Giving new life to Jacques Brel’s boat. This is the somewhat crazy dream of two Belgian brothers, Piet and Staaf Wittevrongel. For over 15 years, these enthusiasts have been restoring theAskoy IIthe legendary sailboat on which the singer went to the Marquesas Islands.
From our special correspondent,
Red and blue hull, wooden bar and golden details… The Wittevrongel brothers wanted to restore theAskoy II identically, as in the time when Jacques Brel was the captain. “ There, it is the deck of the boat which is completely redone, and here the dockhouse, where we will find the original instruments », says Piet.
For the two brothers, the story begins in 1974, when Jacques Brel bought theAskoy II to Hugo Van Kuyck, famous Antwerp architect. It is in the Wittevrongel family’s rigging company that he comes to get his sails, and it is Gustaaf who receives him. “ I say to myself, it’s not possible, Jacques Brel is in front of me! And so he unfolds a sail plan on my desk, and he says to me: “Do you know this boat?” I say of course, it’s the biggest boat we have in Belgium. “Um, amhe said, I bought it, and I plan to go around the world with this boat”. »
But from the Canaries, the singer must return to Belgium for a lung operation. This will not prevent him from leaving again, with his daughter France and his partner Madly Bamy. A very daring project on a boat 20 meters long and weighing 40 tonnes. “ He decides to cross the Atlantic, which was perhaps not the best idea in his state, relievingFrancis de Laveleye, from the Jacques Brel foundation. Especially since he didn’t take the easiest route. But here they are, setting off for an impressive crossing on a very difficult boat. And there were only three on board. »
Found, restored
During his journey, Jacques Brel sent postcards to the Wittevrongel family as far as the Marquesas Islands, his last stopover. L’Askoy II is then sold and lost sight of. So when the two brothers learned, 30 years later, that the sailboat had been abandoned on a beach in New Zealand, they organized its removal from the sand and its return to Belgium. It was in 2008. “ Only the hull remained, and it was rusty. It’s an incredible job that we still managed. », congratulations Piet Wittevrongel.
Since then, they have been renovating it little by little, thanks to private funding and volunteers. It’s a dream come true: “ For me, it is a spiritual heritage. I want to pass on the ideas and songs of Jacques Brel to future generations » adds Piet.
The sailboat is now recognized as a maritime heritage by the Flemish region. Once in the water, in September at the earliest, assure the two brothers, it can therefore be visited and used for sea trips.
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2023-09-16 22:27:45
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