2/4 October - La Malouine land-borne, Belisama on her way to Stockholm

First weekend of October, we have hired two crane-trucks to get boats back to the field. The season has been 146 days since sjösättning on 9 May. With 1800 miles on waters, I beat this year all my records, with an average of more than 12 miles everyday over the season.

La Malouine on the crane-truck

This is the eighth time I get La Malouine grounded in this boat field, and I master now all tricks of the trade. 

Trick number one: wash the hull while still wet, or you will be miserable in the spring to get the antifouling clean for next season. As there is no water in the field, we can use the water from the boat tank with the pressure cleaner. It took me 8 years to realise that I do not need to use the manual pump for fresh water to empty the boat tank (a good hour workout...) neither do I need to bring water for the cleaning! 

Trick number two: keep the solar panel, so that the batteries will remain fully filled.

Trick number three: put a dehumidifier, or be ready to spend hours for mold removal in the spring. A couple of torrbollen are sufficient for a good job.

Trick number four: do not leave any line on the ground that mice could use, or you boat will become a mice nest apartment building. I lost my beloved handmade spinnaker last winter.

Ten litres of ethylene glycol in the engine, and La Malouine is ready for her last winter in Rangsta. In the spring, her new owners will find her ready for new adventures...

Quite on her nose on the way to her cradle

 She gets back to her friends, with lots of adventure to tell.

Back to her spot in the boat field

This made my Friday. In the afternoon, I went to Nynäshamn to prepare Belisama for her entry in Stockholm waters. Saturday morning, we left Nynäshamn, got around Ankarhuden and entered Svärdsfjärd (the fjord of the swords) for a long spinnaker run to Södertälje, accompanied by seals. Still quite a few boats on the horizon, probably moving back from their supper spots to their winter quarters.

Belisama on her way to Södertälje

With a south east winds around 5 m/s (10 knots), Belisama goes five knots on flat waters. What a change since we took her in Sables d'Olonne!

From Nynäshamn to Södertälje, 35.6 miles

The marina in Södertälje is closed after the season. There are still a few boats as Södertälje is located just before the lock that gives access to the Mälaren. Belisama will feel a bit lonely for the coming weeks. However, Södertälje is 30 minutes from downtown Stockholm by public transport, which makes it very convenient.

The Södertälje marina

She will be in Södertälje for another couple of weeks, before getting lifted aground, probably by early November.

As I was heading back to Södertälje on Sunday, a small "sun dog" appeared for a couple of minutes. It was nicely iridescent for a few minutes. The time to stop the car, it was partly gone. Still a small dog on the left of the sun...

Sun dog on Himmerfjärden

The problem in Södertälje is that the marina is not equipped to accommodate big boats. The catways are around 4 metres spaced, which makes it impossible for Belisama to fit. Remains only then the end of the docks. The first two are occupied. Remains the third one, empty, but colonised by ducks and seagulls. I hope they will not get the idea to colonise Belisama...

Seagull welcome at the Gästhamn