27/03/2026
Here ya go, mate — nice little post you can use anywhere:
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There’s something timeless about a schooner, aye… long, lean, and built to move with the wind like it actually belongs out there.
Back in the day, schooners were the workhorses of the sea. They hauled everything—timber, fish, cargo, even rum—up and down the coasts and across oceans. With their fore-and-aft rig, they could sail closer to the wind than square-rigged ships, making them fast, efficient, and perfect for coastal trade or slipping into tight harbors.
They weren’t just cargo haulers either. Fishermen relied on schooners for offshore runs, staying out for days chasing schools and bringing back the catch that fed whole towns. Some were built for speed—racing schooners that pushed design to the edge, slicing through water like a blade.
But more than anything, schooners were practical. Smaller crews, easier handling, and tough as nails—built by hands that understood wood, wind, and water.
Even now, when you see one under sail… there’s a bit of magic there. No engines screaming, just canvas full of wind and a hull doing exactly what it was shaped to do.
Pure sailing, mate. 🌊
MAARTEN PLATJE (1967- , Dutch)
«Encounter in the North Atlantic», dated 2025(?)
oil on canvas | 64x89 cm | private collection(?)
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"Maarten Platje was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His first artistic training took place at the Leiden painting and drawing society Ars Aemulea Naturea.
After graduating from high school, he sailed as a sailor on ships of the Royal Navy for 5 years. Undoubtedly, those years at sea further developed his talent for portraying the sea on canvas in all its manifestations. Meanwhile, his national fame grew and his paintings were regularly featured in various magazines and books.
In 1996, Platje was invited, as an ’embedded’ artist, to document international operations in the waters around former Yugoslavia on board a Dutch frigate."
