Josin’s 2022 cruise, #9

(It is obvious it is summer, so title simplified)

Saturday morning dawned beautiful, over a quiet and somnolent Hanö. Weather forecast promised a sailable wind from the south east, so, why wait?

Well clear of the island and the promised wind rather too much on the nose, we had to head north of intended course, sailing close hauled with the autopilot steering to the apparent wind direction. Waves were a little uncomfortable. After a while our heading gradually turned further north, which meant a wind direction change was under way. Yes. it was, with a vengance! The next half hour it blew, mostly gently from all points of the compass, meaning I had to be very busy trimming sails. Eventually it settled, from the east, which is where we wanted to go. So, start the engine, roll in the genoa and leave the mainsail up, sheeted hard in to help with boat stability, autopilot on course. Boring. Review Plans A and B. Reject both. As we were now motoring, might as well battle our way “round the corner” and into the Kalmar Sound, where, if this wind holds, we could sail again. Goal now Sandhamn. The hours pass. Elevenses then lunch and several mugs of tea later we “turned the corner” and sailed rolypoly to Sandhamn. (56 05.6N 015 51.5E). Long, nine hour day and 42 nm.

Wind and wave direction were through a large gap in the breakwater, so Josin danced and rolled a bit, and bumped the fenders. Motion didn’t abate with nightfall. Not a good night’s sleep. Early up, to a brilliantly sunny morning and a visit from a family of swans, presumably wanting a contribution for breakfast. Sorry folks, haven’t got any bread, and müseli sank too quickly. Disappointed swans depart for other boats, still not awake.

Out into the Sound the wind was still blowing from the east and we made good speed and progress northward up the Sound, in bright sunshine and rising temperature, until mid morning, when high pressure gradually prevailed and the wind gradually died. Back to motoring. Boring, but easy to make cuppas.

It got hotter. And hotter. By the time we reached Kalmar (56 39.6N 016 21.7E) mid afternoon the thermometer in the cabin was showing 30 degrees. Amazing. And it got hotter still. Wet towel round the head looked stupid, but gave welcome relief. Spent the rest of the day, and then yesterday, in the relentless heat, feeling quite energy-less.

This morning, seven-ish early, I walked to a local bakery which I had googled. Google maps lead me through a beautiful well-kept park, close to Kalmar Fortress, with vary varied trees and bushes. Quite an arborium in fact. Small information plates with latin names too small to read from my height unfortunately. Local bakery inside a rather anonymous door, down four steps into just enough space for two customers. Delicious sourdough bread in rows of shelves, and difficult to choose. Breakfast-tested when back on the boat. Approved!

Took advantage of the slightly cooler morning temperature and went shopping in the adjacent center as soon as it opened. And just inside the doors was a TEA SHOP:

And all those tins had different teas. Must be the most comprehensive tea shop in Sweden. Stocked up with Keemun. Back to boat and hide from the heat. Can’t do anything sensible. Forecast for rain later, and it happened, thanks be!

Cooler now and brain beginning to wake up from its torpor. Chose to stay another night. Hope the wind blows in the right direction to sail further north.

Alls well