Motor trouble.
The night in Sherjehamn (60 56.6N 004 57.3E), was very broken by having to re-organise fenders and ropes every so often to stop bumping hull to jetty, and sleep was intermittent. Conditions gradually subsided enough later in the morning to be able to get away, by rolling the boat along the pontoon on the fenders and then making a dash for it. It worked, and we were on our way again. Northerly wind, on the nose and too much of it, made for a hobby-horse ride and lots of spray. Tiring too! A lovely day helped! Christer caught us up on the way, and our little flotilla tied up in Askvoll (61 20.8N 005 04.0E), in private slots, harbour otherwise full. The owners were luckily away.
Next morning, after the cuppa, I was determined to have a last try at fixing Tone’s autopilot. Googled away til I had found the original user guide and read it thoroughly. So, after breakfast, Tone pottered Arctic Vibe out into the bay and we went through the whole start-up procedure having first done a factory reset. And Lo! it worked. Everybody surprised, and Tone very happy. The probable problem? The little memory-man in there had not been updated so he thought he was somewhere quite else, was confused and made desperate steering changes to try and reach there.
Off we go again, flotilla led by Josin, ‘cos the way through the islands was familiar, thankfully less seas today, past Florø, (61 36.1N 005 01.9E), and then NE into the wide fjord south of Bremangerlandet, where we hoped the wind would let us sail. It did, just, sometimes, but needed help to get up to windward occasionally.
Then the long curve to babord past Hornilen, the highest straight fall into the sea from about 1000 meters, (Christer being a climber ogled the possibility, another time), impossible to photograph, but from round the corner in Skåtestrømmen, seen from the rear side, it is still impressive.
Then in to Måløy (61 56.0N 005 06.8E), fairly late, to see one of those huge cruise ships at the quay, luckily not covering the guest harbour.
There we met Mitzy, another solosailor, who helped us dock, and who suggested pizza. Done.
Unfortunately, and very embarassingly indeed, just as I was organising ropes and fenders and unawares, a strong gust of wind pushed Josin into the quay, result:
A very squiffy pulpit. It will be straightened out next winter.
Skippers meeting next morning agreed that conditions were good for rounding Stad, so, after bobbing in the queue for diesel, off we went, youth first, rapidly, then Josin, then Arctic Vibe a little later.
But Artic Vibe didn’t move on the AIS plotter. I sent a message and Tone replied that she couldn’t start her engine, so I returned to help, Stad still begnign.
There followed intensive efforts by a mechanic from ships engineering co Verlo and I over the next two days but had to sadly conclude that the engine was tired of life and had given up.
Tone made arrangements to get towed to a workshop where the engine could be lifted out and worked on, unfortunately not before august, and get herself back home now and return then.
So, the “leaky gang” was now disbursed.
I, yesterday, that’s saturday 20th, set off once again to round Stad, this time with no wind and much more confused seas, in fact the worst I’ve experienced, to be rewarded by calmer waters and a fine sailing breeze which took us all the way to Ålesund.
Now, outside the city, at about this time of the summer solstice, an enormous tower built of pallets and drums is raised on a bare promentory. It is set alight at 21:00, and becomes a gigantic beacon, finally subsiding in a ball if flames and sparks, about two hours later. It was 35 meters high and looked like this. Lots of pics of it burning were posted on social media, you google “Slinningsbål”
I motored gently past it on the way to Ålesund Seilforening’s harbour (62 28.1N 006 12.4E) further into the fjord, where i found a free slot and was helped in by someone from the next door boat, whose cockpit was overflowing with happy youth, just about off to see the beacon.
The wind increased during the night to 15 m/sec, neargale force, making sleep difficult with all rigging on the surrounding boats whistling and screeching. Music to some. This wind is predicted to continue, although slightly less, for the next two days, so I’m staying put and visit friends.
VentilatedJohn.
Josin's 2026 blog 