20-21 September. AquilaDeux to winter rest

 It is still green around, but autumn comes fast. Next wee the weather forecast is presuming even frozen nights. It is time to accept the truth that the Sailing season is over in  these latitudes.

Jaska and Pasi joined the transfer crew. Naturally the Skipper also participated. The weather was warm and almost windless - so we used the engine for the transfer.

Exactly like the previous year we targeted to Sulkaniemi for the first night. Sulkaniemi is an Island owned by Merenkävijät (the sailing club where AquilaDeux is a member).

 When we arrived at Sulkaniemi we first opened red wine bottle to toast for the nice trip. Naturally we went to the Sauna for the evening and enjoyned dinner afterwards. The Sauna was well heated. Thanks for the previous visitors.

                                         AquilaDeux in the middle of calm Autumn moment
.

 In Sulkaniemi there was three other yachts that arrived before us. In the morning we targeted to Loviisa, where AquilaDeux is always wintering in Loviisan veneveistämö - a local wharf.

 

The day was totally windless - and also rainless - so we used again the Diesel power to move and we all reached Loviisa dry and were also able to pack the sails dry for winter.

 

Thanx Jaska and Pasi.

 

14th of September 2014. Another Saturday when AQ2 beats S/Y Sunday

                                         AquilaDeux moored waiting for the match race.
                                         Decision: No coefficients used.
                                         Route from Vyborg Stone to the Särkkä. 

                                         Our Crew: Skippers mother. The "Skipperin"

                                          Skippers sis' Mirja. The "pocket rocket"

                                         On the deck you see Helmi and Milla (Mirja's children).
                                         The Yacht behind is a racer S/Y Sunday with 100%
                                         experienced crew. Skippered by Erkki the AQ2 Skip's
                                         Brother.

                                         And here you see also Kalle (Mirja's son, also called
                                        "Popeye the Sailor") on the rope excercise with Helmi

After a short meeting o shore we decided to match around Santahamina to Särkkä.
Wind was blowing fro E -SE about 6 m/s (perfect!) - Goal was on the west so we sailed on open fair wind. AquilaDeux has a possibility to use Spinnaker (not really with this crew) And S/Y Sunday used Gennaker (Which is really well done because Erkki was alone in his Ultra-fast racing boat Finngulf 33).

We sailed quite close to each other, but S/Y Sunday was not able to pass us. AQ2 crossed the finishing line first.

Fantastic sunny Day. Thank You crew! Thank You Erkki!

Filling up the tanks

Another fantasic sunny day in Helsinki. Today we packed the crew to the boat and targeted to the filling station to fill the tanks with Diesel and add anti-bacterial growth media.

Tanks are now filled. Nice sailing Day. Thanx Matias and Laura.

Within two weeks back to the whrf for winter.

Another Sunday sailing Day

 At noon the crew arrived (skippers' sis') and we threw the ropes to the docks. Outside the Villinki Island just after the Vyborg's rock we set the sails up.

The wind was blowing  SW 3-4 m/s so we got quite nice front wind. Our speed even reached 6,5 knots under these conditions. We sailed around Santahamina, Suomenlinna, Särkkä and so on... Finally we sailed slowly in from the Sea port (merisatama).

 After merisatama we set the headsail back and sailed until we reached the Santahamina Bridge where we took the sails down.

 Sister was very capable as crew! Real deckmonkey?

Finally at the homedocks. Nice day. Could have been longer!

Some video feed from the Helsinki-Tallinn race 2013

Check the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YD6-QPTLU&feature=share

Nice day!

16-18th of August Helsinki-Tallinn race 2013

 This year we participated in LYS  2 class. The goal is first of all get over the finish line and secondary to beat S/Y Sunday where the Skipper's bro sailed. Our start was 19.38.30 and SY/Sunday crossed the start line at 19.49.00.

The start went fine (or we thought so). Five minutes after the start we managed to get the kite up and we probably won two thre extra minutes by using it. The first leg from Start line to Helsinki lighthouse went OK. As always the results are done in the dark night between Helsinki and Tallinn lighthouses.

This time after passing the lighthouse we continued with the W-SW wind until the wind shifted. The timing of the turn was perfect. Directly to the Tallinn lighthouse. We arrived in the finish line at 04.10. Our position was that time the 26th. The night was very bright and the visibility was excellent. Wind was also favourable for us (7-10 m/s) and the old heavy boat also behaved well in the waves.

 

 In the morning we checked the result list and noticed that we got a 25 minutes penalty from too early start (2 seconds!). Luckily it dropped us only four positions and in the end we were 30/39 participants. Even with the extra 25 minutes we kept S/Y Sunday behind.

 

 On the Saturday evening we had the traditional grill-party with the S/Y Sunday crew. A lot of fun!

 On Sunday the 19th we started at 11 with a race with S/Y sunday back home. Fantastic day. Sun shined and we had a possibility to sail with spinnaker over 7 hours.

Finally we moored in home port at 11.00. Next year a we race again.

Helsinki-Tallinn race 2013

Today the 16th of August at 19.38.30 AquilaDeux starts in Helsinki-Tallinn race. Weather forecast. 7-9 m/s W-SW.

