10th -15th July 2017 Hogmarso

We left Malma Kvarn for Gallno for a second visit, just a matter of sixteen miles, no longer and anchored in the same place as before. I inflated the dinghy but found it was taking a long time before I realised the pump handle and stem had become loose and much air was escaping. That corrected inflation was easy enough. This time I tried the electric outboard on a longer trip; perhaps a kilometre in all. It worked fine and I have not really tested yet its endurance. We stayed there two nightswith no more than three other boats visible, surrounded by beauty and very peaceful. We did notice the distant noise of fast powerboats, but it was far away.
We then left for Ingmarso and were lucky to find a place on the long bridge pontoon to shore, having to miss a large motor boat and still come parallel to the quay with the wind behind us. Lena, the harbourmaster helped us as she often did. We tied up and other boats arrived round us while we wondered how we would be able to leave. Ingmarso was as lovely as ever and we both regret that this harbour will close at the end of the season as both harbourmaster and boatyard owner are retiring.

Barbeques on the rocks at Ingmarso

We did manage to get out of the harbour and Badger, for once behaved impeccably when in reverse Hogmarso and then raising sail for a lovely, if slow, passage under a following breeze north through a wriggly path between scattered islands. After this we had to turn west to go south of  Sjalbottna before heading north to reach and cross the main shipping channel. In the distance to the north east we could see a couple of ships end on but it was unclear whether they were coming or going. Luckily no ships were approaching from the south east as just at this spot they make a quick turn through about 20 degrees making it very difficult to predict their arrival time. We made it still with the ships fairly distant and sailed on and saw this remarkable  autogyro.

We eventually lowered sail,  arrived at Hogmarso and tied up safely to a padded pontoon. Hogmarso is home to a shipyard, Furusunds Slip by name that has a wonderful collection of projects., many pretty derelict.  The biggest is undoubtedly a huge Chines Restaurant on a barge with dragon head and tail.

The main working project is window replacement on a submersible tourist boat. The new perspex windows being fitted are about three inches thick. There's another identical boat near by.
The Yard also houses a quite good open air restaurant and nearby is a good food shop. The moorings are free but absolutely no services are provided, no water, toilets, showers, electricity, nothing. It does attract strange yachts and one inhabitant is a 3-4 deck motor yacht about 20 metres long. It is much too large to fit into most marinas and this spot with restaurant and wrecks on one side a pretty islands on the other is a good spot to visit. In addition ocean liners silently go by on their way into Stockholm every now and then. Many prosperous people live here at least in summer and this is an attractive estate.

Hogmarso house and garden

We will be off to Norrtalje next attending a music festival and hoping not to have strong easterly winds.