The beautiful weather continues here in Ryfylke, south-west Norway. Tuesday October 1 came with nice, steady easterly breeze. Perfect for sailing, as the sea was smooth because the wind was coming from the land side. Often easterly winds here can get quite strong, coming down from the mountains, but not so now. I just regretted I coudn’t go, due to other obligations. But Wednesday I was ready.
I started out at 16.30, in a light, now westerly breeze, sailing north from here. However, as often happens, the wind died as the evening fell, and I had to go by engine to my destination, a nice little cove or bay, sorrounded by islands and skerries. I dropped anchor in one of my favourite places.
The evening was perfectly calm. I sat in the cockpit reading until darkness slowly fell, around 19.30. Then lit the anchor light and turned on the heater below. Reading continued in a warm and cosy cabin.
I was up in the middle of the night. Not a sound to be heard, not a ripple on the water, the sky was clear, and being far from cities and man-made light, I had an impressive view to the stars. Jupiter was high in the east, with Orion below, and in the north, The Dipper, or Ursa Major, stood on end, ready to empty its ladel as the night passed.
The night was cold, and as I don’t like to keep the heater on when I sleep, I cuddled under two duvets and a thick blanket. Morning was chilly too, with a light mist drifting over the water’s surface. A lonely heron cried out, as it spread its long wings, folded its neck and lifted gracefully from the skerry where it had been sitting.
Heater started, the temperature soon came up below, and a good breakfast warmed from within.
After a quiet morning, with some work done, I lifted anchor at 9.30 Thursday morning. Coming out from the bay, there was faint easterly breeze, and optimistically, I hoisted the sails. Could be a good opportunity to dry them out, at least. But we did get a few knots, 3,5 actually, and even though the wind died down to almost nil, we still kept a knot and a half. I had nothing to hurry back home for, food for a light lunch in the galley, and just let the boat sail or drift homewards. There was also a slight, favourable current, adding half a knot. So, at around midday, we drifted peacefully and slowly through the last, narrow passage, then started the engine for the final stretch home.
Here are some imperssions:
Seil i vestavind/home 