After launch I "tuned" the mast while Kristin orted the cabin and then we fitted the boom and dealt with a jam in the jib furling system. I did this by loosening the drum outer casing so it would rotate round the forestay and so was able, more easily to undo the riding turns inside the drum that were the root cause of the problem. I ended up with less turns on the drum but still enough to furl the jib completely.
On Tuesday 27th We fitted the mainsail and Calpack followed by the jib. Were were by now running late on our schedule. We had to be at the German church in Stockholm by 1300 Tuesday ad were worried by the poor weather. Accordingly we paid our bill at the Varv and put the cqar in the warm hall as usual leaving a bit later than we would have liked on Wednesday after I'd mad a hash of departure and backed hard into a pontoon. The forecast was for reasonable weather that day but poor the next day or so. We had a good westerly to start with and sunshine for the journey wish was towards the Sodertalje canal and lake Malaren.
We enjoyed the sail but, within sight of the ship route to Sodertalje, got caught by an intense shower squall where we had to concentrate on keeping safely on track to avoid the rocks. We considered whether to stop for the day at Skansholmenn but it seemed preferable to continue. We then got caught by a very cold NW rain squall and had to furl the jib and again steer with considerable care to avoid a notorious rock before reentering the ship channel. Eventually the rain stopped, the sun emerged and we continued peacefully to the entrance to the first Sodertalje canal. Just before this we saw a ship very slowly approaching from behind which was a worry and then a ship emerging from the canal and approaching from in front. Clearly the ship behind had been waiting for the latter ship to clear the canal. There was no point in trying to stay ahead of the ship behind us so we circled and then followed it to Sodrtalje marina where we stopped for the night. having made a passage of 49 miles. We were tired and stayed the next night as well.
Friday 29th
With another OK forecast we made it through Sodertalje lock at 0930, passed under the following bridge into the second canal section and out onto Lake Malearen where we had a following breeze so unfurled the jib and had a lovely sail till we had to turn east into narrow waters and lost the breeze. The passage to Stockholm was peaceful except that Hammarby lock now has a nasty system for collecting money. One has to use a portable card meter which needs two hands. The only means of attachment provided are short lines to hang onto. With only two people on board this just does not work unless one moors up properly. One CAmember has already lost a credit card in this lock. The process is extremely slow so will be a nightmare in high summer. Danviks Bron, surprisingly delayed us very little and we were welcomed into Wasahamnen and immediately fell into Blau Porte restaurant for a celebratory meal.
The weather contined being cold particularly at night with cabin temperature of about 11C which meant wearing thermals n bed, a thermal blanket over all and running the electric fire in the morning.
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