As we come to the end of another year—one filled with both the most beautiful memories and some of the hardest moments—we feel deeply grateful for so many things.
A very special highlight was a surprise visit organized by Jolanda’s sister for her husband and their two oldest sons. Experiencing life on our boat for the first time made the visit especially special and it became even more unforgettable when Marcus took the boys on a flight around the city.
Jolanda truly enjoyed sailing this summer and was thrilled to finish on the podium several times with Tuesday’s boat 9. Even more delight gave her to be part of the incredible team at the Manhattan Yacht Club. The camaraderie, support, and shared passion for sailing made the experience unforgettable and added so much pleasure to an already special season.
At the end of September we spend a week Upstate in the Adirondacks. We visited our friends Ewa and Bill to do some Whitewater Rafting and participated in the Adirondacs Full/Half Marathon.
Even though Jolanda wasn’t feeling her best at times, she deeply appreciated the opportunity to spend wonderful moments with family and friends during her yearly business trip to Europe.
She visited our friends Jacky, Mairead, Maria, and Tino in London, as well as Sabrina, Alex, Natalie, and our godchild Lucas in Paris.
One of the highlights of her travels was a special weekend spent with her sisters in Switzerland.
In addition, we both enjoyed a wonderful weekend with our friends Roe and Charlie aboard our boat in Port Washington.
Remember on the way to Boston one of our engine started to act up. Finally in November, we were able to get the port engine repaired. We found an excellent diesel mechanic at Liberty Landing Marina who quickly diagnosed the issue and had it fixed within just a few days. We were relieved and grateful to learn that the damage was far less extensive than we had feared—only the cylinder head gasket needed replacement, while the piston rings and valves were still in great condition. With both engines now running at full performance again, we’re ready to dream about our next adventures.
During the holiday season, we love to catch up with friends. We visited Patrick our beloved boat neighbor at his home upstate New Jersey, enjoyed a Christmas dinner with the Power Squadron alongside Noelva and Alex, and reconnected with our longtime friends from Singapore, Jayne and Peter, who came to New Jersey to visit family. We cherished the meaningful time spent with each of them.
With very heavy heart we had to say goodbye to our beloved companion, Luna. For more than ten years, she was by our side and traveled with us across America. She brought so much light, joy, and comfort into our lives, and we are missing her deeply. Luna was the sweetest and most curious cat, and she was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
The last 3 months of this year were an especially stressful time, as Jolanda’s heart surgery was scheduled but required additional time for insurance approval. The procedure had to be postponed, and Jolanda spent many hours coordinating between the doctor’s office and the insurance company. In the end, everything came together and the surgery was successful. Shortly after the procedure, Marcus had to fly to Germany to visit his parents, so Jolanda was deeply grateful for the support and care she received from our friends and family during his absence.
As you can see, it was a very eventful year filled with both highs and lows. We hope the coming year will be a little calmer, and we wish you all a wonderful start to 2026. We’re looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring.
