“Unfortunately we’re gone again, when Sail starts!” Libertad-Capitein Roberto Ariel Gestoso During the exclusive reception for guests on board. “The ship can be viewed in front of the public until Thursday 14 August and then we have to move on to Portugal,” said the captain between the Adel Borsten in uniform. So a general rehearsal in the Klein of Sail Amsterdam, where after the departure of the Libertad No fewer than forty comparable tall ships will be on display.
From left to right: Captain Roberto Ariel Gestoso, Arie Jan de Waard, the Argentinian military Attaché Horacio Matías Orefice and Mitra van Raalten. © De Telegraaf
The Argentinian ship, with her crew of three hundred men and women, would be a good setting for a romantic film. Shiny copper, neatly tied lines and a scrubbed wooden deck. A long line with colorful signal flags hung over the three masts, while under the deck tent on the back pile an orchestra of naval people played under the cozy cords with lights. ,, Apart from the Tall Ships, there will be 650 ships that are classified as sailing heritage. There will be several naval vessels, around twenty innovative boats and then many thousands of own boats, ”looked at business director Robert Visser Ahead. “2.3 million people are expected!” Prospective SAIL chairman Robert Jan Woltering considered: “That is more than four times King’s Day.”
Robert Jan Woltering (l.) With Robert Visser. © De Telegraaf
The world famous photographer Jimmie Nelson Will record the entire event. “They call me the artist-in-residence“He said alongside his partner Paya Ndiaye. “We were in Zansker, in the Himalayas,” he said, “where suddenly something special happened.” The Dalai Lama will open a monastery here, “we were told and a little later he arrived with a heli and we were next to it. He is ninety years old and probably this is the last time he leaves his home in Dharamsala.”
Jimmie Nelson with Paya Ndiaye. © De Telegraaf
Uruguay ambassador Alvaro Enrique González Otero noted: “There are two ships from all of Latin America,” from Peru and one of us, a little one. Sail chairman Arie Jan de Waard explained: ,, Mexico’s ship, the CuauhtémocEnter a bridge in New York on the way: all three masts off! The Brazilian ship does not come because of overdue maintenance. ”
But there are plenty left to give the IJ a timeless look. “All ships will make the history of the city visible again,” said Havenmeester Milembe Mateyo. “They make clear why it has always turned in the city.”
Christian Adrián Cáceres, commander on the Libertad, with Milembe Mateyo. © De Telegraaf
There was a salute battery of the Argentinian training ship Jaco de Bruijnresponsible for the protocol within the SAIL organization, to update with his colleague Arjan van der MeerHead Hospitality. “Before Sail was canceled in 2020 because of Corona, I had been working with Mitra for two years,” said Van der Meer. “Delicious, to make it now!”
Arjan van der Meer (l.) With Jaco de Bruijn. © De Telegraaf
He has to go for two weeks before the time comes. This evening on board was at least a taste, as if the IJ was still completely empty. And although this evening did not end with a fantastic performance on the NSDM yard. A festival site is built there, where during Sail on Stage Artists perform for four evenings in different music genres, from Davina Michelle,, ” Jan Smit and Karsu to the beats of Zoë Tauran and Robert van Hemert.
Exercise for Sail Amsterdam with guests on the Groenevecht during Skûtsjesilen
“A top evening program”, according to Robert Visser. “With delicious Summernight-music!” In any case, the weather will be fine, divorcing chairman Van der Waard already said …