'Sail, ore not to Sail', I would almost say… The English call every trip that moves over the water 'Sailing'.We Dutch have thrown a clear gap between it and sailing or motorboating are two completely different things according to some insiders.Unfortunately, one group often looks down on the other, while researchers have shown that the average 'sailor' sails on the motor about 80% of the time…There is, however, an intrepid category that doesn't care about all that rambling and just does its thing.Sea sailors make this tangible by making long journeys and crossings.As a motorboat skipper I admire it because I have deep respect for the sea.So much respect, in fact, that I once decided to design (and build) a ship with which I could save my life at all times.That became the No Limit, a lifeboat-like fast self-righting motorboat with a thick rubber floating body around it.Sailors have the comfort of the stability that the sails provide on the sickening waves and they hardly have to worry about their fuel consumption.Nevertheless, they often have to brave the savage conditions in which our capricious mother nature makes us find ourselves.Reef in time, secure everything, keep the right course with regard to the wind direction and so on… It is no mean feat to sail large waters!Motor boaters do not have the advantages of a sailing ship.In a motorboat you swing like a monkey from handle to handle all day long, the machines thump continuously under the floor and you have great difficulty calculating your range with regard to your fuel capacity in relation to the consumption of the engine(s).Eelco Casimir once sailed around the world with the Bylgia, but that was a half sail, half motor boat with prop and trade sails and with the hull of a beautiful Koopmans.Still, it was a battle of attrition for him!This trip made world news!In a motorboat you swing like a monkey from handle to handle all day longAt the beginning of August, the three Braam brothers left with my creation – the more than 15 meter long No Limit motor boat – to Ford Lauderdale in the USA.They choose the toughest journey by taking the northern route, to sail from bunker station to bunker station.They have to brave storms, fog fields, ice and whatnot along the way, but they are going for it… I have a lot of respect for these three adventurers… I used to dream of it, but they do it!After the farewell event in the Amsterdam Marina, where Henk de Velde, skipper/owner Edzard Braam and the undersigned gave a short lecture about this very special voyage, we took the three of them away with a number of ships and waved them goodbye.It shows guts, courage and daring to make this journey and route with a motorboat.Preserve Four Seasons and Crew!I will be following you with great interest!!The Four Seasons is halfway through its journey.If you want to follow the last part of the journey, you can do so via their website.Stories that stick with Dutch Sailing Heroes.Groundbreaking - Extraordinary - Personal www.zeilhelden.nlShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share via emailShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share via emailShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share via emailShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share via emailShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share via email