Ocean portraits on the Eendracht: machinist Antar

Dieuwke de Jong is a photographer and lawyer. For Zeilhelden, she sailed along as a photographer on the Eendracht. During an Atlantic crossing, she portrayed life on board. This time: trainee/engineer Antar.

Name: Antar
Age: 18
Function: Trainee/ engineer
How long with Eendracht: Six months!

“I have always liked water. I got my diving licences when I was young and sailing fits in with it. Where that comes from I don’t really know, my parents didn’t sail. In the water, I feel free and connected to the water. Every move I make, the water makes with me. When I sail, I do feel that connection too and can feel at one with the ship and the elements.”

“Four years ago, I joined the sea cadets. That’s where I learned to sail. The fact that I started sailing was actually through my mother. She was looking for activities I could do, and that’s how I joined the Sea Cadets. I then started the SMBW course; skipper and machinist for limited working area. It was arranged from school that I could do an apprenticeship with the Eendracht and now I walk along in the engine room and on the bridge.”

“When I was away for such a long time for the first time, it was quite difficult because I had never been away from home for more than 10 days. I just tried to keep myself busy on board and build bonds with the people I met. I did miss my family, but also really enjoyed coming home with lots of stories. My family lives with me very much, and last time when I came home we spent hours catching up and laughing a lot!”

“On the way to Las Palmas, the engine failed. From noon to six in the evening we were busy repairing that. We also had no wind then, so sailing was not possible either. It was super exciting; would the engine still work, would we manage to fix it, how are we going to continue…. We managed to fix it luckily!”

“My most enjoyable experience was the trip to Cape Verde. It was a very friendly group and we did a lot of fun things. For example, we played a murder game on board. That trip I was also in the engine room for the first time and I learned an awful lot of new things there!”

Source: Dieuwke de Jong on the site of Zeilhelden.
Image: Dieuwke de Jong.

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