Canal (Heeg-Stavoren) the wind was beautiful North-East 4-5. The Genua did the job, no engine, nobody an the water; life is good. After the lock of Stavoren the whole day on the IJsselmeer. Oh boy I love sailing. The storm and lightning moved North-West, only around 18:00 some chance. Unfortunately a Westerly is not so good close hauled. The return trip needed to go on engine. The wind increased. The storm and maybe even lightning could start 18:00, about 5 NM South-West from Stavoren at around 16:30. Secure all sails, sheets, mainsail hood, and so on. After a while, an alarm you don’t want to hear and even unclear what is this? Overheating. Shit. Keep calm. Engine off. Sheets quickly on the Genua again.

Course back to 100 degrees. How much are we North from Vrouwenzand (sandbank you want to avoid)? Think! How can I optimize my VMG to Stavoren. It takes an hour with 5 kts, agains wind. The engine did have to little cooling water. With the Genua the off-track becomes too much and I don’t know from top of my head exactly where the Vrouwenzand is. No time to check on map. All panels around the engine away. Window open. Air cooling at least. The weed filter is clean. The impeller was ok, only 2 weeks ago. What is it?
Decision made: direct route to Stavoren, minimum rpm, no sail. Get as far as possible. Only speed of 2,5 kts possible. This will take up to 2 hours. Biscuits as diner. Fortunately the storm waits on me. It will pass over at 18:30 and it did. Again, like last year, with lots of rain in the dock. No lightning.

After diner, I really want to know what the problem is. The impeller check. The weed filter check (again). Google: antifreeze gives sludge in the motor after the winter, need some acid. Need to get home (Indijk/Woudsend). Next day (today) the wind comes from South-West. Perfect, however very strong (5-6). This frightens me. With one bridge to pass, you need an engine to slow down and pass. Also at the end a small part of the route will be almost in reverse direction with this wind! I’ll take my chances. Coming days I need to work, I don’t have a proper landing in Stavoren and the wind will not become less.

Only 1/3 Genua makes 5.7 kts! I speed the little 10 NM to Heeg. But just that last part that kept me awake this morning, I need maximum power. Too little cooling water. And even the last mile, no cooling water at all. I can’t stop in this Canal (The Rakken), this feels not good. I reach home and berth with 6 Bft wind from the front. That was a journey.

The solution for the cooling was simple, like it always is. I didn’t dare to do this during sailing, neither in the harbour of Stavoren (board-to-board with another ship): the inlet. Hose disconnected. Screwdriver in the inlet and remove shells. It looked like limestone. This will become standard procedure next season, or even during season.