Its been too many days since John Magnus helped me get started again, but there have been many things happening to get in the way. Now however, we are a good way from home waters, tied up in Egersund in fact, and P & Q is all around.
Worst was that the engine got weaker and weaker after leaving Sandefjord, with much black smoke out of the exhaust. Luckily the winds blew well in the right direction and we ended up, effectively engine-less, with Kristiansands Boat and Motor, who had the right competence and spare parts store. Very friendly people. Turned out that the exhaust exit from the engine was blocked by a build-up of soot and koks, effectively choking things, (there’s a lot of it about I understand).
One day later, finger nails grimy, yards of dirty rags, better knowledge of strained muscles, but weary and happy, (except for the bill for spare parts). Josin’s engine was back to full power.
Then Josin was pointed south west with suitable wind abaft, and we made nearly 100 nm in two days, making up for lost time, to Egersund, rounding Lindesnes with relief, as for a while before, I didn’t think we were going to make it soon.
I imagine I can see a Josin smudge seen from the webcam on the lighthouse, can you?. No? Never mind, we were there, honest!
I’d had several visiting plans and a gentle sail down the coast, but had to scrap all of them in favour of fixing the engine problem.
What now? Well, the original plan for this season’s cruise was to explore places and fjords not visited before, after rounding Lindesnes, but then Kari asked me “didn’t I want to visit Shetland again, and could she be crew”?. Yes, but Yes!
So that’s the plan. We meet up in Tananger, west for Stavanger, in a few day’s time, sail up to Bergen learning the while, (Kari has earlier titled herself “Second fender”, but soon she will be advanced to sailor, navigator, radio operator, sometimes ships cook, and other crewey activities), before the right weather window arrives. Bergen to Lerwick is the shortest crossing, just under 200 nm, which should take us less than 40 hours.
Watch this space!
Alls well, from JosinJohn
Josin's 2025 cruise 