Category: Uncategorized

16 June. Sorry, no pics today.

The day started very promising, clear sky and a gentle breeze, forecasts for south easterly winds later, so, upandatit. Well, not quite.  The toilet pump wouldn’t. Costly time trouble shooting. Relief. Switch kaput. “Switch” now holding the wires together, with sparks. It’ll do until a new.

So, we started a little late, nearly 9 o’clock. It’ll be a late day then. No sailing breeze, so we motored the inshore route to enjoy the view. But NO! Fog. First wisps, then thicker, and thicker. Slow to 3 knots. Vis about 50 meters. GPS and navigation software are wonderful. The various hindrances were passed at a respectful distance, other boats, mostly local fishing dingies, were avoided with mutual waves. Then it all lifted, quite suddenly, and we continued at normal speed towards Lindesnes. Took a slight detour to look at Lillehavn, a useful place to retire to if Lindesnes ever proves difficult. Well, it wasn’t today, nearly flat calm, but the fog rolled in again. Well past Lindesnes and it’s accompanying Bispen rock, a startlingly yellow boat appeared. Four people, two couples, out fishing, judging by the inactive rods. Waved furiously. Puttered over. “Trouble?” Answer in German. Several misunderstandings later, “Compass?” Head shakes. “Chart?” Ditto. All they could say was “Korshavn”. Must be where they hired the boat. A quick check of the nav showed course 33 degrees to the gap outside Korshavn. “Follow me”. Steer course. Wave them past. Shouted “Steer by the sun”. (It was just visible overhead) “Viking style, shadows!”. Gesticulations. One of the wives understood. OK. Bye. Resume own course. Near Lista the fog gradually cleared, and was gone for the day. The wind came in from the south east, as forecast but late, and up went the sails. At last! Quick lunch, not sardines this time.

Lista has strong currents, initially with. Hooray. Then contrary. Bother. Wind gradually increased throughout the afternoon to over 20 knots, which produced wonderful boat speed, but not so wonderful waves. We rolled, we pitched. Rather tiring after a while, but couldn’t complain about the progress. The sky gradually darkened, and produced rain. spots. Then steady. Then lots. Rest of the way to Egersund, just after 20:00. The cabin heater was turned on when entering the calm outer harbour, and life got warm again quickly. Dry socks are a comfortable luxury.

Long day, but 65 nautical miles was great. Next morning, today, the wind was back in the W and blowing hard, so I had been right to stretch the day. 

Today a trip by train into Stavanger, to the Apple Store. My trusty iPad had kept on trying to turn itself off. Didn’t like the violent motion maybe. Story later maybe.

All’s otherwise well.

 

Lovely sunny day, but too much wind in the wrong direction, so we stay put for the day. Better chance tomorrow. Forecasts are for easterlies, At last! But only for a day.

The last post was short, and referred to a longer post written (in Norwegian), on my other site, “josinjohnnorsk.com”. It doesn’t seem to have been visited, so perhaps something has been wrong. I have tried to update the settings, and I would appreciate it if I got feedback if is available/not available. Thankyou.

Spent a day in Lillesand, and my good friend and Ballad owner, Svein Tangen, was a considerate host and generous transporter. Drove to Sørland Shopping, an eeenormous area of gigantic stores, and it is helpful to have transport to get around. I bought boat things and he bought special shoes. Then to a furniture factory, in search of cushion foam. Helpful chap showed us to the store and encouraged us to help ourselves to the scrap. Found just the thickness and quality, a piece about a quarter of a matress. “OK”. Really? “Yes. If it will not fit in your car, I can cut it up for you!” Amazing! Enough for both of us to improve our sailing comfort.

Comfort needed next day, as the wind started in the NW, as forecast, but veered and strengthened from the W, not forecast. So it was a close-hauled battle into a confused sea. New cushion much appreciated.

You know, at least you ought to know, for I have often told you so, that sardines in their tin, as a spirit level, is an oily sin. Well, an unstable lunch of crispbread and sardines teaches that one should pour out the oil to a safe place as soon as the tin is slightly open. Trousers, yes. Cockpit bench, yes. Marks of honour? Hardly!

