From Bergen (Strusshamn) to Kalsundvågen, (59 59.8N / 006 15.8E), to Skudeneshavn to Egersund to Skarvøy to Mandal, (58 01.5N / 007 27.2E).
First the good news: Today we sailed, with the engine stopped!
The bad news: Until today, the engine has been running all the way from Ålesund. That’s an awful lot of motoring miles, and diesel, and lack of entertainment.
Some days the sails have helped a bit, including one half-hour’s blast over the Krossfjord, south of Bergen, in 25 to 30 kt wind and large waves, even then I kept the engine running as it gave the rudder more power.
As taking pictures in the murk, and/or rain is not informative, there have been few opportunities, but here are two, both of colossal bits of engineering: Takes an engineer to appreciate engineering!
A new suspension bridge over to Sotra from Bergen, to compliment the existing, equally large one. Took a pic towards the opposite bank, of entrances to tunnels, but it was all murky and useless.
An offshore platform under construction, outside Haugesund, luckily when the sun was shining on it’s brilliant yellow paint. Not a window in sight! Must be the biggest steel box.
So, the winds have been either southerly, or very weak, and thus very frustrating for a sailor, but at least I have been travelling in a boat!
But today, over my early-morning-cuppa, a study of weather forecasts, from several sources, all said the same: A westerly wind of sailable strength and we were going east, and they were all right. Ah, bliss! Even got the wind-pilot rigged and functioning, so even the electric autopilot was silent. Out in the open seas we wallowed along, (yesterday’s rollers were still active), at a respectable speed, and the sailing sounds were salig.
Rounding the southernmost point of Norway, Lindesnes, (57 58.7N / 007 03.3E), this morning, I downloaded a pic from the web camera there, and also took a pic from the boat.
If you peer and squint you can just see Josin, the tiny white prick just to the right of the tower.
There seemed to be lots of people on the rock too, although they are equally difficult to discern.
And here in Mandal a front has arrived with more wind and drizzly rain, predicted to clear up during the night and leave another sailing-wind day. fingers crossed!
Alls well
HomestretchJohn.
Josin's 2025 cruise 