Rain Gales and the Royal Yacht

Rain, Gales Orcas and the Royal Yacht

Friday June 12/15

Up early disturbed the ducks seagulls and the tur. The puffin’s were all ready awake. Put the kettle on Sally hauled the anchor and I motored us out of the anchorage to continue our journey to warmer climes.

It was a nice day for a MB ride down a fjord flat seas and no or very little wind. We arrived at Loedingen at 0930. A VERY narrow SHALLOW entrance NO room for a screw up or malfunction! We made it in proceeded to the gjest pontoon and had a choice! So just motored into the one right in front of us. Got secured and then it started to RAIN and Blow a GALE for 3 days. A Festival started that night but think it got washed away? Did walk about and some geo caches in the rain and drowned my good camera.

There was a Collin Archer 30 or 40 footer on the hard with a big sign saying it was free! With a phone number. I had a look at it and it really didn’t seem to be too bad and hadn’t been out of the water too long There were a couple of bad planks. The deck and rig appeared sound so thing if one was so inclined and had a spot to work on it. It might not be a bad project. Have seen worse resurrected!

Met Judith and Hakken off of Touche out of Denmark. Had visit and drinks. They were on their way North to Svalbard!

We were going to go to the Festival but at 150 Kr entry fee just to walk about and spend money in booths of junk we went for a pizza and beer and figured we came out ahead.

Mon. June 15 0530 I’m awake and up! Have decided to push on before winter really sets in. so we leave at 0630 make our way out the narrow exit with even shallower water and set motor and auto pilot for some more South.  Decided we would stay near the mainland coast and not go to the Lofotens as too foggy wet and cold. The upside was we saw a pod of young Orcas, some dolphins and the Royal Norwegian Yacht Trident! They didn’t wave. At 130 we were off Skudnick and were able to sail with just the Jib. Had to turn the motor back on at 1315 Phooey!!! We arrived at Moroeya at 1615 secured alongside the pontoon and shortly after a Tornado Cat came sailing in. So we met Adam from Seattle and Daniel from  Switzerland who met as children in sailing school in new England and have sailed together ever since. Bought the cat and were sailing up the Norwegian coast!

Tues. June 16/15 We left a little later this morning 0700. 0740 Engine off Sailing with the Jib, 0830 hoisted the full main and away we flew 5-61/2 knots broad reach on the Starboard tack. Sailing down the coast with Eagles and Dolphins and reached a top speed of 8.1 knots! arrived in Bodo at 1400 and pulled into a slip next to the one we had last year. Went for a walk did a bit of shopping met Alex and Ferdinand. Alex had just bought his boat 5 days previous and they were sailing it to Tromso. So far so good. They asked for some help and advise so we showed them how to rig the reef lines and reef the main. They had had a fuel leak and had a hard time cleaning everything up so we treated them to dinner.

Wed June 17 we got up extra early to catch the first bus out to Salt Straumen so that we could see the tidal race. Saw six Moose on the way 3 on the way back and one seal and six goats. A successful day  so far. We returned to the boat and set off at 1230 and 18 miles and 4 hours later we dropped the anchor at Selvagen on the island of Fleina where we spent a quiet night. We came in here on the way North last year but didn’t think it was safe. We were wrong! A really quiet spot.