So, sailing at sea, and a nice two knot current hustling us along and causing the waves to be steep, with the wind gradually blowing us further away from the shore, plan B was used. Tack to the inshore route and use the engine. Sigh!

Nearing Mandal inlet, there was a small sailing boat behaving very oddly, and inexpertly, so I puttered over and asked if they needed help. Four on board, sails awry, only one who could sail, so he shouted. Outboard kept stopping, attempts to fill it with fuel showered it, so I offered a tow, gratefully accepted. The tranquility of Mandal harbour was a welcome contrast, and the “crew” were very quick to hop ashore. Bye! Happy sailing!

Mandal has a fantastic fish shop, right beside the guest jetty. On my way to a wander around the town I ate two different fishcakes from the paper bag. Scrumptuous. Bought fish and shrimps for dinner on the way back. To be recommended.

Early start tomorrow, make the most of the easterlies.

Alls well!

Some of you will have received the first post of the summer, in Norwegian, via Facebook. Sorry folks. You can either get google to translate it for you, or wait until I write the first blog in English. Not right now though.

In the guest harbour at Lillesand.  Alls Well

JosinJohn

Where Peter and Marion have their island home. House up on stilts, to avoid the surge water in storms from reaching the house itself, even in hurrican weather. In fact the building regulations require all new houses in the areas likely to be affected by flood waters, to be on stilts. Makes for imaginative staircases. The traditional Charleston houses all had ornate staircases up to the front entrance, one on the right for the ladies and one on the left for the gentlemen. This being a State previously with plantations with slaves, and even though slavery was abolished long ago, there is still a visible difference between the white and black areas of the town and its environs.  The recent mayor, of 40 years no less, had a life-long vision of getting the two societies less segregated and more integrated, and had had considerable success.

Peter has been very generous host and taken me to places of historic interest, brushing up his own knowledge he says, latest to see the world’s first naval submarine used in warfare, in the 1860’s. The “Hunley” was powered by seven men operating a long cranked shaft connected to the propeller, in very cramped quarters. The mission was successful, sinking the largest ship maintaining the blockade in the Civil War, but the Hunley did not return. It was found only recently, in an unexpected place, raised and now housed in a research building in a special tank and water, and being painstakingly cleaned from its coralgrowth and brought back to “original”. Sat in a model of the “cabin”, and cranked. Very cramped. Very claustophobic. Pioneers must always suffer.

Friday evening an event in their common house, numptious nibbles, our contribution being gravlaks, (much praised), followed by voluminous retired chef Robert singing popular songs and arias in an enormous voice, drowning the accompanying piano and violin. Resounding applause. Then his recounting anecdotes from the life of one of America’s iconic chefs, Julia Childs. Quite a mixture. Quite an evening.

Yesterday evening, (saturday), a dinnerparty here, including a guest who experienced hurricane Hugo in his sailing boat, way up a sidecreek to the river. Fascinating tale of straining anchors holding against screaming winds. Rather him than me!

Today, sunday, a very chilly morning, around 10 C. and a gentle breeze to freeze me when coming back up the beach after my morning dip. Very invigorating. White fingers for a long time afterwards. If the temperarure is as low tomorrow, my swim will be either postponed until the sun warms significantly, or cancelled. Probably the latter, as we have to catch the 9:30 ferry to get me to the airport. :-((. 

Alls well

Early to rise in the Red Roof motel, a frugal “continental” breakfast augmentet with Miranda’s meuseli (thankyou), and off into the pre-sunrise morning. A few miles to the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which climbed and wound and wound and climbed at a gentle angle up to about 1200 meters, all amongst trees. Many trees. Zillions of trees. Then an opening and a parking area, with a view. What a view! It was still a misty, moisty morning, and the valleys were shrouded in thicker fog, but the silence was golden. No birdsong. No rustling sounds from small creatures in the undergrowth. No traffic. The distant hills and mountains not yet lit by a cloud-shaded sun, but visible as a series of shadows. It was the clearest part of the day. 

The mist clearing gradually but being replaced by haze.

The road was never boring, nor was it straight. The planners must have only had curved rulers to place on their maps. But a magnificant bit of road-engineering. 

