At last a decent internet connection. I have in previous years praised the system on Josin, ICE. But after an upgrading last autumn, I’m not so generous. Right here in Brønnøysund the speed is enough to part your hair, but up along the coast there has been more nothing than something, and the something pathetic.I suspect problems at the transmitter end. I have had my bits checked by proffs. So, no bloggs. No reading the newspapers on the iPad with the early morning cuppa. No weather forecasts! Well, forecasts haven’t been all that necessary: Northerly winds of varying strength, mainly strong.
So, from Vaagland, up the long, long Trondheimsleia, past another of Oil-Norway’s installations, Tjelbergodden, with it’s five, or was it six, unused gas turbine generator sets, to Børøysund, where there is a very good restaurant, but alas, it being a sunny saturday evening, the harbour was more than full and loudspeaker music spoke loud.So: Plan B. To Dypfest, (pos: 63 46,90 / 009 34,62), another three hours away, so that was a very long day. Dypfest harbour is only affected by northerly winds, and it was a it of a struggle to get tied up. No-one around, well, it was nearly ten o’clock, and some quick food and sleep. Next day it blew even harder, so we stayed put, and slept some extra. Maintenance. Including the boater’s worst job. Successful luckily.
Dypfest to Bessaker, (pos: 64 14,88 / 010 19,15). The last two hours, on flat protected water and a marginal angle to the wind, was spent fine-tuning the sails and getting a surprising increase in boat speed. We live and learn, even about sailing! Bessaker is the summer home to German fishing-tourists. Almost all the jetty-space was occupied by fishing dingies, and German cars parked everywhere. Even a Trabant! Very serious fishermen at the filletting table, too busy to communicate, while filletting a seriously large catch. Adjacent Kro, or pub/restaurant had fish and chips on the menu. Yes, you’ve guessed!
Bessaker to Brakstad, (pos: 64 40,39 / 011 11,77). The last bit in an easterly direction so we sailed for the inside of an hour. Another ‘harbour’ affected by north winds, small, deserted. Previous visits have been more lively, but it is still early in the season, and a weekday. Payment of harbour fees by ‘app’. But no internet available to download the ‘app’. Have to pay on the way back.
Brakstad to Rørvik. Town this time, guest jetty with space, but on the ‘wrong’ side, ie south, which in a strong northerly wind was again a problem. Solved this time with a sort of lasso that can be thrown over something solid. Needed two tries, in the meantime dangerous drifting almost into other boats. Phew! Help arrived just as things were under control. Next door was that Nordlands boat, no-one on it, but a large banner ‘Stop Sellafield’ straining at the mast. Maybe that crew had also had enough of the northerlies and had taken a break. Tanked up with large quantities of diesel, not so cheap here.
Borrowed someone else’s WiFi to look at the weather forecast, which was for ever-increasing winds next day, so decided to start early. Alarm for 5, but woke at 4, and away by 5.30! Nice and calm. No traffic. Boring. Lots of coffee. Lunch was taken very early. Brønnøysund at two-thirty. Snooze. Ships chandlers to buy a new fender. The exhaust from the cabin heater, (yes, it has been in frequent use), blows onto a pulpit-hanging fender if one forgets to move it. Exhaust hot enough to soften the plastic, and then the internal pressure blows a hole, with ‘pop’. Stupid. I’ve done it before. Expensive ‘pop’ that!
Forecast for tomorrow is similar, with rain later, so another early start, about four hours to Vega, where we will stay a few days. Help available to ‘hold the other end’ in the battle to stop the leaks.
All’s well
Josin's 2025 cruise 