190929 Ystholmen
23 September Monday Bohus Malmön + 5 km walk
Tonight we have had some wind but in the protected little fishing harbour we slept well in spite of some noise. Early morning we woke up as the first Lobster fishermen left the harbour. This was the start of Lobster season. The Lobsters are only allowed to picked from today and three months on.
After an early breakfast we moved to the marina outside the harbour. The wharf in the harbour is very high and we wanted to use the pontoon in the marina to be able to rinse the rub rail and the cap rail standing on the pontoon. Another advantage is that the marina is closed, meaning no payment but still electricity and water at the pontoons.
First we took a hike on the northern part of the island and had lunch when we came back, before starting with our outdoor work. The port side of the boat was finished just as we had to walk to our friends hose in time for dinner. As usual, when sailing, midnight comes early. Shortly after sunset we walked back to Moon in the last evening light before dark.
24 September Tuesday Bohus Malmön – Ulebergshamn 10 nm + 5 km walk.
Not the same fabulous sun we got used to during a week.
After breakfast we turned Moon around to be able to get to starboard side from the pontoon. Soon the cap rail and rub rail on both sides were nice and free from stain and grey lose teak. Hope to get some Chinese Tung oil onto them before they become dirty again. Before noon we had sunshine again.
At noon we sailed north in a very weak breeze making only 3 knots. Motored through the Soten Channel, where the swing bridge opened for what we believe the only boat today.
In Ulebergshamn we moored inside the break water pier and walked up to friend’s house. We had coffee and then a walk up in the old quarries with lots of history.
Back in the house we were served dinner together with lots of talking about cruising and boats, before we after sunset waked back to Moon.
25 September Wednesday Ulebergshamn – Kalvö Hamn 20 nm
Quiet night with no wind. Overcastted when we woke up, and the only sound was some gulls and one lobster fishing boat. During breakfast we got some sunshine between the clouds. We were running out of high pressure! Did some writing and reading before we took a walk, cast our lines and sailed north.
Difficult to have constant wind between the islands when the wind is easterly. Sometimes we are sailing in eight knots, and sometimes we are drifting in no wind at all. The final part of the daytrip we choose to sail outside of the islands to have more stable wind. We were able to reach our destination almost without using the engine.
Moored completely alone in the little old fishing harbour of Kalvö in early afternoon. Annika oiled the teak on the cap rail and Moon looks like a new boat again.
Dinner and already at eight o’clock we started to feel like it was time to go to sleep. To much oxygen and outdoor work!
26 September Thursday Kalvö – Tjärnö 11 nm 5 + 2 km walk
Quiet morning with some cleaning up after yesterday’s work with the teak.
After breakfast we took a walk around the linked islands Kalvö and Lindö. There are actually three islands together, but Trossö to the south we had walked across last time we were here.
After noon we sailed north to Tjärnö, just south of Strömstad, to deliver our”tiller pilot” to a guy living there.
Anchored in his bay and had a pleasant evening in his house where his wife had prepared a delicious seafood dinner. It turned out that we shared several friends, among others his brother whom we met first time in Itaparica, Brazil! Happens all the time when sailors meet sailors.
27 September Friday Tjärnö
Heavy rain all day since early morning that didn’t stop until sunset.
Spent all day at anchor sitting at the dining table with either food or work.
28 September Saturday Tjärnö – Sydkoster – Brevik 5+2 nm 5+5 km walking
The rain came back during the night and we still had a light drizzle during breakfast. Weigh anchor and motored towards Koster. Half way the rain came back and we had to wait an hour after moored at a jetty between North and South Koster.
When the rain finally stopped we walked to the little grocery shop in the middle of the south island to get some provisions. After five km both ways we were back in Moon and cast our lines to go to Brevik, a little harbour on the south west coast of south island.
Found a good spot inside the breakwater. Before the weather changed again we took another 5 km walk around the southern part of the island. We discovered that we were almost the only Swedes in the harbour, all Norwegians! OK we are close to the border, but this is almost ridiculous.
Ended a nice day with salmon baked in the oven.
29 September Sunday Brevik – Ramsö – Ystholmen north of Havstenssund 9 nm
No wind at all during the night in spite there was a fresh breeze in the forecast. The morning was quiet with the surroundings mirroring in the sea.
Of course there was wind towards the pontoon when we were ready to leave. But space enough to use a spring line and a big fender to get out with no problem. The archipelago of Koster is famous for it’s fouled waters. But careful plotting took us through the unmarked waters to Ramsö where we tried to find a spot at the wharf. But to many Norwegian boats and nobody seemed to be interested to make room for us. Instead we turned around and sailed across Koster Rännan (Channel) to the mainland and found a perfect spot to moor to the cliff in time for a beautiful sunset. There are several places where you can moor to cliffs like you are at a wharf. Very practical to go ashore not using the dinghy.
At sunset we had mirror like water reflecting the sun during our dinner.
A&B