From Kristiansund, 28 Juni, to Stokksund, 4 July.
A bad experience and a good experience.
A late afternoon start from Kristiansund, after waiting for the rain to stop and a breeze to arrive, we sailed the few hours to an overnight anchorage in Halsbukta, (63 09.7N / 008 10.5E).
Hauling up the anchor next morning revealed that it had dug into a very productive area of heavy, orange-brown clinging seaweed. Hope the locals weren’t farming it for fodder.
Optimistically out into the open Trondheimsleia (open, wide and long fjord) for fulle sail we were making excellent progress running before a reasonable wind when we were very unexpectedly overtaken by a local weather-front and things got a mite difficult, with wind gusts over 45 knots and rapidly rising seas. Reefing sails, enabled only by heading into that wind with the engine doing its best and we outdoing the best tivoli-ride, took much effort, eventually followed by a relieved tail-between-the-legs run for shelter and an anchorage. Phew!
The gale lasted only for a few hours, with an equally sudden clearing to blue skies and benign conditions, so we had another go at progress and ended up after an enjoyable, though bumpy, sail at a quarter to midnight (still plenty of daylight this far north) at anchor at Røstøya, (63 26.4N / 008 57.0E).
Next day a short, uneventful sail to an interesting lagoon with a narrow and shallow entry at Storfosna, (63 39.3N / 009 23.9E).
On again the next day to Trondheim under varying conditions, to the guest harbour next to enormous grain silos, at (63 26.0N / 010 22.4E).
John Magnus and Mariell joined me for brunch, this is now tuesday, 2nd July, at a food-excellent but rather noisy restaurant, after which we sought P & Q at their flat, a charming but strange-in-layout converted cellar, up in the hills to the SE of the city. Don’t see this happy couple so very often unfortunately, Trondheim is only on my sailing route.
This is in the lounge corner:
John Magnus kindly drove me back to Josin in the evening, and as it was fine with a gentle breeze in a suitable direction, we cruised gently the two hours over to the north side of the Trondheim Fjord to a little marina at Stadsbygd, (63 29.2N / 009 59.0E) for the night. (Half price fee compared with Trondheim!).
But next day, yesterday in fact, thursday, was one of those sailing days which will be remembered for a long time, all the 55 nautical miles with a strong easterly wind urging us along to Stokksund, (64 2.4N / 010 3.8E).
Plenty of traffic to wave to on the way, this being the main coastal route, with us having to veer to the side to give space for the cruise ships and Hurtigruten, (coastal steamer, regular). Actually there was really plenty of space, but the wash from these large vessels is easier to ride if at a distance.
Screenshot from Marine Traffic.
We popped into Brekstad on the way to fill up with diesel.
(I wish these pumps could pump a bit less gushingly. The overflow looked like it was normal, judging by the amount of rainbow-coloured diesel on the water. My contribution was at least a half liter).
Arrival here at the Kuringvågen marina was rather unexpected, as we were helped with ropes by an ex-owner of a Ballad who greeted me by name. We had a long chat in the late evening sunshine.
Today it is raining again from leadened skies, with the forecast for clearing later. Perhaps another evening sail?
Alls well
John
Josin's 2025 cruise 