Sailing at last!

After a relaxing and very successful drying out day at Skarvøy, the sun climbing over the hilltop woke me up at a reasonably early hour, and we managed therefore to get away reasonably early on thursday morning. The sun shone all day, but the wind was again contrary so it was a motoring day all the way to Egersund. The YR.no website has an amazing amount of information on it, including predictions of sea currents. It is a bit unstable, but by experience, the predictions checked. Up to two knots, where the current was predicted strongest, and that was conservative, as we experienced 7,5 to 8 knots on the GPS when speed through the water was 5,5, so progress was impressive.

Egersund was quiet, but the Peking House restaurant provided crispy Peking duck. Good. Next morning was a more normal-time start, again in beautiful weather, but no wind. Surprise at the diesel pump, only Kr 8,80 per liter! It pays to fill up at a fishing harbour. Out via the northern route round Egerøy we headed north up the Jær coast, which is not very hospitable, but looked benign in this weather. After a while we were in a weather hole. Clouds building up from the south, and a fog bank approaching from the north, eventually enveloping us but with the sun still shining through the hole, quite remarkable!   When the fog cleared, a breeze crept in from the north west, with sufficient strength to enable proper sailing. What a joy after all those motoring hours. Plan A was Tananger, but we creamed past there in fine style, and plan B too, Skudeneshavn, so plan C, Haugesund, 72 nm, rather late, but contented, to a chokka-full quayside. Friday evening in the outside bars. Snek us into a free slot in the motorboat marina on the other side of the sound. No-one came to hoosh us out luckily. Dinner and instant sleep.

Today a drab day by contrast, lowering clouds which drizzled occasionally and absolutely flat calm. Goal was Bekkjarvik, and the special-quality hamburger there by a Boucluse d’Or- winning chef, but tiredness crept in and so we anchored up in an idyllic bay instead.  Two old farms, and three summer cottages. Very peaceful. Maybe hamburger for lunch tomorrow.

Strusshamn, outside Bergen next.  All’s well.