Getting prepared

Prior to July 2021, Hans (almost all with his partner-in-crime at the time) did the following to make him feel prepared for the global voyage:

• Non-stop passages as crew on Hans’ brother’s sailing yacht:
  Canary Islands – Cape Verde, Grenada – Sint Maarten, Bermuda – Azores, Grande Motte – Gibraltar   
• Two/three week summer trips out of Wemeldinge to: Alderney, Edingburgh, Egersund/Norway, Scilly Islands/UK, Ystad/Sweden, Vaderoarna/Sweden
• Seminars organized by Toerzeilers: Diesel engines, Outboard motors, Electricity, MOB, Sea Survival, Open CPN
• Various Nimos Meteo training sessions by Henk Huizinga
• Engine Management seminar by Ocean People
• RYA Radar course by AquaPlanning
• World Cruising seminar by Jimmy & Doina Cornell
• First Aid seminars by Medical Yachting Club (BE) and RS Medical Sailing/RYA (NL)
• Route planning by Elmar Teeuwen from Cum Laude Sailing
• Sextant/Astronavigation seminars by Dick Huges (NL) and Offshore (BE)
• Marcom A course and certification by Enkhuizer Zeevaartschool
• Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) course by Dordtse Elektronica Club and “N” certification
• Yachtman courses by Altair and Vlaamse Vaarshool and certification
• Yacht Maneuvering by Altair
• Asked a lot of advice from vendors at boatshows in Amsterdam, Paris and Düsseldorf

In July 2021 Hans and Liesbeth followed a RYA / World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival Course by AquaPlanning.