Friends - we are now at Helsinki and friends Heather and Alan will leave us in a few days to return home.
Our last report was from Mariehamn.
26/6
Leaving there we had a problem with the water supply. Excessive pressure on the foot pump displaced a seal so I had to dismantle it and refit it. However, this gave me the excuse to clean the fluff out of the fridge motor and condenser.
We left in time for the 11 am opening of the Lemstroms Canal bridge and we had a slow fine weather sunny sail accross Lumparn to Bomarsund. Here the first VC was awarded to a British sailor who picked up a smoking shell and flung it overboard. This was in the Battle of Bomarsund, where an anglo French force attacked and took the russian fortress there in a few days with light casualties. We moored at Bomarsund Marina which is very dramatic. Board walk on smooth granite slope facing high red granite cliff crowned with fir trees. We scrambled over the fort ruins and marvelled at the incompetent placement of the fort.
Next day we went to Kumlinge having a glorious sail through fairly open waters. The Kumlinge harbour has a new and better but pricey restaurant. the next day was very wet so we taxied to the famous church and I took many more photos. After this we retired to the boat to eat smoked fish and play Nap.
30/6
No wind so motored intially round N of Kulinge through v. narrow lead to open waters and then to Nagu - a matter of 44 miles. Noted on the way yet more peculiar buoys. On the main commercial rout are some plain green can shaped lateral buoys. They have no top marks and are quite impossible to identify up-sun.
Nagu is a large harbour and village dedicated to holiday makers and with a good fish stall. The surrounding skerries are high cliffed and splendid.
30/6
South along a good route to Keyserhamn discovering serious problems with toilet and holding tank en route. One problem was the vent pipe which was fitted with a stainess steel grill. This had unsurprisingly corroded and blocked. This was easily remedied but we still had problems. I chickened out of fixing them at Keyserhamn partly becuse we met Barry Davey. He tok us under his wing and entertained us then introduced us to the marvellous Farmers Cafe also recommended by Gavin and Terry Goudie.
1/7
Off to Hanko with a little sailing but reversion to engine as wind died. Usual difficult and confusing entrance to Hanko harbour to find most of the harbour filled up with racing sailors for Hano Week. We had to use the Yacht club which was at 30 euros the most expensive we had encountered. However facilities were good.
Alan and I started on the horrible job of dismanting the toilet and diverter valve. Thiis went reaonably well but by the time we had taken various bits to pieces, cleaned them, removed lime scale etc. worked out how they were supposed to work and then reasembled them and tested operation much time had passed. Further delays to clean us up and the relevant compartment by Heather occupied us till we could get out to supper at a very good restaurant.
2/7
Left Hanko managing to grt through two classes of racing yachts to make our way to the Ekenas estuary and along a long lead in weather initially hot and sunny but becoming cold and grey. The surrounds were very beatiful . Later in the day fast motorboats made life hideous raising metre high wakes. We ended the day feeling our way with considerable trepidation between reed beds to Elisaari. The depth was adequate in fact and our fears were groundless. We found later that the harbour will accommodate 140 yachts and is well equipped, perfectly sheltered and very beautiful indeed.
3/7
Off again to motor and sail 20 miles to Porkala. This peninsula, incredibly, was occupied by the Russians after the war till 1956 but traces are few. Also very pretty and well sheltered.
The next day we were worried by the forecast but in fact conditions were good. We went by as sheltered a route as possible through a very beautiful small skaergard till near Helsinki. The latter part of the trip was through the dock area - distinctly less pretty. However we found an apparent block of flats painted in bright colours which proved to be just containers stacked very high.
We arrived at Katanajokka Marina very happy to have completed this part of the trip and looking forward to some easy sightseeing.
Love to you all
Roger and Kristin.
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