You need a lot of sea legs to master the heaving sea. The Royal Dutch Rescue Society (KNRM) is holding its open day today, which means that all donors can sail along on the rescue ship. For some, this results in wet pants.
The KNRM is financially dependent on gifts, legacies and donations. That is why they put all their benefactors in the spotlight once a year by letting them sail with their rescue ship.
“A day like this is important to us,” says Hein Schrama, deputy skipper of the KNRM. “We do everything financially ourselves. We do not receive any government subsidy, so we rely on gifts, donors and legacies. This day is a thank you for our donors and to show: this is the work we do thanks to you.”
First time
Because Nikkie van Essen’s husband is one of the thirty volunteers at the Redding Maatschappij, it is fun for her to sail along. “This is the first time for me, it was always impossible because of corona.”
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Especially during the summer the boat pulls out and she is now completely used to her husband being paged. “We are prepared for it. When his beeper goes it’s like: this and that you need. Well good luck with it and go.”
Dry pants
She now likes to sail along herself and she has kept dry pants. “I had inside information about where I had to stand in order not to get wet socks,” she laughs.
Everyone who certainly does not have dry pants is Mariet van den Boogaard. “Oh, this was so nice. I stood with my leg outside the wheelhouse for a moment and then, a puddle of water against my leg. My pants are quite wet. Now go home quickly to drink a cup of tea and put on dry pants,” says Mariet .
The KNRM goes out about forty times a year to, among other things, rescue rudderless sailing boats, retrieve drifting suppers or help with missing swimmers.
The mutual teamwork is important, according to Schrama, because some situations can be intense for the volunteers. “The entire team therefore has a lot of support from each other and we receive the necessary mental support. Apart from that, it is rewarding work. It’s nice to be able to give something back,” said Schrama.