Monday 22 August 2011

Bajamaja boys in Helsinki-Tallinn race 2011








The 2011 Helsinki-Tallinn race was started the 19th of August at 18.00 as AquilaDeux participated in the class Business-LYS. At the beginning the wind blew from the south between 3-4,5 m/s and we had to made some five stiches until the wind started to raise and also turned eastwards.

We passed the Helsinki lighthouse at 20.30 45 minutes after the fastes yacht in our class. The same time the wind started to raise and reached 11-13 m/s on the top.

Between Helsinki lighthouse and Tallinn Lighthouse we reached our best speed, 11,1 knots as a top speed and 8,5 knot as medium speed.

We had nice meal before sunset made by Ville, that looked like crap (on the photo), but tasted like something else.

Finally we reached the goal at 01.15.05 being 17/35 but only 29 minutes behind the winner after using the handicap-coefficients.

On Saturday evening we used the yachts grill once again. It was too windy to use it on the docks so we found nice windshield behind the bajamajas. We also renamed the crew that is from now on called as "bajamaja boys" ("And thou name will be ye olde bajamaja boys" as it is officially written on the babtism ceremony that was highly secret).

Horse filé in the chantarel-sauce. Great. Sipped down with some wine and beer (Medoc 1998, and some Chablis 2005 + naturally Pilsner Urquell is a must).

After that we spend speculations-party until 3 a.m.

Next day we engined back to Helsinki, because there was no wind. Thanx Crew, it was fun!

Friday 19 August 2011

Helsinki - Tallinna Race 2011


Today it starts again: Helsinki - Tallinna Race 2011.


AquilaDeux will participate in the class "Business-LYS", the start will be in front of western Helsinki at 18.00. About 36 yachts will participate in this class. Totally 182 yachts will participate the race this year.

Forecast is that we will face 3m/s wind from (S-SE) for the start. It will turn to eastern wind 5-7 m/s and in the early morning even 9-11 m/s.

The crew will be the traditional crew for this race: Petri (Skipper), Jaska (Pilot), Stidi (Strtegist), Erkki (2nd skipper, deckmonkey), Ville (Grand Chef), Pekka (deck-officer) and Anssi (freshman as deckmonkey). The report will follow.

Saturday 13 August 2011

Sulkaniemi the 12th-13th of August



We waited already on Thursday to start the trip to the east, but because of the heavy rains we postponed the start until Friday morning.

The day was beautiful only 2-3 m/s wind from the east. After two and half hours ride we reached the Sulkaniemi (place owned by Merenkävijät - the yachting club). We were first timers there but very nice people took our ropes and welcomed us there.

Somewhere at 19.30 also Jaska and Mevi our friends arrived with Mafalda their Hallberg Rassy. We sat down and chatted together sipped some wine and enjoyed the nice natural port nearby Onas in the archipelago of Porvoo.

In the morning after having some morning coffee we started to prepare ourselves for the fishing competition. Simple rules: all the fish are measured from head to tail and the length of the all the fish one can catch within one hour are measured. I personally got ten fish with total length of 146 cm (I was 14th!) Jaska was even much better he got total length of 2,5 meters and position the 4th.

After the fishing competition we set our sails back to home port and did not - unfortunately - joined the evening party.

What a nice and sunny weekend with pleasant people.

Saturday 6 August 2011

Eestiluodon malja - another sailing experience

The whole crew collected in Jollas and the we sailed towards kallahdenselkä where the race started. The race was quite interesting, not only because we were the last but also because wether changed a lot during this four hour trip.

We had wind from South, SW, and West. The windspeed varied between 2,5 and 11 m/s. Some rain and also some sunshine.

Everything for each taste.

Thank You crew! We had fun

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Saturday the 6th of August: Eestiluodon malja


On Saturday there will be the first "training" for the Helsinki-Tallinna race.













We will participate on the short local race "Eestiluodon malja" (Orders in Finnish: http://www.marjaniemen-purjehtijat.fi/05_kilpailut/2011_KilpailuohjeELUOTO2011.pdf)

The crew will be as follows:
- Petri as a Skipper
- Stidi as a piano man
- Pekka and Anssi A as deckmonkeys
- Mirja Grand Chef.... we are waiting for surprisingly good food from her

Skipper meeting at MP on Friday evening.