The stopping places, called “overlook”, were well warned with a sign, and were usually assosiated with a view.  Some were not. 

Actually, there was a small, clucking stream behind the sign, so it was justified I suppose. 

From the heights, the road wound down to lower levels, and a cultivated field or two appeared. The hay bales, round, looked as though they had been there a while. Then back up again, and views over to the west side of the range, with lusher valleys and small villages.

Then down again, and a detour into Roanoke for lunch. A BigMac was quick, consistent food.

Then the southern part of the route. Much more cultivated and populated. Even the odd clutch of cabins. Different. At this time of the year, outside holidays, unused. Also derelict buildings, small farms mostly. And then the odd, modern, house, maybe a mountain cabin. All-in-all a most interesting experience.

Then find a place to sleep. The Red Carpet inn sounded enticing, and turned out to be clean and suitable for a night. The card to put in the doorlock to open it had the unfortunate characteristic that, if put in a pocket with a moblie phone, it got wiped. Getting back from the Japanese restaurant next door, (not splendid), was confronted by a locked door, only openable by getting the card re-programmed in reception, which had a notice saying ” back soon”. A “soon” can be quite lengthy when you have to wait, and the coffee was lukewarm. 

Up early again to another pathetic breakfast, and then by Garmin directions to the highway. Easy. Two hours down the road, and the lack of breakfast was getting insistent. Off at the next intersection, to Waffle House, where many were eating breakfast. Very noisy, and not too quick, but the waffle and maple syrup filled the need and with an extra coffee to go, we were back on the freeway at the speed limit. Actually, that lawfulness was not optimum, as I was getting in the way of eveything, including those huge trucks. I reluctantly succumbed to joining the masses, at about speedlimit plus 7to8 miles an hour. Much more relaxing. No police. No ticket. 

Then to Charleston airport to deliver the car and be met and welcomed by brother Peter. Big hug. Good. Much warmer here south in the midday sun. Then to the ferry to Peter and Marion’s Dewees home. Wonderful. Now some days of relaxing in good company, and hopefully a swim or many in the ocean, at the moment very disturbed in the aftermath of Matthew, which most fortunately had spared this area for extenive damage.

Life is OK. 

Having got Josin safely on land and cradled, and with almost all of the perishables and freezeables transported home for the winter, there will be no more aquatic activity until next spring. So, now someting else, travel!

Brother Peter has been kindly and repeatedly inviting me to come and stay, so a trip across the atlantic by plane, (it would have been too slow by boat), has happened, very comfortably in SAS’ Economy Plus class, new Airbus plane too. More space for legs and a wider, more comfortable seat, good food and service, to Newark, NJ. Avis hire car, a small Honda, which has performed adequately frugally, but with rather inflexible springs.

First a stay with cousin Miranda and husband Ken in Syracuse, NY state. NY city and NY state are two different things, with larger distances than overview maps indicate. Five hours, including a coffee stop, on multi-lane motorways was an interesting refresher course in American traffic, navigated by Garmin. Last hour was after sunset, and therefore extra interesting.

Miranda gathered her tribe for a family dinner, son-in- law’s birthday too, which was wonderful, as I hadn’t met any of them, children, spouses and grandchildren, (two more due innthe immediate future), before. Lasting impression!

Did some exporing of the local area, amongst other things to try and photograph the autumn colours, which were just beginning. A week or two later would have been better it was said. The Green Lake, with its large sandy, family-friendly beach bay, turned out to be unswimmable, bother. It had ‘shut’ for the winter.

Difficult to believe the notice as the temperature was over 70 degrees F. (You work it out in C!).

Today has been a long drive from Syacuse to Staunton, (at the north end of the Blue Ridge Drive, which will be tomorrow). I had planned to use as many other roads than motorways, to be able to admire the scenery, but with rain in the morning and some fail-navigation in the afternoon which had a magnetism for motorways, no opportunity arose to take pauses and pictures, except at the inevitable junctions, all peppered with McDonalds and the like. Better luck tomorrow.

From a weary-traveller John.

