Are you sailing for a day? Then of course you can do much more than just stand at the helm or sit on the deck. The water invites you to undertake all kinds of activities. 7 fun and sporty activities that you can do when you are sailing for a day.
Open water swimming
When you are sailing, you have water at your disposal everywhere. A refreshing dip from your boat is therefore certainly obvious on a hot day. Swimming in open water gives you a feeling of freedom. Be careful though! In many places it is not permitted to just enter the water. If you want to enjoy and swim safely in clean water, choose an officially designated swimming water location.
Snorkeling
Do you want to do more than just swim? Then you can also go snorkeling. Put on a diving mask with snorkel and a whole new world will open up for you. You will be amazed at what you can see under the water surface of the Dutch lakes and ponds. You really don't have to go to an exotic destination to snorkel. There are plenty of snorkeling spots in the Netherlands that are worth discovering. A good tip: the Leukermeer. You will come across pike, perch and freshwater sponges there.
Soups
You do SUP on a Stand Up Paddle board (SUP board). Paddle surfing, as this fun, sporty activity is called in good Dutch, is very trendy. Standing on your SUP board, you paddle around calmly. That is also good for your body, because you use all your muscles. With SUP Yoga you can challenge yourself even more by doing all kinds of exercises on your SUP board that are aimed at keeping your balance. Standing on one leg is really not easy, but practice makes perfect.
Wakeboarding and Flyboarding
Wakeboarding and flyboarding are also sports activities that are quickly gaining popularity. Wakeboarding involves being pulled by a boat or cable car and skimming over the water. Once you have mastered this new way of water skiing, you can try out various tricks. Before you know it, you will be flying 360 degrees around. You can certainly also fly with a flyboard. With the help of a water scooter that generates two powerful jets of water, you will feel as powerful as superman and float through the air in a spectacular way.
Pole vaulting in Friesland
Do you prefer something more traditional? Then you should definitely try fierljeppen in Friesland. Fierljeppen or pole vaulting is an age-old custom in this water-rich province. It used to be a practical activity to go from pasture to pasture, but nowadays it is a real sport that is rooted in Frisian culture. Fierljeppen means far jumping in Frisian. How far can you jump? Tie your boat to the shore and dare to jump over the ditch.
Sport fishing
Fishing is also a traditional activity that is still quite popular in the Low Countries. More than 1,5 million Dutch people cast a rod at least once a year. Fishing from the water's edge is fun, but from your own boat it takes on an extra dimension. On the rippling water you can wait in peace until your float goes under and you catch a fish. It is useful to purchase a VISpas. With this you are allowed to fish in more than 90 percent of the Dutch surface water.
Cooking with fish
If you have caught a fish, why not put it on the grill? Clean the fish and your catch is ready to be prepared. Cooking with fish is of course a very appropriate activity with so much water around you. A fish dish will certainly not look out of place on your menu, even if it is not fish you have caught yourself. You can of course also bring tasty products from the supermarket and prepare or grill them. Eating delicious fish on your own boat is a perfect way to end a day full of activities.
