Power
FROM CAPTAIN TO KAPTEIN
John Heitinga was once captain of Ajax, now he commands a sloop on the open water. His boat could be spotted on canals and lakes this summer. Built and furnished from scratch, with meticulous attention to detail: "Of course there is a men's refrigerator in it."
John Heitinga used to be captain of Ajax, now a captain on the rough waves. His sloop could be admired on canals and lakes this summer. Built and furnished from scratch, with attention to detail: “Of course there is a men's refrigerator in it.”
Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer | Online editor: Natasha Hendriks
Image: John van Helvert
John: “I was almost eighteen and wanted to get my driver's license as quickly as possible. So I went to a driving school nearby, Rijschool Rijnland in Alphen aan den Rijn, which was run by Marijke van Dam. I said I wanted to take driving lessons with her, but I wanted to get my driver's license within two or three weeks. She responded with, "Who do you think you are?" I like that, so I clicked with her from day one. This resulted in a unique friendship, including with her husband, Kees van Dam, a teacher at Inholland University of Applied Sciences.
“Kees and Marijke used to have a boat, a Makma, and we were always allowed to sail along. Round Leiden, round Alphen, round Kaag, round Nieuwkoopse Plassen... Until their boat was stolen. I was so moved by the water that I bought my own sloop. Since then, Kees and Marijke often sail with us. Then Kees is the captain and I am the navigator. Also because my family was growing, I was looking forward to a new sloop. I have tested quite a few.
In Ibiza I had a conversation with those guys from Wajer Yachts. They said: you should build your own sloop. I call Kees: 'I need a lifeboat, then we will make our own one-off.' Kees managed to acquire a copy from 1990 on a Scottish oil rig and brought it to IJmuiden. I went straight there. I was shocked when I saw the sloop. Everything was still there: the cabin, the rudder paddles, the survival kits, the life jackets... What have we bought? I couldn't see through it. The boat is almost nine meters long and three meters wide, a considerable surface area. Quite a puzzle to make a good layout. Wayer Yachts advised us to approach Tom van Gijzel Interieurs in Medemblik. We called and emailed a lot back and forth. Ultimately, this will result in the ideal one-off. This lies in the layout of the space, including a two-metre lounge area at the front and rear, and in the finish and details. Such as a nice steering wheel, a cool music system, a one and a half meter large folding table for a nice lunch... And of course a 'men's refrigerator': a container with ice above the steering area in which the non-alcoholic beers stay cold, haha. It is also very practical: all you have to do is start the boat, take the cushions out from under the floor and put them down, and sail away - so no hassle with a sail. You don't have to cover it afterwards, it is resistant to all weather influences.
“It's going at a fast pace now, the boat should be ready in two weeks. It will be located at Het Bosch @ the Waterfront in Amsterdam, on the Nieuwe Meer. Convenient place. Pass through the lock and you are in the city. I especially like sailing through Amsterdam at night when the lights are on. We also enjoy getting a palinkje from the smokehouse of the Eveleens brothers in Leimuiden. For me, sailing is a bit of freedom, relaxation, fun, quality time with the loved ones around me.
The sloop does not have a name yet. Charlotte-Sophie is thinking of Sketch, I'm thinking of The Black Pearl, but maybe it shouldn't be named at all. That adds to the mystery: what is it? Because when it is completely furnished and finished, complete with a rubber band around it, no one will see an old Scottish lifeboat in it.”
MASTERS #42
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