29th of August: evening sailing in front of Helsinki

 Happy crew on the docks before departuring to the sea. Tuukka, Anu, Petri and Elina

 In the beginning of the eveming, there was still wind. We decided to go around Katajaluoto and then back to Särkkä.

 Somewhere nex to Katajaluoto the wind disappeared Totally. Then we had to start Engine and ride slowly to the docs. Because of a delivery problem we all  witnessed a miracle - Elina had to eat a bread with Liver Pate! Luckily she was able to wash the taste away with Kalles Kaviar.

 The weather cannot be better. Warm evening and nice views. Helsinki is beautiful in the summer.

                                                                Old Yawls on the move.

                                                                   Death Calm

Meet the floating Block!

Crew back in Särkkä.

Elina on the transfer to the City.

Happy crew docking at Kaivopuisto. Thank you Elina, Anu and Tuukka!

16-18th of August Helsinki-Tallinn Race 2018

Happy Crew starting the Sauna Session in Tallinn!

Aksu, Petri, Stidi, Pekka Jaska and Anssi

RACE Start  19.18.00 - No wind. While we started it appeared there is no wind at all. Luckily the new Apollo Sails had more square meters thatn the previous gear. On the first Quarter of the race we were even on the third position for a while (in our class LYS").

The still wind continued almost until the midnight. The we got more wind. Maybe there was a slight chance to change the Genoa for smaller one, or we just did wrong selection on the sailing route....

...We reached the finish line at 10.09 - 22nd position in our class.

Still satisfactory. At least we knew the quite heavy yacht can compete with the lighter ones... Jus need the right sails. Quite tired crew in Tallinn.

Before obligatory rest we enjoyed nice breakfast, incluading Caviar, Salmon, Jamon Serrano, French Pate...! Quite nice.

After the rest we moved to the hotel, where there was a suite with Sauna reserved for afterheat.

After traditional Sauna we directed to Telliskivi to enjoy the meal in F-Hoone. Still excellen place!

In the Sunday Moring we started the return trip to Helsinki, this time quite late at 10.45. There was quite high wind 12-15 m/s and Huge waves probably the largest ones were +3 meters.

The rain went away quite soon after the start, Everyone enjoyed of the sunshine!

Aksu took along turn on steering - good work!

The waves were sometimes really huge!

The ratios were very cleverly shared during the sailing.

Anssi's steering turn!

We reached home docks at 18.00. Excellent day.Top speed measured during the trip was 9,3 knots. We sailed only with the mainsail because practically wind was treating us directly from the western side. Good choice!

Thank you crew! It was again worth doing!

Wednesday the 25th of July 2018 "Helsingfors inlopp"

We collected together with the Crew: Antti and Leo after work at th homedocks of Särkkä.

The Idea was to set sail in the front of Helsinki, make a turn on the open sea and sail back to Särkkä. Goal was to see how the new Apollo Mainsail + Genoa work together when there is wind.

 The wind was nort too high, maximum 4 m/s but We were very confident of the shape and function of the new Sails. The sail manufactures is Apollo Sails from Poland
(www.apollosails.com). Thank You for the great work Apollo Sails. We recommend!

We returned to the port at 20.00 after a good Sunny day. This kind of Sailing days are a always welcome.

14th of July finally testing the new sails

 Matias and his family volunteered to test the new Mainsail & RollerGenoa made by Apollo Sails Poland.

The weather was quite sunny (and extremely hot), actually now ind appeared. Anyway the Sails look Excellent! Thank You Apollo Sails! Thank you Matias & family!

Midsummer in Särkkä the 21-24th of June 2018

Images from the midsummer

The Grand Adventure from Flensburg to Helsinki 10th-22nd of May

 (10.5) It all started the 10th of May. The crew (some people may even say the one and only crew) gathered in the Helsinki airport where we flew all together to Hamburg 

 In Hamburg we all (Aleksi - the deckboy,  Elina - the deckgirl, Susanna - we do not know her title, but all call her the Boss and me -Petri the humble skipper) jumped into the train, that was apparently three hours late.

But as a good sign we found Spar in the Hamburg Hauptbahnofto buy some ratios for the exhausting train trip.

 (11.5) Arriving in the midnight to the cold and a little bit messy and moist  AquilaDeux was delightful. At least we noticed the sails were on the mast and properly set.

