Sailing yacht Jacques Brel ‘Askoy II’ launched after 15 years

The ‘Askoy II’ is a renovated and largely newly built two-masted sailing yacht. It was built in 1959-1960 at the Vandevoorde shipyard in Antwerp for Belgian architect Hugo Van Kuyck (1902-1975), who was a member and president at the Royal Yacht Club of Belgium in Antwerp.

Van Kuyck sold the ship in 1974 to Belgian singer Jacques Brel (1929-1978). Together with his girlfriend Maddly Bamy, Brel took it to the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific. A lingering illness of Brel led to the ‘Askoy II’ being sold back in 1976.

Several more owners followed until the ship ran aground on a New Zealand beach during a storm in 1993, where it languished for years. Many years later, the non-profit organisation ‘Askoy II’ was able to acquire the ownership rights to finally dig it up from the beach and bring it back to Belgium in 2008.

It is brothers Piet and Staf Wittevrongel who are particularly committed to getting the ship sailing again.
The ship has also been recognised as a Sailing Heritage Site.

Second attempt

A few weeks ago, a first launch attempt was made, but an unexpected leak forced the ship to be placed back on shore.

A second attempt on Tuesday 9 April now seems to have gone off without a hitch. Despite spurts of a storm with strong winds during the launch, the crane specialists and their helpers got the job under control.

The ‘Askoy II’, some 40 tonnes and 20 metres long, was neatly positioned next to an inland dock in Zeebrugge. After the necessary preparations, the ship could be lifted from its bunk. For a moment, the slewing keel came down but it was soon rotated back into the ship. Gently, the hulk was then placed in the water.

For safety, the vessel remained attached to the crane for several hours and everything was checked for possible leaks. Weather permitting, the two masts will soon be placed and the vessel will have to be inspected by the Shipping Inspectorate.

Inauguration

It took more than 15 years to rebuild the ship and make it ready to sail, and more than a million euros were spent on it. Now the ‘Askoy II’ will get a new home port in Zeebrugge at the Royal Belgian Sailing Club.

The inauguration on 4 May 2024 will mark a fresh start. It is likely that Jacques Brel’s girlfriend Maddly Bamy will also be present. Then, the first maiden trip to the Blankenberge Port festivities will be made on 8 May 2024.

The future of the ship is yet to be clarified, but the intention is to inspire young people in particular to take up water sports, in addition to a lot of sailing trips with candidates.

Text and photos: Georges Janssens