Category: Sailing season 2020

From Nynäshamn to Loftahammar (86 nautical miles)
Where am I now? Position 57°48.9’N 016°46.6’E

Yesterday was a chance taking with the wind, but it went well with the choices I made. I had looked into different weather sites, and they all had a different opinion about where the wind would blow. I was hoping for the easterly wind report, which coincided most with the overall weather pattern in the baltic region. Yes, after motoring out of Bedarön anchorage with an icy smooth sea in front of me, the wind picked up from the east. And I hoisted the sails and was on my way south. Went in a straight course around 200° from Landsort to the northern tip of the island Öland. Most of the way wind holds steady at 8 to 10 knots, which means the wind vane steering is in control of the boat. The sea is empty. Nothing in the way, but open water. It is a smooth ride. Between midnight and 2 am the wind dies down to below 5 knots, first I try to motorsail with the autopilot steering, but it does not hold course, due to the irregular wave pattern of the sea. I hand steer a full hour and start looking for the nearest coastal anchorage site. I reach it at 4 am. The sun is back up, so you could say I dropped anchor at sunrise. Hah!
Today, Sunday the 28th, the wind is low and coming from the south. I take a tour of this beautiful Loftahammar archipelago. Quite different from the scenery in Stockholm area. Be on my way again tomorrow. Until then.

10 knots wind and the sailomat wind vane steering Isabell across the empty sea

Where am I now: 58,536°N 017,58°E. Bedarön, Nynäshamn.

Today gave a few hours of reasonable wind and I made some progress. It is really warm and sunny. Temperature in the boat is between 25 and 30°C. Not much traffic out here. Tomorrow is first day on the open sea. Wind is blowing from the east, which will be good. Everything else on board is in good shape. Yesterday my daughter Ronja came out to give me a bon voyage present. She had a t-shirt and a polo shirt printed with the name of the boat and the captain. What a great present. Thank you, Ronja!!! I wore the shirt yesterday.

Finally, all the to-do things are done and I am on my way. Isabell is loaded with food and water for a long trip. The sailing is slow, the weather fantastic, and not too many people are out sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago.

Today, I saw three seagulls sitting on the water. All of a sudden, a seal came up out of the deep, and took one of the gulls. The water colored red with blood and the seal disappeared. Two gulls left, that did not seem to realize what just happened. I did not know seals eat birds.

Otherwise, life is slow, and easy. Tropical heat and sunshine. It feels good to be out here. I will try and keep you posted on progress.

Today was my last day at work. Felt sort of sad, even though I have been working from my home office since March 12. Interesting day this was. The departmental secretary had announced my absence from today. Which caused the IT-department to close down my accounts already a day early. This resulted in me being locked out from the workplace (both electronically and physically). At least I concluded that security is tight. Not in my advantage this time…
Anyhow, after a bit of commotion and half a day later it was fixed and I could close down my errants and leave it. Now I can dedicate my time to packing and loading at the docks. I will miss work, my fantastic colleagues, but am so excited about this summer. Time will pass fast. We will meet again in September, I am sure. Now, let me get ready to sail.

For many years I have used the freeware computer program SeaClear for navigational purposes. It works well for seamless chart plotting and showing AIS-targets. Nowadays, many sailors use a freeware called open captain, in short OpenCPN. It has many added features and has been designed for seamless plotter navigation in combination with currents, tides, wind and other weather data presentation. I have not felt the need to change from the ok SeaClear program to this new OpenCPN, but when sailing long distance, the new one has advantages. Not in the least available vector charts for a major part of the world. SeaClear only works with raster charts, electronic copies of paper charts. So I installed Open CPN on the onboard computer, and on the computer at home. Now I need to get used to this new tool. Run some simulations and download the necessary recources (charts, GRIB-files, current and tidal files). I still have SeaClear as a backup, but think it will not be used any longer. We’ll see if I guessed right.

