Hanko - again

We had really nice evening in the Island of Hiittinen where we visited our old friend Taina, her husband Hessu and son Emil.

There was a really beautiful hiding place just at the doorstep of the Archipelago. The servings were excellent and with the routine of a Stewardess Taina asked immediately : "who wants to have campari-orange, gin tonic or anything else?" GT was good and done without saving gin. Nice!

Today morning we took it easy (maybe a little hangover too) and went to have a breakfast in Kasnäs Restaurant. Good start for a new day!

About an hour before noon we took off and our nose was going towards hanko again.

We set our ropes in Itämeren Portti (the gate of Baltic) port, where we also enjoyed excellent but very s-l-o-w-l-y served dinner.

After that we visited the evening market and made bargain with some books from book antiqvariat.

Tomorrow we set our sails to Helsinki, where we are going to visit first time as tourists.

Via Helsingholm backwards to Kasnäs

A real boat-dog on the neighboring boat in Kasnäs.

Just before noon after the brunch (needless to say dandy), we set our sail towards Helsingholm.

After sailing an hour we reached our target and noticed that the port was quite full. The captain decided to go backwards to Kasnäs that we reached after two hours.

Fantastic day! The ladies went to buy some fish. We enjoyed warm smoked salmon with new potatoes.

In the evening we will meet Anis´ (The captains master)friend Taina for a beer in the Kasnäs terrace. Needless to say some sauna refreshment before the meeting.

Högsåra

After very nice Central European breakfast (fresh coffee, Croissants, hot milk) our brave crew set sail towards Högsåra at 8.15 in the morning.

In the beginning we got nice sidewind from S-SW that turned totally against us at Hiittinen.

Day was extremely sunny and the temperature raised up + 25 degrees till evening.
We reached Högsåra at 13.00 and got a nice place from the guest harbour that was practically half-empty.

We had a light coffee pause at famous Farmors Cafe (Grandmothers C). The quality was excellent.

In the evening we had a Sauna, and the Skipper himself made very good stroganoff-beef from fresh veal, cream and pickeled cucumbers, served with hot new potatoes and Chevre cheese, tomato and Basilique. We sipped down the dinner with well matured 1996 Chateauneuf de Pape wine.

Also the participants raised the dinners quality.

Tonigh we probably sleep well.

Hanko, extra day of resting

We woke up early morning fresh and with a nice smell of freshly cooked coffee. The mistress of the boat had made a fantastic breakfast to prepare us for the days adventures.

Just after the breakfast I heard that freshwater pump was pumping and all the taps were closed. Quickly I checked the hoses and found out that in one of the hoses there was a hole. Sunday, how to find a place that sells water tubes?

As a well known cosmopolitan I did as you do in the big world too: ask the Taxi driver. Within twenty minutes I found from local Teboil a hose that is suitable for this purpose. The tube cost 2,40 € and the taxi 15,00 €. After this the skilled McGyver fixed the problem.

Then we went to a little walk. We decided to walk along the fantastic Hanko beaches to the small café called Neljän Tuulen Tupa (The house of the four winds). This small coffeehouse is located 3 km from the city center and was previously owned by Marshall Mannerheim, the Finnish war hero.

In the small peninsula that is really open for all the winds. Sun was shining,nice company, excellent coffee. What else you need?

Tomorrow we are heading westwards, we will see where...

Hanko, Midsummer day

At 7.00 we started the transfer from Torsö to Hanko.

Feelings were very good, because the Midsummer eve wwas spent with a good company in an extremely nice place. Thanks to the hosts: Erkki, Niina,Aino, Ansa and Olli. It was especially nice to play "clue" with the kids.

Wind blew very low but all the time from the front. At the Tvärminne suddenly came the fog. No vision at all! Luckily we were not in the open sea on the traffic zones.

We reached Hanko at 12.00. Lifevests were tested at 12.02 - they work.

Now waiting for the extra crew: Ilkka and Maaru.

Happy Midsummer

Strange how the time flies. Last Summer we spent the midnight somewhere on the open sea - not seeing - but smelling the midsummer-fires of eastern Sweden.

Now we are safely Nearby Tammisaari, enjoying the rain (almost tradition). Did some shopping in the morning in the City, already visited Sauna.

