Hallberg Rassy 31 Monsun Isabell's logbook

Tuesday 19 May, 2009 sailing from Råå (pronounced as “raw”) to Barsebäck
Position 0730 UTC 56* 17.9 N 12* 26.3 E

In the morning we go visit the museum to see Golden Lady, Kurt B’s Monsun. We can only look at it through the windows, since the museum is closed today. Grrrr…

Christina is not feeling well today and is taking it easy aboard. Joakim and I walk around the cozy little town and find the library, outside of which Kurt B got a cobble stone set with his name engraved in it. We find the stone and walk back to Isabell. Then it is time to leave at 1300 UTC. Sailing for Lomma, we end up at Barseback harbour instead. We sailed with full genua and main sails up. In the evening the wind dies down and we have to start the engine once more. Icebreaker Oden is in the drydock at Landskrona. We try and call her on the VHF, but no answer. Too bad. Had been fun to talk to the crew again. Then a heavy thunderstorm is closing in on us from across to Denmark. We seek shelter in the nearest harbour, Barseback. While turning into the port entrance, which is very poorly marked out, we run aground lightly. Get loose by backing the engine in reverse and inch into the harbour. Here we tie in with a single other guestboat, a Danish S/Y called Moray. Two other HR monsun boats are spotted in this small harbour. Both are not masted yet, but in the water. During the night heavy thunder and hard rain pass over us. The Danes haven’t closed their hatches and their boat is swamped during the night. Strange habit, to leave portholes open when it is raining! We are well and dry. Greatful for another day at sea.

Monday 18 May, 2009 sailing from Träslövsläge to Råå (pronounced as “raw”)
Position 0730 UTC 57* 3.8 N 12* 13.2 E

An early start. Low winds, good visibility. We have to run the engine most of the time, since the sea is dead calm and winds vary between 0 and 3 msec. We pass Hallands Väderö around 1450 UTC and see one seal in the distance with binoculars, hardly any traffic, nice. Several tumlare, small dolphins, cross through our wake behind the boat. Fun to see some life. In the vicinity of Helsingborg we see many more ships. But we are clear of the shipping lane, so no collision courses at all. As we approach Helsingborg, a heavy thunderstorm crosses land right near us, and the winds turn very high and ghusty for a spell. Isabell has no problem with that, especially as we run on the engine. It gets dark before we get to port at Råå, but we have all the nav aids up and running and get into port without any problems. Find a box to park in in
the dark, and now we have good use of the bright deck light in the front of the mast. Unusual to use that during summers in Sweden, since it is light most of the time then. Another day on the sea behind us, we are glad to have found this pearl of the Oresund.

Sunday 17 May, 2009 sailing from Gothenburg to Varberg
Position 0730 UTC 57* 39.6 N 11* 51.03 E

Hoisted aboard the dinghy. Leave port running on the engine in light
drizzle and little wind. On board we have the crew; Christina, Joakim,
and Johannes, all excited about being on our way. At 1000 UTC we cut the
engine and run on sails, little wind, so we do not get far. After 3
hours we start the engine again and move southwards. The scenery is
nice, many small stony islands in the Gothenburg archipelago. Land looks
like stony desert here, unable as we are to see the forested inlands.
We arrive at Varbergs southern harbour (Träslövsläge) at 1730 UTC. Very
cozy place indeed. Well sheltered and easy to get in and out of by boat.
On the radio we hear a near gale warning for the northern Skagerack.
That may mean we will have wind to sail tomorrow? Here, the wind is only
2-3 msec. Not much at all. During the evening in port it drizzled
lightly. Good to have a roof over our heads. Good night!

This is 2011 seasons last sailing trip. 4 degrees outside, sunny and icy winds. The bridge between Stockholm seaside and the lake Malaren (inside) was closed for repairs, so Monica and the skipper had to sail a 3 day around the corner trip to get to the winter-harbour. Only 97 NM… But we had some pretty nice sailing on the way!!! : )

In the end of October Isabell was lifted out of the water. The hull in spite of not having used antifouling paint had only a few barnacles just around the rudder blade and the propeller shaft. Amazing that she kept so clean. Now it is too cold to do any work on the ship. Have to wait until it gets a bit warmer again. In the meantime, some work can be done at home. A short list of things-to-do is sitting on the kitchen table. Later!