News

After a long debilitating illness, our Newsletter editor Marike van Meer died rather suddenly on Wednesday 16 september at the age of 68. She has recently been quite busy preparing the newsletter for the meeting in Duisburg on November 14 and preparing for that event itself. Unfortunately, she can no longer experience it herself. We have come to know Marike as a cheerful woman, smiley, positive, honest, says what she thinks and always willing to help others. After a few years of renovating their boat, she could now enjoy it, but unfortunately that was not given to her.  Farewell Marike

Below the text of the letter our Chairman sent to all members

Dear members of the Trintella Friends Association,

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Marike van Meer passed away on 16 September. Marike was a warm, enthusiastic and much-loved member of our Trintella family. 

She gave so much of herself to our community and will be deeply missed. She became editor of our Newsletter in December 2024 and continued in that role until the very last week of her life. Her final Newsletter was sent out on 13 September. With great dedication, and always with a smile, she made sure that four issues were published each year. She gathered stories from members and wrote the editorial pieces herself. Many of us will remember her kind but determined reminders to send in a story about a sailing trip, a boat or one of our gatherings. Marike was always ready to help, to share an idea or simply lend a hand. Whatever she took on, she could be counted on to see it through — with warmth, a listening ear and her wonderfully positive spirit. But most of all, we will remember Marike for the love she had for our Trintella community, its people and its boats. 

Our thoughts are with Leon, Warn and Ruby. We wish them strength and comfort as they face this great loss. And we hope that we will continue to see Leon at our gatherings in the years to come. 

With warmest regards,

The Board of the Trintella Vriendenkring

The TVK-Autumn reunion in Duisburg.

This year's event will take place on November 14 and is organized by Marion Virnich and Gerhard Schlatzke.

Even today, Duisburg still has the image of a dirty and gray city. In reality, however, Duisburg is strikingly blue and, with 21 port basins and a total area of 1,550 hectares, is home to the largest inland port in the world. This is where the Rhine and Ruhr rivers meet Duisburg is the European terminus of the New Silk Road and has a long industrial history. That is precisely why we think that the city is definitely worth a visit.

Our former chairman and honorary member Jan van Poppelen has passed away. A week after him, his wife Tineke also died. Jan was chairman of the TVK for more than 10 years until 1995. He was a real doer, a man of few words and a lot of action. By profession, Jan was a road and bridge builder, but in the TVK he had often done it himself before others knew what was going to happen.

The spring meeting of the TVK according to a new formula turned out to be well received given the large number of registrations. With 25 boats and more than 70 participants, it was a great turnout.

With the wind in the sails and a good dose of fun we came together in Harderwijk on Saturday 22 November for our Autumn meeting. It became a dayfull of history, stories, delicacies and of course as lot of catch-up. Helms and Els had in the organisation taken care of all details – hats off!

On arrival day, Thursday May, 29th we met at 4 pm with the other TVK members at the WSV harbour for a first meet up and exchange, with some nicely prepared drinks and snacks at the side. It was very easy to get in contact, to start the conversations and quickly getting into the flow of the standard questions of first-time-meeting: “Who are you? Which Trintella do you have? Since when? In which sailing area or harbour? What are your biggest problems or solved issues?”. Everyone quickly got into chatting, exchanging and catching up with each other. Alexandra as TVK chairman and the weekend orga Team of Anne, Mirelle, Dinan, Gerard and Bert welcomed everyone warmly and opened the TVK meeting.

Op 13 juni bereikte ons het bericht van overljden van Wim van Steijn. Wim en Ruth zijn jarenlang zeer trouw lid geweest van de TVK, daarnaast was Wim vele jaren lid van het team Behid en Techniek.   Wel bekend in de “Classics” community. Tijdens de reünies in het Noorden waren ze meestal van de partij en trok hun Trintella la, de Silence altijd ruime aandacht vanwege de prachtige staat waarin hun boot verkeerde, maar ook vanwege de vele slimme aanpassingen die Wim had gedaan aan zijn boot zonder de onmiskenbare authenticiteit te verliezen.  We wensen Ruth veel sterkte met dit verlies.

Visit to Van Veen Jachtbouw in Stellendam
With thanks to Marieke Zandijk and Patricia van Dieren for the report and photos.

At 10:30 AM, we were welcomed at Van Veen Jachtbouw with coffee and pastries. A lovely group of about 15 Trintella enthusiasts were eager to hear the experiences of the Poot family.

Our former chairman and honorary member Herman van Hemeldonck passed away on February 8 at the age of 93. Herman (1931 - 2025) was chairman of the TVK in the eighties and early nineties.