After years of restoration, the Askoy II, the legendary sailing ship of Jacques Brel, makes a first journey: « A very emotional moment » (inland)
© JVE
The unthinkable was successful: the Askoy II, the legendary sailing ship of Jacques Brel, made a first trip between Zeebrugge and Blankenberge on Wednesday after a Calvary tour of no less than 17 years. The Brothers Piet (77) and Staf (86) Wittevrongel saw their ‘impossible dream’ come true. « No one who believed that it would ever work, » Piet responds emotionally.
The story is now known: chansonnier Jacques Brel left in 1974 on a world trip with his sailing ship Askoy II, but had to stop that trip a year later through lung cancer. Then the ship changed ownership several times. Until in 1994, after a heavy storm, it was stranded on Baylys Beach New Zealand. There it was 14 years old, until Piet and Staf Wittevrongel from Blankenberge in 2009 decided to ship the wreck to our country. A complicated operation, which even included a container ship.
The wreck was for years in New Zealand. – © If
Setbacks and two bankruptcies
The brothers had only one goal all the time: to restore the Askoy II in all its glory and get it back on. « We wanted to revive the spirit of Jacques Brel, » says Piet. About ten years ago the final restoration began. And after 17 years their dream came true: Wednesday morning the legendary sailing ship made it Maiden Trip From the home port of Zeebrugge to Blankenberge. There it was a result of the Wittevrongel sailing maker, the family business where Brel had new sails made for his journey and family of the brothers at the time. « This is a piece of history, » Piet responded on arrival.
The Askoy II first moored in Blankenberge, where Brel had new sails made at the time. – © JVE
The Askoy II was inaugurated a year ago in Zeebrugge, but could not sail through administrative perils all the time. « Our first trip was a hugely emotional moment. Certainly because we could just arrive at that sailmaker. No one believed 17 years ago that it would ever work. It was a path of falling and getting up. During the renovation we experienced two bankruptcies of companies. But that also makes our story so beautiful: despite all the setbacks we managed to restore this ship in all his glory. »
The Staff and Piet brothers at mooring in the marina of Blankenberge.
‘Un impossible rêve’
This is also a personal victory for Piet and Staf. Together they paid more than 100,000 euros to transport the wreck from New Zealand to Belgium. “Then we received help from all sides to renovate the Askoy II. That’s how it goes in life when you start winning, you have friends (winks). Many companies have done free work for us, or donated materials to help us. This would never have been possible without them. As it sounds in Rêver un impossbile rêvea song by Brel: we have achieved an impossible dream. And we feel his spirit on board this ship. «
In the coming weeks, the Askoy will also be available to the general public. Thursday afternoon the ship sets course for Ostend, where it was invited to Ostend for anchor from 22 to 25 May. Then the Brel boat revives during the Havenfeesten in Blankenberge from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June.
The Askoy II was brought to Belgium 17 years ago and made a first trip. – © JVE
