UNBOUNDKUNST

What would it be like to… sail across the IJsselmeer lake.

In this article: “What would it be like to… sail across the IJsselmeer, in a tiny (8meters/ 26 ft) sailing boat”

I often ask myself, “What would it be like…?” to do or experience something. And whenever possible, I actually put it to the test. Driven by immense curiosity, I am eager to discover the (physical and mental) experience of a specific situation, action, or adventure. I want to know what something is really like… to explore or push my own boundaries.

So… “What would it be like to… sail across the IJsselmeer in a tiny (8meters/ 26 ft) sailing boat?” Though in calm sea conditions.

Looking back it was very surreal. And thrilling. During a sailing holiday in Friesland, we were tempted to cross the lake from Stavoren to Enkhuizen. We had no onboard electronics; we navigated using only a chart and compass. At one point, there was nothing but water and the horizon. It was dead calm sea, so the water was as smooth as a mirror. It was really hot on board (the sun was burning, and there was nowhere to really take shelter). In the middle of the lake, we dropped anchor and swam laps around the boat to cool off. I had never dived into the IJsselmeer or sea before for a swim. It felt (and looked) like a dreamscape. On one hand, it felt safe; on the other, it didn’t. Why not? Perhaps because we were at the mercy of the wind, or rather say the lack of it. So, the question of when we would reach the other side was a complete unknown.

Normally, I can accurately predict how long a journey will take (from home to work, school, the supermarket, etc.). Not this time. Not at all. The route and the situation, the sailing relying on the wind were entirely new to me. At the same time, I found what we were doing quite remarkable. Our 8-meter / 26 ft boat certainly wasn’t the biggest ‘yacht’ out there. It was funny to sail towards the large ferry (running between Enkhuizen and Stavoren). A few years back, we had been passengers on that very same ship, heading to Friesland and fully loaded with gear for our cycling holiday. Now we got close enough for the passengers up deck to see us clearly, and vice versa. 

They looked at us with pitty (or perhaps wonder); it was hard to tell from that distance. Maybe they thought we looked ridiculous in our tiny yacht on the vast IJsselmeer? Either way, I decided to break the ice by waving first at the big ferry. The result was that dozens of people on the large decks – both upper and lower waved back enthusiastically. Hahaha. My experience was actually a mix of conflicting feelings. Even though I knew we weren’t on the open ocean, I still felt quite vulnerable out on the water. Yet, it also felt incredibly free and freely… So very nice to be there, covering such a long distance under our own power. And it also felt very safe, thanks to the lack of wind and the mirror-like surface of the water. (I could barely resist the urge to wonder what it would be like to swim this entire stretch, 22km of a swim isn’t it? But I’ll save this adventure for another time.) In any case, I gained a lot and totally new (nautical) experiences during this summer holiday.