The atmosphere is already good on the ship Nirwana, because after two years they can finally participate in the Volendam Pieperrace again. Skipper Irene Toxopeus is sailing with 26 men this weekend and is really looking forward to it: “The Pieperrace is really the start of the season.”
The Pieperrace is a competition for traditional sailing ships that keeps the memory of how the Volendammer Kwakken (large botters that only occurred in Volendam) were used during the Second World War to sail potatoes (piepers) from Friesland. The pagers were destined, among other things, for the Amsterdam hospitals.
Almost starting
Due to the corona virus, it has been two years since the ships came together and it is then also one big reunification in the port of Volendam. The men on Irene’s ship enthusiastically toast with a beer and can’t wait to hoist the sails.
In the report, the enthusiastic men can be seen and Irene tells whether it was difficult, because of the strong wind, to sail into the Port of Volendam. Text continues below the video.
Organizer Cor Klein told earlier already told NH Nieuws that the Pieperrace is also the start of the tourist season.
This Sunday, NH Nieuws will report live on this event from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. This livestream can be viewed both online and on television. Cor: “I think it will be a really big event.” About 45 ships participate.