We started the engine, filled the tanks in the local service station - and noticed that the engine was boiling - no cooling water added....

After a small fix and excellent coffee organized by Susanna we set our (engine) towards the adventure at 14.00. In the picture you see the happy crew enjoying the weather conditions. There can not be better start!

 Finally on the road! Skipper played with the wires meanwhile the crew played with the Perpentines (there are a lot of Perpentines in the Flensburg Fjord). Wires were somehow organized and after three hours hard work the Meters were alive again!

 Practically there was not enough wind for sailing the whole day until at dawn  we set the headsail up to stabilize huge wawes from the behind. Rough waves with no helping wind. Shaking yacht!. We reached the Fehmarsund by the midnight, was physically hard to steer.

 (12.5) the dusk appeared on the NE horizon around 4.00. Before that there was a total,darkness that kept the nightlife alive in the well-trafficed  waters of Germany. All the crew used possibilities to  have a nap whenever it is possible. In the afternoon we already passed Rügen - island.

 The days program was - motoring - sailing -steering - sleeping - telling the seamen's tales to each other. There are MONSTERS in the sea!

 The sun went down on German waters and raised in the Polish waters. Even though it took another night to reach Wladyslowowo (Poland) early morning (13.5)

 Totally 64 hours from Felnsburg to Wladyslawowo!! Great success Crew!

 (13.5) Wlayslawowo - someone had a birthday (55) +Fresh and happy crew was delighted to reach a great City of Wladyslowowo.The pearl of Poland.

 Me sailed so long -What?

 Beauty o the port.

 Ryba i piwa - Fish and Beer!

 Colours from the socialist palette!

 This day we had a fiesta for the Skippers 55th Bithday.  The places we visited is imposible to tell the audience (because of the pronounciation, but at least we remember Ali Baba and the fine food of  U Kojota!

 Always to Ali Baba! Thank you crew!

 Shooting  sailing mode catalogue 2018!

 Aleksi left the yacht (someone has to do work( the 14th and Elina the 15th. Sailmakers vivted the yacht the 14th.They were both  replaced by Per in the morning of the 15th! Luckily we had a possibility to visit Ali Baba again wit Elina and Susanna before Elina left in the morning...

ALI BABA Here we come!!!! and good bye ALI BABA!

 (15.5) wladyslawowo - Ventspils.

Per had joined the crew as a newcomer.During the whole day (and night no wind at all. We started to be suspicious with Susanna that there might be a Jonah among the crew....

 Apparently they are drilling oil in the baltic sea.

 FInally we arrived in Ventspils in the midnight. Quite scary, because the port itself is well illuminated (like million suns) but the guest harbour is somewhere in the dark. Finally we found ourselves in the middle of darkness (36 hrs Wladyslawowo-Ventspils)

 (17.5) Arriving in Kuressaare - Roomassaare harbour. Only 12 hrs from Ventspils. Relaxing day. We decided with Susanna that the next day is for Spa fun. For everyones happiness Finald lost Ice Hockey to Switzerland that night..... there must be a Jonah...among the crew? (12 hrs to Kuressare)

 Per enjoying the evening. Suspected Jonah?

 (18.5) The great SPA Day! Per left in the afternoon and we went to SPA treatments with Susanna. YES -we had full body classicaal massage pedicure and I even got small manicure. The 19th we will set our sails towards Helsinki. Only two of us!

 (19.5) We left early morning Roomassaare towards Helsinki. Suddenly we really got a confirmation that there was a Jonah in the yacht - and very possibly it was Per! We got good Wind 7-9 m/s!.

 Unfortunately the wind came directly towards us the whole night while sailing (motoring) the narrow sea of Väinä. At. 4.00 We were finally in Suomenlahti (the gulf of Finland).

 We reached Porkkala the 20th at 15.00. Totally exhausted. The night was long and tiring. Susanna left the Skipper in the yacht to rest a bit. It took 32 hrs from Kuressaare to Porkkala.

 (21-22.5) Aksu arrived to Porkkala in the evening of 21st. There we continued to Helsinki the 22nd and finally we reached Särkkä (homedocks) the 22nd!

 Only five hours trip sailing to Helsinki!

GREAT TRIP! Thank you crew: Susanna, Aleksi, Elina, and Per (Jonah)!

RGDS The Skipper