Vlaamse Yachthaven Nieuwpoort Marina, Belgium

Thank you Timothy

Timo, the bespectacled young store clerk/electrician, said he would call first thing Friday morning with some answers. The night before, three hours later than promised (a friend’s boat needed unexpected repairs, he said), the diminutive fellow hoisted his oversized tool bag onto Star Mist at about 7:00 pm.

The doctor is in…

Apologizing for his lateness, Timo plugged in all his instruments, as if performing an EKG, and pronounced our two AGM service batteries without pulse. Showing interior resistance in the impossible upper 30s (normal would be 3), the batteries were flatlining. Dead. Game over.

Stethoscope

The diagnosis explained the frightening, sudden blackouts we had been experiencing. As soon as we were off shore power or engine, the batteries had randomly drained, with the potential to knock out our instruments, lights, and navigating ability in these unfailingly rough and shallow North Sea waves. Having bought a nearly new boat with hardy batteries from a fine English engineer with impeccaple records and every good intention, we were shocked.

The attendant at the marina, hearing of our troubles, shrugged and said, “Ahh, you are experiencing the ‘childhood diseases’ of owning a used boat.” He waved these concerns off with the back of his hand and a smile. “It’s normal!” Well, “normal” would also include waiting until next Wednesday for new AGM batteries, said Timo.

So we pleaded. We begged. We brought pastries and wine. We wanted to leave Saturday at the latest for the Netherlands due to the weather. The winds essentially determine whether you can sail, and to where. Timo said he would try to find the batteries we needed. He asked if we had a car to pick them up. Uber? Does it even exist here? We knocked out restlessly and “slept in” until 8:30 and started making phone calls to battery suppliers. We came up empty. Nothing. But by the time we walked into the chandlery at 10:00 am, the shop landlines had been hot for two hours. New AGM batteries had been located in Dunkirk, France, an hour and a half drive southwest!

Timo and his boss told us not to worry. The surgery would be performed later in the day…. Spending a total of three days in Nieuwpoort, longer than expected, we have become acquainted with a delicate village that was bombed and flooded in WWI, having recovered quietly and steadily.

This sailing and fishing haven is filled with subtle delights...the best lagers, melt-in-your-mouth smoked mackerel, matjes, trout mousse, and Emmental. No wonder it attracts sailors from all over the world. We will be back, Timo! Thank you!🇧🇪🙏❤️🥂🍺