Ålesund-Sandshamn
Goodbye Ålesund, after almost a week in the harbour, here we are leaving Moljegapet behind, with Aksla and Fjellstua in the background.
Runde is worth a second visit, the Gannets were still there and now the young ones were hatched.
Arctic Skua was continuously attacking, this time a full grown Gannet.
In the harbour of Sandshamn even the seagulls had their reserved parking space. ( the sign reads: Seagull rack).
Unfortunately we were able to see a beautiful sunset from the landing at Rosenlund - the nights are not completely light any more, a twilight is arriving at night, and the further south we travel the darker it gets.....
Sandshamn-Silda
On the way out towards Stadt, it was sunny, but then this nice front approached (below), and at the end the Stadtland put on its tablecloth (right) and we got overcast weather.
Reaching out in the open past Stadt, the wind ended and for the second time we had to revert to the engine to get past this treacherous stretch of the western coast.
We were however accompanied by long, soft ocean swells.
This beautiful mermaid was waiting for us to enter the harbour at Silda.
Silda is a popular harbour for sailors waiting for good conditions to cross Stadt. The harbour is well protected and has plenty of room.
Silda-Herland
The mist covered the mountains when we were passing through Ulvesundet and past Måløy, but when we went into the Vågsfjord and closer to Nordfjord the fog started to lift. Failing wind, we chose the most sheltered run through Skatestraumen and then out the Frøyfjord.
This profound weather change we met after having passed Florø and were on our way across Stavfjorden.
The front that had been providing us with rain and overcast weather the whole day, withdrew over the mainland, and let the sun out over the archipelago.
In nice weather we could moor to the end of the quay in the yacht harbour at Herland.
Herland-Fedje
Lively sail across Sognesjøen to Fedje
We made fast to the new concrete floating stage at Holmen, but with 18m/s north wind ther were some swelling in the harbour.
There is a floating stage in the western part of the harbour, and there it is calmer with this wind direction.
Fedje-Hjellestad
Whale safari revisited!
On the calm Hjeltefjord we could see whales breaking the surface a couple of nautical miles away, and we changed our course to have a closer look.
It was pilot whales, and this time they were very curious!
We spotted 10-20 family groups with 5-7 whales and one of the groups joined us and swam around and under the boat.
When they dived at the bow, we could actually hear them sing!
After almost an hour we said farewell and continued our trip.
Breaking news; Welkin on the front page of Bergens Tidende
Our plan was to anchor up in Smivågen, a natural harbour at Tyssøy, but the bay were relatively tight for Wekin to manoeuvre, and in addition both the wind and the swells were entering the bay from the south, so we headed for Hjellestad Marina.
The harbour there was not very calm due to continuously calls by the local ferry, and all the leisure boats hurrying past.
Hjellestad-Lammavågen
Spread genoa past Ringholmen lighthouse in Stokksundet.
(below)
On the south side of the Bømlafjord, we found this calm bay in Lammavågen.
Lammavågen-Haugesund
A short leg to Haugesund, where the jazz festival Sildajazzen was about to end.
Already at Ryvarden lighthouse the jazz music started and we met at least 100 boats on their way north after a weekend of jazz in Haugesund, thus there was plenty of room for us in the guest harbour
Haugesund-Stavanger
From Haugesund out trip continued through Karmsundet, where one of the nicest lighthouses in this country is situated; Høgevarde lighthouse. The lighthouse was founded i 1700, but the building is from 1858.
The traditional cobblestones on the quays surrounding Vågen in Stavanger were exchanged by granite blocks, hence it was difficult to navigate there. The guest harbour is directly in the city centre, so we were able live with the swells in the harbour.
S/Y Andromeda, that snuck into the picture is based in Stavanger and is owned by a local real estate investor. The ship is 28m/92ft and according to The Norwegian International Ship Register, it was bought for 10$!