No chart plotter needed here, Leiden – The Netherlands

Where am I now? LAT/LONG position today 59.31°N 018.17°E

The middle of June, summer has arrived, and the day to untie from the dock is closing in. There are still some things to organize and fix before that can happen. But the excitement of doing this is growing for each day. I know there will come one day, when all must-do’s can be left behind and it is a go. Just do it. During the trip there are enough things to plan, organize and adjust to keep me busy for the rest of the summer, so no worries.

I am still hoping that some friends and family can join me on parts of the trip. In The Netherlands it is specified that no more than three people may be aboard a yacht at the same time, if they are not members of the same household… My household counts one person, so that rule will be binding. Unless it is changed by the dutch government.

Untying the lines may be scary, but once done, life at sea starts and the challenge is on.

Yes, I am going to sail to The Netherlands this summer. The original plan has to be adjusted to better fit the circumstances around locked down Denmark. But it is decided to go for it.

It will be a bit of a challenge to go, and still stick to the most important government recommendations, stay clear of as many people as possible. In Germany some of the ports and harbours are open for transit boating. In The Netherlands ports and harbours are open to national boaters. The facilities are still closed for a while more, but I do not need those. Everything I need is aboard Isabell. Stow as much food and water, and fuel as possible, and GO!

Now I have a few weeks left to prepare. Charts are bought. Food lists, shopping lists and spare parts lists to go over. Carry everything on board. Make arrangements for things at home, and then wait for the right weather to help me get down there. I will keep you posted.

Today, May 27th, the COVID-19 restrictions in the form of total close down of all European ports and marinas for leisure boats, are slowly changing. Now it is only a month before this summers long distance sailing endeavor will begin. The Netherlands and Germany are opening for passing vessels, through the main routes. Although berthing options are still severely restricted, and vessels need to be totally autonomous regarding water and food intake and black water collection, this eases my mind about this summers options.

Denmark is still closed for all foreign vessels. Both Denmark and Finland are now worried about visitors from Sweden, because of the many more deaths due to the virus in Sweden, compared to the rest of the northern European countries. Politics! I am guessing that they will have to lift a little on the current policies, the financial interests of both countries in boat tourism from Swedish visitors is huge.

Well, well, I just continue to prepare boat and myself for the big adventure. Looking forward to meet with the special challenges that this virus adds to the already existing ones on a boat trip to other places in other countries. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Today, May 17 1980, for exactly forty years ago, the first owners of Monsun number 791, then called Amalia, picked her up from the Hallberg Rassy shipyard at Orust, and sailed her home, across Göta Älv and across lake Vättern to Huskvarna, Sweden. They kept her for 15 years, and took good care of both boat and engine.

Time for celebration! Cheers

So many times the question arises about how many things you need to enjoy your boating trip. I would say, the major thing to worry about is the seaworthiness of your vessel. All other stuff is a bonus if you can afford it.
Think of the forces of wind and waves, and make sure your rigging will stand up, no matter what. Reflect over the possibility of not being seen by other vessels. What can you do to improve visibility. Is your boat leaking when it rains, then it might leak worse when at sea, and water is flushing your deck. Fix that.
For all the other stuff, you can possibly do without it and enjoy the ride. The more fancy stuff you invest in, the more things can and will at some point break down. Some people cannot think without the comfort of a 36 inch flatsceen TV, freezer, airco, microwave, and so on. OK, but is it not just being at sea that is fantastic?
From all the fancy stuff that is available on Isabell, the most enjoyed are according to the list below:

• Windvane self-steering
• Compass and good charts
• AIS B-transponder
• Big freshwater tank
• Crispy sails
• Windscreen, sprayhood and sun top
• Coffee

About in that order of importance and esteem. All the other stuff is mostly extra luxury. So if you cannot afford to have the comfort of a general luxury apartment on your boat, do not worry about it. Just shove off and go sailing. Make sure your boat stays afloat and in the deep enough parts of the mighty blue.