In the evening we will smoke some fresh fish from the sea (we got plenty of them with "katiska").

Officially the "longest day is the 21st of June, but tonight the Finns (and other northern people) will have a festival for it. It has long roots before Christianity. Now the festivities are for the "John the babtist" but roots are pagan.

Tonight, the young ladies can see their future husband from the reflection of the spring, tonight everywhere there are huge bonfires around Baltic sea and Scandianavia. Tonight people get drunk. Tonight it is important for Finnish youngsters to get laid...

Tonight is just one of the most important parties of the year. The festivities of Juhannus.

From Tallinn to Torsö (near Tammisaari)

See the splendid sunset in the shortest night in Tallinn!

We slept well and went to do some shopping in the morning. His masters voice will be happy of all the Russian + Estonian jams & honey we found from Tallinn.

At noon we set sails to North and later NW. Again no wind. Not at all. What was interesting to find out that we did see the land all the time while you go from Tallinn to Porkkala.

We were in Torsö at 22.15 where my brother and his family waited with warm Sauna!

AquilaDeux will stay here over the midsummer. Next target Hanko (pa ruski Gangut).

These are the times of the shortest days here up in the North.

In Tallinn at - with engine

Dead calm day... no sails had to drive with the engine. Crew Matias and me ,the Skipper. Wind from the east as promised but max 1-2 m/s. No sun, but showers. Luckily not heavy. Great day. 50 NM to the logbook. Ratios filled (drinks) tomorrow we fill the food ratios.

In the evening we must go to the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa.

after visiting the city tomorrow we continue to Torsö (in Tammisaari, Finland). Weather forecast is promising and the showers should pass by.

What a fantastic feeling to be on the sea again.

To Tallinn!

See the happy Skipper ;-).
At 10.00 we start the trip to Tallinn. First we will fill the tanks with water and Diesel.

Weather forecast is ok: slight showers, mild wind eastwards peak 6 m/s.

We will arrive in Tallinn approximately at 18.00.

Fun!

Beauty behind the bushes...

Ready for Holidays. All unnecessary things are carried out. Boat is cleaned. Next week we start the sailing trip with Matias for this summer.

First thing we do is go to Tallinn to fill the ratios; like Beer, Rum, Iron-packs maybe even some vegetables (canned). Trip will happen if the weather is Ok on Monday.

From Tallinn we will set our sails to Tammisaari, where we will spend our midsummer in my bros cottage in the island of Torsö.

Then we pick up the crew from Hanko and sail without any specific target around the Turku-Åland archipelago. Just enjoy. No hurry.

Can't wait

Small storm in Helsinki

Yesterday the 12th of June I decided finally to change the main sheet and the main rail rope to the new ones.

In the morning I went to the Yacht and measured the ropes. Then went to the local rope-shop and purchased the ropes. Came home and stitched the eyes and ended the new ropes. Then went to the docs and noticed that I watched my yacht on the different view than normally. It seemed that the pontoons chain has failed. The wind was quite high actually blowing gale force 20+ m/s.

Immediately we got one rope to the free buoy next of the docks and with the help of firemen we attached the ropes to two other buoys and also we dropped an extra anchor to support the docks.

The same afternoon we heard the news that in Volvo-Suursaari race (offshore race)
90 % of the competitors had cancelled the race.

On Monday we hopefully get some repairs to the dock.

Waiting for this summers trip

Today is time to wash the teak-deck thoroughly. The weather gives possibility to do that. Universal stone seems to be excellent to all cleaning - also deck cleaning.

Somewhere in the end of the next week, the yacht will sail to Tallinn and from Tallinn we will set sails to Hanko and after the Midsommer the holiday starts.

The plan is to sail around the Turku and Åland Archipelago, without any certain plan. Just be and enjoy the summer. The crew will be Skipper, Ani + Ilkka and Maaru. On one week program includes full service to Maaru who got this promise as her fifty year's birthday on Spring.

After this trip we will probably sail to Porvoo or even more eastern to Kotka, but nothing is fixed yet. Several visits to Långholmen maybe (the island base of Marjaniemen purjehtijat).

We will see. No hurry, just enjoy.