ZZZZZ

Josin is now safely cradled on land for the winter. We were three who needed to lift out early, before the collective session later in the month. The crane arrived on time and was ready to lift at 08:00 last thursday, which meant that I had to wake up and get up entirely unmentionably early. Nice morning though, little wind though chilly, sunny. Very effective crane driver, and cooperative gang finished the job in record time. A pressure-wash and scrub of Josin’s hull was only a little difficult at the water line, where a stubborn growth of green weedy grass had attached itself, otherwise very little growth and no barnacles. Must have been because of the cold water temperatures this year.

The day before, wednesday, was spent removing the sails and preparing the rig for dismantling, then pottering round to the mastcrane for lifting the mast out. Same three boats, same gang, same good team. Loaded my Berlingo, in van-mode, remarkably full with sails and booms, anchors and antennes, fenders and sheets and mooring ropes. Unloaded in the carport at home with decision to sort it all out later. Was weary.

The day before that, was Josin’s last tuesday evening regatta. Sunny, good breeze from the south east and chilly, and ten boats competing. The evenings are closing in fast now, and in spite of the start being half an hour earlier than usual, the finishing line was passed in the glooming. We came in sixth, poor showing mostly due to two hopeless marker-roundings, pointing us in the wrong direction and killing all speed. Caustic and ribald comments from other boats rushing past. Not my best effort there, no. But we were not last!!

Final winterisation, frame and tarpaulin awning, anti-freezing and extra support legs, topsides scrub and polish, will be done when I get back from two weeks in the US.

Going to visit brother Peter near Charleston, who is rightly worried about their seaside house on Dewees Island being exposed to cyclone Matthew’s high winds. News this evening, saturday, is that the winds have decreased, but the major worry now being extra high tides, which will almost certainly not reach the house. Phew!

Well, this may be the last boating blog, but I may well scribble something, with a pic or two, from America in the Fall, the Appalachian mountains being spectacularly colo(u)rful apparently.

All’s well.

Forecast was for very strong winds, increasing during the afternoon and evening, so I listened to my mature muscles and didn’t travel to Åsgårdstrand. Remarkably strong blow here in Kongsberg in the evening, so the forecast was probably correct. Lots of autumn-coloured leaves on the ground this morning, wednesday

One more tuesday regatta, next week. Hope for fairer winds!

How about this?

Josin won second prize! Whooppeee!  I helped. 

A very interesting regatta. Very variable wind, in strength and direction. Start delayed until there was enough wind to move the boats. Then start confusion due to rearranging times and signals, but everyone got away reasonably together. It took me a while to learn my biggest genoa again, having not used it this season, and got rather left behind in the 3-5 knot breeze, but round the first mark and I got the genoa in, gennaker out proceeedure just right, and gained a lot on those who were getting mudded. You win some, you lose some. It was my turn to lose some later, but luckily not too much! (Memo: Coil all ropes that are not in use. If left in a wuzzle on the cockpit floor, the boat gremlin lassos one’s feet).  Plenty to keep me busy due to the variable wind, so even the coffee in the thermos didn’t get touched. 

The evening before, I had emptied the boat of all the summer-sailing clobber, hoping for a significant reduction in weight, but it was more psychological than real. Anyway, every little helps. 

Next tuesday is another evening regatta, so, with this result in mind, we are going to have to be on our mettle. A better start will be on the program!

Time for a little snooze. 

All’s well. 

Was spent sitting on the jetty wishing for some wind and telling stories. There was absolutely not a breath. Mirror-calm sea. Slanting evening sunshine. Coffee and chocklate. The last tuesday evening regatta of the season was a draw, no winners, no losers. Better luck next season!

Next event, the club regatta, on saturday. Foecast says that the high has not moved much, so it will probably be another waiting game. On with the biggest, lightest sails. (Metaphorically only, the usual, but hope is encouraging). Goal is at least to not be last. Last year the wind died before several of us could finish, so he who decides the course should have at least a Plan B, taking us turtles into consideration. Maybe I should empty Josin of all the weighty and unnecessary clobber before the start, even empty the water tanks. Might add 0,1 knots. Every little helps, and the competitive instinct is not yet dead. 

Go, Josin, go!