Nourishing mosquitoes, Kusökalv, Österhamn, 61°3.407'N 17°16.841’E

It is quite rare to have a chance to see your boat while sailing. On the way out from Gävle, we came across "Flocon de mer", an OVNI 395  registered in Cherbourg! What are the odds in the Gulf of Botnia to encounter a French OVNI, within one hundred meters?

Belisama on spinnaker, on her way up north from Gävle. 

Meteors encounters on the way to Gävle - 6 & 7 July 2016

On 6 July, after there days in Norrtälje to change the propeller of the bow thruster, we decided to leave early afternoon, and to sail overnight to head up north rapidly. The first encounter was a typical nordic sunset in summer, with the sun going down very slowly almost parallel to the horizon, accompanied this time by two small sun dogs. Can you see the sun dogs?

Norrtälje gästhamn - 59°45.316'N 18°43.623'E

Norrtälje gästhamn is a small marina at the end of a 8 miles fjord. Well protected, and with a very good restaurant Piren. Buoy to the jetty, >2.6 metres depth.

250 SK for a night, with WIFI and electricity.

Cormorants - 2 July 2016

A post about cormorants, as we come across more and more ghost islands when sailing in the archipelago. Cormorants in Sweden are as in most places not liked much as where they settle, fishes tend to decrease dramatically, and they pretty much destroy the island they live on. In other part of the world, the guano they produce is used as natural fertilizers, and therefore cormorants have a very important role in the local economy. In other places, they were and still are used for fishing, by recovering large fishes in their throat, after having attached a lace at the base of their neck for preventing them from swallowing their catch! 

A cormorant island on the eastern fairway from Stockholm.

Inra hamnskär - 59.734837, 19.319136

Inra hamnskär is one of the last ilets on the eastern way out of the Archipelago. It does not look so well protected on the chart, but offers very good shelter in the small bay on the east, or along the northern part of the shore.

Northern shore of Inra hamnskär

Lidö - 59°46.680'N 19°5.443'E

Lidön is an island part of the Archipelago foundation. The east harbour, Österhamn offers a nice shelter from all winds except E-NE. It is a very popular stop over tor those going to and from Åland and Finland. Often crowded, but the jetty can be used to moore and remains usually free. We tried to anchor twice with no success as there are seaweeds on the sea bed.

Encounters on the way to Lidön - 2 July 2016

Lidön is a small island at the far east part of the Stockholm Archipelago. It marks the end of the archipelago, and the start of the open sea. It is the main way out of Stockholm for most cruises.

The first passing us is the S/S Frithiof. She was built in 1897, for the Stockholm exhibition.