The end of the DeltaLloyd regatta and back to Fryslân

The DeltaLloyd regatta ended yesterday. It was a busy, but fun week. Probably the best weather I have seen for a regatta for a long time, resulting in all races being completed to the time schedule.
I have already shared a picture of my working environment, this was Lyn's office:






We twice had Olympians on board, a real privilege!





The South African 470 crew of Asenathi Jim and Roger Hudson (including 'manager' Dave and Roger's fiancé Lucy).





Dutch 470 skipper Lisa Westerhof (having a rest) with parents and in-laws.


The prizegiving was part of a big party, which also included the 'send- off' of the Dutch Olympic and Paralympic sailing team:





This morning, still in fantastic weather conditions, we left Medemblik to go back to Fryslân (Frisian for 'Friesland'). We are meeting our friends Hans and Jet on Tuesday in Delfzijl (which is in the Groningen province) to start our trip to the German Wadden islands.
As it is a long weekend as well as stunning weather, it is very busy on the water. We went into Fryslân through the lock in Stavoren. The wait for the lock going into the province was not bad, about 20 minutes. But the wait for boats going the other way must have been several hours:





If I had collected a Euro for each boat we saw today, I could singlehandedly solve the Greek crisis!

Is this really a boat?





After a long day on the water (over 7 hours), we are now tied up along a canal. There are quite a few boats spending the night here, but now - at 9pm - the passing traffic is dying down and it's nice and quiet.





Tomorrow we plan to get as far as Groningen, then on Tuesday only a short stretch to Delfzijl.