Swimming in the sea

After a nice vacation in Italy, it was the North Sea's turn again yesterday. Off we went, into the waves. My daughter had swum a bit further, where the sea was flat and calm. A wall of waves formed between us. I tried to reach her, but was launched head over heels towards the beach. Underwater, tumbling. Not knowing what is in front or behind, that sort of thing.

Every time I attempted to reach my girl, I was catapulted back like a little Moana. Eventually, I managed to get to her and with great effort, we made it back to the beach. There we went to build a sandcastle, much safer. At the end of the day, we ‘used’ a glass in the sand. Sirens + ambulances + helicopters = bad news. And it turned out to be just that. Despite all the rescue teams, someone had passed away.

So that's why. A little lesson in what you need to know when going to the North Sea. First of all, the flags of the rescue brigade, they tell you a lot.

A red-yellow flag
That's good news. It means that the rescue brigade is open and that qualified lifeguards are on duty.

A red flag
NO SWIMMING.

A yellow rectangular flag
Swimming is dangerous. Swimming, bathing, and other activities in the water are discouraged.

Orange wind sock
Be careful with swimming and do not take inflatable things into the sea.

And please listen to and watch the flags. They are not there to annoy you.

Then the rip currents. A rip current forms through a channel between two sandbanks. The current is strong in the rip and pulls towards the sea. If you end up in a rip, let yourself be carried along with the current and try to swim diagonally away later to reach the sandbank. Do not swim against the current. Even Pieter van den Hoogenband can't manage that. So stay calm and think, do not panic. You can always call out to a bystander to make them aware. But let yourself be carried along and try to swim diagonally out of the rip to reach the beach.

Furthermore, I will not swim alone anymore. Especially the children (even though they have all the diplomas) we only let go under the supervision of an adult. And listen to the rescue brigade. They are not there to annoy you, but to help you.