The month of March flies by. With busy jobs, family life with sports activities and the necessary hours in preparation for the trip. We make huge steps. All the technical stuff is placed on the Brandaan. The installer assembles the wind generator, a new autopilot system, the solar panel, the SSB radio, the RF2X box, the AIS and various antennas (including WIFI antenna). Toine helps for two days. That way he also knows a bit about the wiring. We are still in doubt about a water maker. For the rest we are complete. Now we have to wait for the water release before we can test everything, and unfortunately that is only planned for 21 April. Please be patient.

On March 8th, Daniel and Monica and their two youngest Valentine children will visit us. Very cozy and a lot to catch up on. A week later we meet again at a 'departures' meeting with as many as 10 boats with children, organized by Annelies Wichers. At a perfect location in her company building (sewing atelier) on the IJ. Everybody brings something to eat and drink. Children can play to their heart's content, outside or in the workshop with rags, cardboard and glue. Ages vary between 6 months and 16 years. As adults, we have plenty of time to catch up and exchange all kinds of things worth knowing. For example, we receive extensive information about a medical kit from doctor Wierd and pharmacist Adam, including lessons in stitching (on a piece of cloth). The Pjötter makes us 'nice' to go even more north than Newport towards the border with Canada.

And another week later we see most of them again on March 21st at the official departure meeting organized by Zeilen, in the Dromedary of Enhuizen. There again we get a huge load of information. Yet again a few new things that make us think. But what about the water maker? We get an SSB radio lesson for dummies and a lot of other tips for insurances, anchor gear, and sail repairs. Also very nice to meet Ellen van de Barbarossa.

On Wednesday 18 March we suddenly hear that there is a hole in the planning of the shipyard and that a week later around 25 March we can already enter the water. Holladié, but that's why we quickly swept the agendas for Friday 18 March to put the underwater ship in the antifouling. So said, so done. On Friday the 25th of March the Brandaan will be painted and shining from waxing back into the water. Inside and on top it is still a mess; we will clean it the next weekend with better weather.