Carra Tidings

Still not close enough to the camera!

As we left the harbour, a white tail eagle flew overhead, just as we were in the middle of putting the main up. We have seen several at close quarters but never when the camera is to hand. So I abandoned my duties and went into Blue Planet mode – and Mags was left to sort out the sails.

Our destination was the island of Jurmo – a pretty harbour, with the ubiquitous red boat sheds. But this Island’s claim to fame are proper highland coos. I went for a run but couldn’t find said coos but their relations provided mince which was made into a tasty meal with lentils.

Jurmo

The next day, we had peaceful sail to Nasby and we tried a new sail plan for running before the wind – using both our foresails goose winged (one either side). We have a spinnaker pole but it makes me nervous using it with all the rocks around.

Goose winging

But this worked a treat. Nasby had a little supermarket and it had been 11 days since our last visit to a supermarket – so I knew Mags was getting twitchy about running out of food – her fear and reality are poles apart due to the many tins of corned beef onboard – for some reason this doesn’t seem to placate her fears.

Coming into Korpo we attached to the buoy as usual, with the mooring hook or clicky buoy as we call it – but it fell at an awkward angle. It is a long metal pole with the hook at the end of it. I stopped the boat on the webbing as normal – but this bent the pole with load of the boat pulling at the wrong angle. It was only when we rode out to it to put a second line on the buoy did we realise it was bent and we couldn’t get it off. We removed the webbing leaving the mooring hook permanent attached to the buoy. This would be a hazard to us and anyone else when we left the mooring. But it was stuck firm…….so after a large dose of spinach and a tip from a local – I went off to try and unbend it. Success – well enough to get it off but not to be used again. Thankfully we had bought a spare – fearing this would happen as it was already slightly bent.

Yes my face is doing more work than my arms!

Some friends Pia, Jukka and Anni arrived by speed boat late afternoon from their summer cottage – they “popped over” – an hour away – it was lovely that they came over to see us. We had drinks on board and then had some yummy sticky spare ribs in the local restaurant.

I have decided I suffer from FMOONH – a fear of missing out on nice harbours – an unvisited top spot is like a scratch you have to itch. Last year, we hadn’t been able to go to a beautiful anchorage Toras Viken and then there was the one that Sakku had just told us about Gullskrona – apparently it had just reopened after a 10 year closure and used to be the most popular in the archipelago.

Well marked – 2 leading lines and channel marker

Though narrow channels, we had a lovely downwind sail 20nm to Gullkrona – Mags likes this point of sail. As there is no danger of tacking (interrupts the puzzle booking). The wind gradually built throughout the sail. Although there are no tides here, the water level does vary and we were -25cm below normal. Which meant there was only one place we could go in the harbour. It was down wind and slightly cross wind pick up of the stern buoy. We approached, Mags picked up the buoy and handed the webbing line over to me. I was focusing it rather than looking where we were going – and next thing I know Mags is screaming to go back. Not sure if this was due to a rock – I put into reverse at full speed – which then leaves you with the challenge of unhooking the stern buoy. All a bit hectic. We had been going in too fast and she wanted me to slow down. The reality was that this mooring spot was too exposed in this wind direction and we decided that we could live without the stress. This was definitely a case of wanting to visit and not really being realistic about the shelter of the harbour…. A lesson learnt. So Gullkrona will remain as a scratch not itched.

Unwelcome visitors in Toras Viken

The only problem was that the next harbour I wanted to go to was 20 miles in the direction we had just come from and back head to wind into a freshening breeze…. I was very popular. So by the end of the day we had done 40 miles to actually go 9 miles. We did manage to sail for about the last 2 hours – but it was a very long day. On the brightside, we arrived in Toras Viken, a natural harbour in glorious sunshine which scenery to life. It was over 6 weeks since we had anchored – so it was lovely to have the peace and quiet that an anchorage affords. Lots of reeds meant a good night’s sleep as you know the anchor will dig in well.