Sulkava - Savonlinna great day. Luckily it did not snow

We started at noon our trip to Savonlinna. It was quite rainy day, but luckily it did not rain snow. Anyway the Saimaa scenery is beautiful. After four hours we were finally in Savonlinna. Wet but happy. Small incident was that we missed the buoy and the skipper had to swim the rope to the buoy. Water was not too cold - neither warm about 16 - 17 degrees Centigrade. after all we know everything shrinks in the water... We ate nearby Savonlinna Linnakrouvi (exellent +++). The vendices were the best so far (second Sulkava third in Lappenranta's "Prinsessa Armaada". The forecast promised rainy day for tomorrow too, so we probaly stay here an extra day. If we are in the cultural mood we might even visit the Opera-festival (if get tickets and the show is suitable). No go to sleep and tomorrow we continue again to the new adventures.

After Mexico back in rainy Finland (refreshing)

We stayed another night in Puumala, and started refreshed this morning our way towards Savonlinna. The day was cloudy but quite warm (18 degrees) just before we reached our goal the rain started and we all get wet. We decided to stay overnight in Sulkava (a village where they have a huge rowing competition yearly). You can see from the pictures the local (wet) views. Tomorrow Savonlinna.

Just staying in Cougartown

Aquiladeux is staying in Cougartown (Puumala) for a while.

Lappeenranta - Puumala

After a good sleep, we sailed with "his masters voice" from Lappeenranta to Puumala. Day was beautiful. wind was blowing 4-5 m/s from W / SW. Trip took totally Seven hours. Tomorrow we will gather sights in this tiny village next to the second biggest bridge in Finland. Theguest harbour is quite interesting. You have to drive under the bridge to the docks. Boom mooring seems to be fine.

His masters's voice arrived

Two beautiful summer days have passed in Lappenrants. Today in the afternoon the next crew (Skippers wife Ani) arrived. We tasted some Vendice in a famous "Prinsessa Armaada" which is an old steamboat that serves now as a restaurant. Our aim is to go slowly towards Savonlinna. Hopefully the weather stays as good as it is. Finnish summer is probably the best in the world. Warm and white summer nights in the beautiful lakeside is magic.

Santio - Lappeenranta 30.6.2012

6.00 am start, maybe little be too early over the border. In the previous evening we met a very strange guy from Germany who is wintering always with his boat and girlfriend/wife in Labrador. He never pays anything for food so he hunts, fish and probably steals to earn his lifestyle, landowners in Saimaa region beware. He followed us the whole day and was a kind of gentleman who we do not want to see ever again. It must be sometimes hard for the wife to be with this "forrester". Otherwise the day was fine. we arrived in Lappenranta at 23.15. More than 70 nm for the day. Quite good. Now we are in lake Saimaa 100 meters above the sea.

Santio - the borderline of Europe and Russia

We (me and my crew Ari) arrived with a bus to Kotka at 10.30. Immediately we tried to start the engine.... but no action. The battery was totally empty, and actually broken (totally dry). Luckily we got a new one (this time dry). And at 12.00 we were ready to set sails to the borderland.... Arrived Santio at 16.30. Santio is the last resort before the great Russia. Borderland of Europe (Finland) and Russia. Early morning we direct our nose to Saimaa channel.

Helsinki-Kotka 65 nm

We started at 5.00 in the morning with our brave and professional crew. We had fair and quite low winds the whole day. We managed to show a corner of the sails in the front of Loviisa before Kotka when the wind raise up to 4 m/s! Thereafter we met some showers and a small thunder that luckily passed us. Total trip 65 nm, done in 11 hours. Very good transfer trip. We stay in Sapokka until we leave to santio and Lappeenranta via Vyborg. Thank you Anna!

Tomorrow transfer to Kotka

Early tomorrow morning, I will collect the professional crew (Anna) and we set our course to the east. Target is to take AquilaDeux with one leg to Kotka. Where on Friday we continue towards to the Saimaa channel. Saimaa channel is a way to the Saimaa lakes of Finland. Target is to be on Saturday in Lappeenranta. If everything goes Ok, the crew (Ari) for the channel (through Russia) will arrive on Friday to Kotka and we set our nose immediately to the border control in Santio. From Santio we will continue towards Vyborg early Saturday morning towards Lappeenranta via Saimaa channel. Let's see how the plan will work. The weather forecast gives us fairly low fair wind for tomorrow.

Midsummer

22nd of June For midsummer's eve Aquiladeux sailed to Juha's & Mari's summer place in Sipoo near Helsinki. Sun shined fully from the blue sky and we enjoyed the evening and night at their place. 23rd we sailed back to the home docks. It was raining cats and dogs. At home totally wet, but happy. Thanks J&M

Evening sailing villingin venda

I was lucky to grab from local pubs a lousy crew (Ipu and Per) for the evening "race" about +/-10 nm organized by eastern sailing clubs of Helsinki. We took part in the"huge boat" class LYS 1,20 or more (we have 1,20) Weather could not be better SW win 5-6 m/s. Traditionally the start failed so we crossed the start line one minute too late. Luckily somebody found some beer to wash away the taste of blood from our mouths. The beer helped and soon we passed FinnGulf 33 (LYS 1,24) with ultra professional crew (Skipper and 2 kids). After showing some true sport spirit by waving hands, shouting slogans and blowing horns our glorious team was able to keep ahead of them until the finishing line. We reached clearly the silver position (of three yachts), a Beneteau first 36,7 was the lucky winner). Nice evening. Good start for the new sailing season. Thank you crew!

Windy start and in the end of the day Sunny!

We left the island at 10.00. The wind was still quite high but after 13.00 it start to go down. at 15.00 there was practically no wind an we had to start the engine. The was less and less clouds the closer we approached Helsinki. Just 15 minutes before mooring the sun started to shine. We attached the ropes at 16.45 Fine Day.

Windy day but finally we took off

After windy morning (20 m/s S) we waited the wind go down. At 17.30 we finally left Loviisa. Good speed (max more than 8 knots we sailed to Bockhamn 20 nm from Loviisa. Now we grill some some sausages and enjoy the moment. Tomorrow to Helsinki