For De Gæ Nok’s first trip of 2022, the crew was down from the 4 of the last trip to 3: my dad, my mum, and I. Sadly, my grandma, who was there for my first sailing experience in the summer of ’88 and for most of them ever since, passed away in December, a few months after that last sunny cruise from Juelsminde to Haderslev. On that trip, we made a fernet branca toast to my grandad’s memory when sailing through Fænøsund, the sound in which we scattered his ashes after his passing over a decade ago. My grandma told us – for the 100th time – all of the stories of how they’d spend the summers of their 30s with all of their sailor students and friends in that idyllic spot, bordered on the one side by the splendid island of Fænø and on the other by Hindsgavl Slot and surrounding beach and beech forest. She added that soon we’d be launching her remains into the water, too. Which we didn’t believe. Yet there we were, 8 months later, doing just that: on 14 May, along with the entire family. Just as my uncle had upended the paper urn to scatter the ashes across the water, 2 porpoises jumped by. Through our tears, we all smiled at the thought of my grandparents reincarnated as carefree dolphins frolicking in the waves in their favourite spot in Denmark. The following day, 15 May, my parents and I sailed the boat from the shipyard in Haderslev back home to Juelsminde. It was a very calm trip – 7 hours in the lightest of light wind and plenty of sun. Zigzagging out of the long fjord was as meditative a delight as always, as was the long leg up through Lillebælt. In Fænøsund, we commemorated both my grandparents, who, onboard one of the first editions of De Gæ Nok, introduced us all to the sailing lifestyle. We miss them – but their spirit, traditions, and stories will always be with us.
It was great being back on the water – it immediately made us feel happy, at peace, and excited for the new season ahead. In the heart of sailors, it’s always summer. Throughout the winter, we long for sun and salt water. When spring arrives, we’re ready to hit the waves and collect new fun memories, together in our right element. Simultaneously, it felt like no time and lots of time has passed since last season. Hanging out in the cockpit, running around the deck, putting our sailor clothes and other gear back below deck, the familiar smells and sounds … everything made last summer’s excursion feel like yesterday. Yet, we each had to refresh our memory regarding certain aspects of sailing … how to tie this knot, where to put that thing, how do we usually do this thing, what is that noise … some things came back to us quickly; others things – and new things! – will appear over the summer. That’s ok.
De Gæ Nok 