Josin’s Summer Cruise, 2022, post #5

Tuesday 14th, midday, the wind had abated, so we set off south after lunch, through the last of the Gothenburg archipeligo, at a spanking pace, just for genoa. On the way, this combination appeared, honking it’s way up the fairway:

a gas tanker towing a tug! I think the tanker had steering problems, and the tug was doing the steering from behind. Anyway, lots of “here come I” honking and all us little vessels scuttling out of the way.

A short sail to Skallahavn, (57 21.6N 011 59.6E) to the last of the blue buoys, going south. No more suitable spots apparently. Buoys taken, so we anchored, in solid sand. Lovely sunny evening.

Next day, at a relatively civilised start time, we up-anchored and had a gentle sail to Varberg. Had thought of going a good deal further, but needed diesel. Varberg harbour is a busy place, with significant commercial traffic, turist boats for fishing, and sightseeing trips and a guest harbour in the middle of town. Pleasant place, so I decided to stay for the night. Shopping; food, fish, mussels and veg. No desirable bread. Swedish bread in the supermarkets is generally whit-ish and flabby. Mussels for dinner. Huge, succulent, and I ate too many. And still a few left, which the gourmand gulls enjoyed.

Next day, by now it was thursday, an early start was intended, as I wanted to reach the island of Hallands Væderø, a good stretch, in a plausible wind. We puttered over to the other side of the harbour, to the marina, and, after a bit of “not here, must be the next pontoon”, we found diesel. Just before tying up, the engine’s exhaust note changed from its usual snuffling sound to a that of motorcycle. Bother, engine cooling water failure. Diesel now at three times the price it was last year in Norway. OW! Good thing I decided to do more sailing and less motoring this year, which has happened. Systematic trouble-shooting revealed that the water intake under the hull was blocked. Water too cold and infested with small stinging jellyfish prevented a dive, but with prodigious puffing through a hose onto the shutoff valve inboard, all became clear again, fountain!. Cuppa needed, and a breathing rest.

So we didn’t get away until nearly lunchtime, by which time the favourable wind of earlier had reduced somewhat, so we had to assist with the engine occasionally, not least to help bash through the waves, which were confused and sometimes steep. Lovely day though and a very pleasant evening when we entered the anchoring bay, (56 25.8N 012 34.4E), on the south end of Hallands Væderø at nearly nine o’clock. No less than four, all foreign, sailing boats already there. Found a spot, rather near the entrance, and after two abortive attempts, anchored. Strangely enough, although the prevailing winds and waves through the day had been from the north west, here were rollers coming in from the south and making us all roll. Not really comfortable for cooking. At the critical moment I looked away and my plate with fried flatfish slid off the bench and landed on the floor, thankfully fish-side up. The peas and most of the chips were scattered. Taste not impaired!

Soon to bed, but not entirely happy with the anchor-hold, so slept in half-hour stints. Sure enough, at sun-up, just after 4 AM, the wind increased and the anchor dragged, and we headed astern towards the rocks. After two more unsuccessful attempts to find anchor-hold, we diverted in hope to the next-door bay, found it even less inviting, and motored off back the way we had come, to a large bay on the north-east side, called Sandy Bay, (56 26.8N 012 34.0E). Yes, sand, and excellent anchor-hold. Sleep, several hours.

This is obviously a favourite place for day-trippers, Lovely sandy beaches, rocks to climb and friendly grassy banks, (pic taken later today, more cloudy),

and sure enough, on this lovely warm, sunny day, they came, arriving with the charming “Nanny”, from the harbour of Torekov, across water on the mainland, in shuttle traffic through the day.

And now the last (hopefully?) have left. Just us and the gulls and the cormorants, and a seal!

Alls well!