Back in Wittmund. Matilda out of the water and tucked away in a shed. A few modifications for the proposed trip to Norway next year still to be discussed. 

A good summer cruise this year inspite of  Brexit disruptions.

Church in Rerik. Fine concert for violin and théorbe. The explosion of instrumental music in the 17 th century: Ferrari, Marino, Biber etc. 

Burgstraaken on Fehmarn. Constant babble on Ch. 16 as the German Navy tried to prevent yachties straying into the active firing area. 

From Lohals on to Marstal, Bagenkop and today early start for Fehmarn. Great evening with crew of Resolute (link to blog will be added). Heard about their 5 years circumnavigation.

Like the double fuel filter system they had. Might upgrade.

Locals on Langeland after Vordingborg and Omø. Wonderful weather. Lots of school groups still afloat.

There is no way past Bach. I like the comparison with Porsche here

Bach and so on

Still with the BBC and the Sixteen.


Allegri

More of the series:


Byrd and Tallis

Landed in Vordingborg (Denmark). A reasonable wlan connection permits my usual musical wandering. The following must be an illustration of the BBC at it's best. Is The UK a nation of singers?

Sacred music

Digital charts:

Finnland - "Sailmate"

Norway - "NaVida"

For future reference.

Back in Klintholm after great reach (60 nm) over from Ystadt. About 11 hours. Before that it was a good run down from Aspö to Simrishamn.

Still on Aspö. Suspect foreigners would not have been welcome here a few decades ago.

Back at Karlskrona, but on Aspö, just South of the Town. After Kalmar (University extension coming on well) Kristianopel. SW wind was generating too much swell for South of Öland. Perhaps stay put tomorrow then long haul over to  Simrishamn on Sunday.

Useful tip from François on Cybele 17. For Finnish waters free charts "Sailmate" available to download. See my link to his Blog (a magnificent account of land and sea).

Back in Kalmar after several anchorages on the way south. 

A quiet anchorage, Lundarna Norra, SE of öxelösund.

Alternative chain hooks.

Moored to rock. Aspöladen on the way south. 

Not sure if we move till this lifts.

The start of autumn. Nynäshamn.

Back on Utö. Extra crew joined the ship on Sunday in Norrtälje. Then on to Arholma, Blidö, Sandhamn (cocktails in clubhouse) Malma Kvarn and now Utö. Bakery open! The week has been overcast but northerly winds Bft 4-7. Crew seems satisfied. 

Cultural programme: old BBC series on manipulation of the masses, Freud, Bernaise etc. 

Saturday extra crew flies back to Berlin.

Back in Nortallje. Off to Berlin for post wedding party (words from bride's dad will include poem by James Elroy ...!) then home to be handed certificate of citizenship. Finally return to continue south as the summer crowd hopefully returns to work.

Snubber or chum (riding weight).

This was the solution on Gralian, 15 kg! But then she weighs about 22 t.

Still on the subject of snubbing. Comments welcome here!

The snubber discussion.

Anchorage with Gralian just east of Nortalje. Fine evening on board. A wee dram of Box single malt to celebrate Teutonic citizenship. 

Back to mainland Sweden, Gräddö. A great reach over.

A short run south from Mariehamn to Rödhamn, a delightful harbour from which to start the crossing over to Sweden.

After a stop at Kastelholm, a fine whiskey and awful tales of buying boats from insolvent yards, on to Mariehamn East to prepare for crossing back to Swedish coast later in the week.

The harbour at Bomarsund, midday before it filled up.

Russian remains at Bromarsund. Relics of thee Crimean war.

On to Lootholma.

"achieve.sieving.cured"

The only foreign boat in a pleasant boat club harbour. Tomorrow on to the Åland Islands.

The old part of Rauma.

Vaasa, 3 power stations and 3 universities amongst other things.

Recycled architecture in Vasa

Vaasa.

Views of Vaasa

60 am over to Vaasa on the coast of Finnland. Flat calm but good visibility in contrast to the day before.

divisions.donates.bliss

Will find us.

A scuttle over to avoid mist and gales. We will see if the passage on South brings that.

Final gathering with the French last night.

Anybody out there also keen on:

Nikka "from the barrel"

or

Hibiki?

Morning at Patholmsviken near Umeá.

The plan was to head NO to Holmön to see Cybele 17 (French friends). May be sitting here for a while. But rescue boat stationed here and we are members!

And this is how it was.

Yesterday in Norrbyskär, until 1950 one of the largest sawmills in Sweden.

Strenuous cruising.

Have spent the last fortnight bumping into Valerie and Francois on Cybele 17, a 44 ft Ovni and Helen and Jonathan on Gralian, a classic motor launch (see their articles in "Classic Sailing"). August company.

Husum

"mashes.edgier.pickup"

and the Metsä Board company. Vast amounts of wood being turned into cardboard. 

Looking up the ski jump in Örnsköldsvik .

Short tun over to Trysunda.

"whipped.healing.bottle"

Our excuse for staying put. 

Loopings down on Ulvöhamn. Delightful place to spend a few days.

A strange museum complex: Mannaminne.

"accepts.exhibit.downstream"

Great harbour: Häggvik. Where? Well try

"covers.reappeared.pavements" (what3words). Yes, in the Economist this week.

In the "High Coast". Feels a bit like the Lakes. Here at Fjärdbotten.

Gralian at Lustholmen. H and J L. Had a memorable evening on board after grilling together. Interior as in the 30's. Ships library as well.

A small bay east of Sundsvall. Early morning sea fog. 

What a town center . After fire at beginning of 19 th. centuary stone replaced wood. 

The approach to Sundsvall . To get the through traffic out of town build a wee bridge (38 m clearance ).

Midsummer in Sweden: families gather, trad. music, young girls with garlands of wild flowers. Still in Skatan. Old fishing village now well up market.

Only fly in ointment, large gin palace who feels need to show off his ghetto blaster. Hopefully the kids go to bed before long!

Tomorrow Sundsvall and then the "Höga Kusten" before across to the "Quark" and the Finnish coast.

On the eve of the UK possibly setting sail westward, an item for those south of the Channel following our driftings:

The Kings Singers:

Into the sheltered bay of Skatan! More fine fish. Outside the mist continues, water temperature about 14 deg. C.

Heading north in thick mist. Appropriate for today.

The road winds on through the forest. Wooden houses hidden away. Elk and bears also hidden, skipper sceptical: better to stay on board and keep out of forest. "If you go down to the woods tonight...".

Iron Age burial mounds bear witness to long tradition of habitation.

Or the local town. Those of you who have travelled in the states will probably recognise the style from else where. We were driven here by the harbour lady. Most helpful.

The boathouse style:

Stayed put today so here are a few impressions:

Mellanfjärden. Small fishing village waiting for midsummer madness. Delectable smoked salmon for supper. Restaurant open. Passage planning for tomorrow not primarily determined by wind forecast.