Standard crew:
- Petri as  THE skipper
- Jaska as a steerman
- Stidi as a strategist
- Pekka and Anssi are the deck crew

Tomorrow we see the results.

Follow the link to see the location in the real time:

 http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0RMFRz1qE7bSHiOeiBSOrjqB788phZ164

Tomorrow Helsinki-Tallinn race

She is now ready (without the bicycle) for tomorrows challenge. This Year we participate to the normal LYS-class. Our estimated start should be before 20.00.

This is the 8th time for AquilaDeux and the 10th time for the Skipper to participate in Helsinki-Tallinn race.

The wind forecast shows western wind around 7 m/s to the start. It should change to the southern wind around midnight. So these are the start arguments for strategy. Very probable that we start with the Spinnaker.

To keep the crew strong there will be some Shepherd's pie (with Rioja) and German sandwiches on the race menu.

Training to Helsinki-Tallinn race: Aq2 vs Mafalda 10th of August

 This time we collected all the crewmemberes and their spouses two two yachts. The aim was to have a small race (13 nm) to Juha's and Mari's hacienda. Have a lunch there and then go back to Helsinki.

 We divided the crew so that Pekka, Mikaela, Anssi and Ani + Skipper were in AquilaDeux. Stidi, Siina, Jaska and Mervi in Mafalda. The race started at 10.30. and we used LYS rating for scores.

  

 The crew in Aq2 was very beautiful (as always) and also well motivated as you can see from the picture.

 Spinnaker training went just perfect! It took only half an hour to get the Kite up. And we even used it almost a minute!

AquilaDeux reached the goal 9 minutes 45 seconds before Mafalda.... but actually lost to Mafalda 5 minutes and fifteen seconds after using the LYS coefficients.

 At Juha's and Mari's (the no 1 port in the Finnish gulf) there was finally 15 people (Jussi and Sari also arrived with their yacht). There we had some nice lunch grilled by Pekka and Jaska and enjoyed our time together.. Thanx again The J&M's.

At 19 we set sails back to the west. Mafalda stayed in Aq2 home docks overnight. Small beer tasting before falling asleep.

Fantastic day. Thanx to all!!!

The sunset in the Gulf of Finland

 

3rd - 4th August - weekend in Tallinn

 The Skipper's sis and her children (four!) joined the sailing team and packed themselves in the boat already on the Friday evening to have a fresh start early next morning to Tallinn.

 The Skipper woke at 4.30 and the mooring ropes were disconnected at 5.00. As you can see from the pic - there was absolutely no wind - dead calm. Somehow half an hour later we got some wind and so we set the sails on.

We sailed until Helsinki lighthouse, where we realized that unfortunately we have to start an engine to get at time in Tallinn - the ports can be full. Actually we got the last place in the Tallinn old city Harbour (in the middle of the city!). In the marine we joined Skipper's brother and his Family + good ole Mama. In the evening the group collected themselves in the restaurant Controvento (Excellent ***** experience -with Ripasso wine. Nice company - good night sleep!

 The port was full of Nice yachts around Europe: From Finland, Sweden, Germany, Poland Neatherlands (in the picture- fantastic teak design), Russia GB.... etc... probably one of the busiest weekends in the summer (as we know the northern summer is short - but full of light and good feelings).

After waking up freshly the next morning we started the transportattion back to Helsinki. Somewhere at 11.00 a.m next to the Tallinn lighthouse very thick fog appeared and made the moving a little bit more careful - luckily the AIS-radar was installed and worked! The wind raised in the International waters blew and  the fog away. Then we were even lucky to get some wind to try the sails too! We arrived in Helsinki from beautiful Kuninkaansalmi gateway. At 16.45 we moored the Yacht to home docks.

Thanx Mirja & Family. Nice trip + good food & company.

12-14 July weekend in the City

On Friday we started with Matias and Laura sailing the Yacht to the Helsinki City.Beautiful Day! After two hours sailing we reached the Katajanokka guest harbour where we moored AquilaDeux. The young ones went home and the skipper stayed in the yacht in the middle of Helsinki.

 On Saturday his masters voice, daughter and mother in law came to have a lunch on the yacht. Short visit to the city and wondering around the market square was a little bit different weekend. Sitting in the cockpit looking the sea traffic.... what a peaceful place.

 Sunday noon his masters voice came with Matias, Anna and Maria. We all wend to have a lunch in a Sailors restaurant Salvé. Greasy food!

After heavy ratios Matias joined and we returned to the home docks...

Midsummer magic 20-21st of June

Again we were invited at Juha's and Mari's summer hacienda near Helsinki. Traditionally we sailed there. Beautiful midsummers eve.... Supermoon was watching us from the sky magic....

There we enjoyed a nice midsummer eve and the next day with a great company, food and wine. Thanx again J&M.

By the way: the Finnish police publiced a new midsummer spell: " If you stand up drunken in your rowing boat durig the midsummer night, you migt see future widow on the shore" - blcak humor.

2nd of June 2013 Sunday sailing...

Early Sunday morning the Skippers sis'  arrived to the boat and requested Sunday sailing. Who can deny that.

So we set our sails around Santahamina and back to the docks.

Must admit that she is quite a good deck monkey.

Thanx Mirja