preparations at Tynningö
Arrived via Arlanda by plane, then to Vaxholm by taxi and finally "Taxi-Lasse" took us in his boat taxi to Tynningö. Having taken the cover off the boat, we started to mount the man rail just to discover that a neighbour boat, S/Y Gica, had crashed in to our anchor during the winter and damaged the lantern, the pulpit and the anchor roller mount. The next 1½ days and was spent mainly on dismounting the damaged parts, and with local help we got every thing welded and straitened out while the deckhand cleaned and polished.
Tynningö-Furusund
11:30 - Departure from Tynningö - finally under sail out the main
fairlead towards Furusund
On our way in last year we passed two islands where the trees were without no leaves at all, then we assumed the trees had some disease or were hit by an insect attack. This year the mystery was solved - hundreds cormorants are nesting on these islands and most likely the guano is killing off the vegetation!
Arriving in Furusund guest harbour, these swallows were having a great time on the Windex!
Across from the harbour, the typical Swedish summerhouses lays scattered
around on the island of Yxlan.
Furusund - Mariehamn
Heavy traffic with big ferries in the main fairlead to Stockholm, but the crossing of the Åland sea where calm. In sunny weather we sailed close-hauled on the same tack in 15-16 knots wind all the way to Åland. The northern wind was cold and the water temp only 9°C!
The ÅSS - Ålandska Segelsellskap or the Sailing Society of Åland offers a nice harbour with an old restaurant well worth visiting.
Besides the restaurant, the harbour hosted the waterfront pub 'Niska' and showers and the usual sauna!
Left: The full rigger "Pommern"
Sign at the pub - no comment!
Mariehamn-Karlby
Following the fairleads, we had to sail zigzag and the trip turned out much longer than the 30 nm miles as the crow flies, we ended up at 53nm! The restaurant closed as we landed, so we had to make the dinner our self.
Harbour day in Karlby
We found the harbour so nice, we decided to stay another day, doing the last checks and adjustments on the boat.
We also got supplies from the local shop. The Finnish sailing boat left, so we were all alone at the quay, and could enjoy calmness of this place.
In the evening we opted for a dinner at the restaurant - a superb meal - best on this trip by far! Right: Two of the 300 local inhabitants on the island of Kökar!
Karlby-Verkan
A nice near gale from the north brought us swiftly through the archipelago sea of Åland, but it is still cold! The Finnish boat at Kökar recommended this harbour, and when they mentioned the Buffalo restaurant with spareribs the captain was sold. Verkan at the island of Korpo is a very popular harbour in the season, but according to all the harbour masters we have spoken to, the season is a month delayed this year, due to the cold weather - we believe that!
Verkan-Hangö
Another day zigzagging through the islands in nice fresh breeze!
Just outside Hangö, two choppers were playing
Nothing much happened in Hangö, still out of season, but during the night and the morning hours, the harbour were transformed in to a rather big market, so we could top up our supplies, even on a Sunday morning.
Hangö-Jakobshamn
As we had a weak headwind, we took the sheltered run eastwards, between all the island and from time to time it reminded us of sailing on a lake in the mountains of Norway.
A pair of white crested eagles were nesting on an islet.
We even scared up a swan on our way! Using a Finnish harbour guide " Stora Hamnboken" we thought we had found a place to stay for the night, but no! The description of many of the harbours in this guide is simply wrong or exaggerated, so we ended up doing another 8-9nm to Jakobshamn. a very nice harbour with a good atmosphere and a nice restaurant by the end of the pier - steaks and sauna this evening!
Jacobshamn-Brändholm
Short sail today in a weak wind, but as the deckhand signals - it is still quite cold!
Alone in the harbour again!
Brändholm-Helsinki
The weather changed during the evening, an even colder east wind arrived, and we put the boat alongside facing the wind. quite some swells in the harbour tonight. The front drifted away during the day, and the sun turned out just as we landed on HVMK. Now we are busy cleaning and packing for the flight back to Oslo tomorrow.
Above: A couple of geese are herding their small ones though the troubled waters.Left: Modern times meet old times when passing the main harbour basin in Helsinki.
Welkin is now tied up at HMVK and waiting to be sailed again in the end of June!