Tuesday, 23. June 2009 : Heavy traffic crossing Skiftet
On Sunday noon, Hilkka and Smilla left Sir Francis. The abandoned skipper was invited for a delicious lunch at the old classic pub in the western harbour before leaving the crew at the Silja terminal.
Back to the eastern harbour, some completions to the grocery stock on the way, and soon, Sir Francis is on his way again.
These cold and windy days I started to understand the very British habit of tea drinking, and the reason why seamen often are pictured with a colourful necktie. There seems to be some similarity between the weather in the UK and on the open seas – chilly and wet. That’s why I tried the concept myself, and it works. Actually so well, that I continue to enjoy a nice cup of tea now and then, and keeping the necktie on while sailing, although temperatures have risen. But I have to admit: sometimes I add a nice shot of brandy to the nice cup of tea, just to feel a bit less British and more Austrian.
On Sunday evening, I found a nice and protected place at the north-eastern corner of Lumparn, a quiet and beautiful spot where my only company was an eagle who didn’t seem to care too much about Sir Francis.
A colleague from my old Philips-times called and invited for a Sauna bath at his summer place in the Aboland Islands, and I am looking forward to see Uffe and his wife Maritta again after some years.
Monday went with crossing the Skiftet, the open water between Åland and Finland. Very light winds gave a speed between 1 and three knots by sail. The picture illustrates the light wind capabilities of Sir Francis – more than two knots at 0.0 wind speed!
Berghamn at the eastern part of Skiftet looked like a nice spot to stay overnight, and well there, I was not disappointed. Anchored in a well protected pool, surrounded by beautiful rocky beaches, I enjoyed the evening sun until it went down at around 10:30.
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