Saturday started pleasant, but deteriorated.
Mostly sunny, gentle breeze from the south west, (where I wanted to go), and calm-ish sea.
Jomfruland harbour consists of two floating jetties sticking at right angles out into the wide channel. Therefore affected by ocean and other waves, particularly the ferry which disturbed the peace several times a day. One broken glass the unprepared first time.
Motored off into the wind at a leisurely ten o’clock, with Risør the first of possible goals. Really the game plan was to see how far we could get in the day. Headed out into the Skagerakk to find the south-west going current, and there it was, though weaker than hoped, and a slightly sailing wind. Progress was good, but the wind was fickle in both direction and strength, so the engine was running a lot of the time. The clouds thickened and lowered, and.then it rained, first intermittently, then continually, the seas became rougher, but progress was still good. So we continued.
What with spray and rain, things got somewhat wet. Seeped into the cabin via undiscoverable ways, but not through my many layers of clothing. I kept nice and warm thankyou, not least from the constant motion as I rolled and pitched in tune with the boat. Lunch was a tin of makarel in tomato sauce, helped down with crispbread and coffee, and chocolate. Tea was a near-repeat, but with sardines instead, and of course, tea. These tins have been onboard a long time, for occasions just as these, and i consumed the contents before daring to look for the best-by date. The older was from 2010, but was still quite OK, if you like such things.
Onward in the changing conditions, no point in stopping,and the forecast was for improvement, which checked, so the plans B, C and D were allowed to slide by in the mist. We arrived in Lillesand, ( pos: 58 14,83 / 008 22,75 ) in the late evening, still misty daylight of course, (it is only four weeks to midsummer), and tied up in a berth closest to a power outlet. Connected up and turned on the fan heater at full blast, to start the drying process. Seeking leakage paths will have to wait until I have found out why the AIS stopped working. Probably something to do with the aerial connections.
Quick, late, nourishing meal in the friendly Chinese, and weary to bed, (damp at the foot end).
Today it is still misty and wet, and forecast is rain, so a visit to Ballad-owning friend Svein Tangen is on the schedule, together with reading and nipping tea. Onward tomorrow.
All’s well
Josin's 2025 cruise 