From Mandal to Kristiansand, (58 08.6N / 008 00.2E), to Lillesand,(58 14.8N / 008 22.8E), to Risør, (58 44.0N / 009 13.6E), to Tallakshavn, (59 04.6N / 010 18.4E), to Åsgårdstrand, (59 21.1N / 010 28.2E).
HOME AGAIN !
Just as a compensation for all the earlier motoring, we SAILED the rest of the way home.
Early morning i Mandal was quiet at boat level, but there were small clouds moving across the sky at a respectable pace, so I ate breakfast in the hope of a good sail.
Mandal is at the outlet of a river into a large bay, so far OK, But, at the outer end of the bay, we met yesterdays Skagerakk rollers and waves, pushed by the strong SW wind. Josin bounced and rolled, and it was rather uncomfortable and energetic, so Plan B. This involved scuttling back in amongst the islands to sheltered waters and much navigation. Wind still more than adequate to push us along though and good time was made to Kristiansand.
On the way, we “squeezed” through the narrow gap at New Hellesund, all quiet at this time of the season. A harbour for fishermen and the local pilot in its day, but now just summer-dwellers. One dwelling was a bit unique: A converted fuel tank! One up, one down. Imaginative.
The disaster of the day was a tooth-filling which fell out while eating a lunchtime sandwich. What to do? Would the gap go bad if it didn’t get fixed? Can it wait til I’m home and confront the dentist. (She filled it in early May, not good).
We got in to Kristiansand early afternoon, and a quick google produced several dentists, one within ten minutes walk from the harbour. Temporary fix? Easy, should last, but not absolutely necessary if you wait ten days. Half an our later my tongue was inquisitively investigating the filled hole, and I returned to Josin, reassured.
Next day the wind had reduced a bit, but the waves were not as big, and we had a lovely sail to Risør, (Finnøy, home of the Risør Seilforening), in the sunshine, initially through the islands but later out at sea. Just genoa was more than enough sail and the wind pilot coped well.
Woke next morning early to calm, and a small breeze. Would the wind get up again later? It did, and after motoring out into the open sea we had another lovely sail all the way to Tallakshavn a natural, sheltered harbour and a mooring buoy. Long day, many miles. Tired!
Next day, and still the wind blew in our direction, but the option of sailing out to sea and round “Lands End” as the local map has it, was not enticing, as it would have meant beating to windward through those waves for the first hour or so, and that would have been very rough. So, the quieter way, following a short blast across the fjord, and then inshore until after Tønsberg and the last few miles in the open, back to Åsgårdstrand.
Such was progress that I had to reduce sail to a small triangle in order to not arrive too early as Kari and Gilbert wanted to welcome me with flags and hurras. They DID.
What a welcome!! Big hugs and hot food. They look after their Dad! Lucky ME.
A summary of the cruise in another post. Bye for now.
Alls well
HomeAgainJohn
Josin's 2025 cruise 