Höstmöte 2011 - Mariefreds Båtklubb

16
Peter and Mariann’s first run to
Oxelösund, and later for Michele
and Anna-Lena’s 500nm journey
from Oxelösund to Göteborg.
Michele was of a mind to
turn back. Dark clouds were in
my head, all those years of boat
engines and never a new one –
straight off the shelf, as was the
case with Westerbeke D12.
”Cause finally found, electric
cable to alarm-thermostat hanging
loose. Foot broken off. Repaired
with twine and tape”. And it held
for another 1000nm.
From then on the journey across
the North Sea was fairly smooth.
At 02.15 on
June 27th,
we were “steaming at 5.5 knots,
engine at 2800 rpm, fresh breeze
from north east”.
By 06.20 the wind direction was
north “lumpy sea – speed motorsailing,
6 knots.
At midday we changed our compass
heading to 250 to take us
closer to longitude 57+. The log
notes: “Michele a little queasy.
Peter and Björn nibbling on a little
breakfast”. For this part of the
day we were able to sail at about
5 knots. By 20.30 the wind had
eased and speed was down to 3.9
knots so the engine was started.
By 23.00 the sea was calm.
The log notes “have identified
Mandal and Lindesnaes lighthouses”
and continues “distance
to waypoint 18 (off Kinards Head
in Scotland) 358 nautical miles”.
Just after midnight on the
28th of June
we were “almost abeam Mandal”.
By 01.00 “Mandal light abeam
Delilah´s segling till Irland
– house lights visible onshore, harbour
entrance lights showing”.
After motoring through the night
we filled the tank at 08.10 calculated
about 18 litres used in 23
hours motoring (mostly at tick-over
speed).
“09.00 – Björnie awake, Michele
asleep and first real wind since
night time. Gentle northerly
breeze, speed with engine immediately
up to 5.20 knots”.
By two o’clock that day Norway
had slipped from sight and we were
on the open sea. We motor-sailed
on through a mostly calm sea.
At 18.30 we spotted our first oilrig.
At 19.40 the log notes “whale surfaced
twice”. At 22.45 “Sunset,
calm sea, light breeze”.
June 29th
began much the same. Calm seas,
slight breezes, motor-sailing, calm
onboard. A few ships were spotted
in the distance. There was little
traffic on the radio. Magnificent
sunrise at 04.50. At 05.45 “wind
freshened and moved more NW.
Set genoa again. Speed increased
by 1 knot to 5.8 knots. At 07.00
the logs notes that we had been on
the move for 56 hours and had covered
273 nautical miles.
10,30 “School of dolphins (x4)
follow boat. Björn catches all on
camera”. Later they were joined
by a 5th and played games with us
for almost an hour.
“11.15 – second school of dolphins
(x3) join in, different type, yellow/
beige, white grey and black.
11.40 – both schools leave”.
“15.30 – Tightened engine mounting
bolts. Drained diesel filter.
Checked all other nuts and bold