Replacing the stern gland, Gävle, 10 June

On the post about the start of the 2019 season, I was showing Belisama being lifted, antifouled, and put back to waters. At the time, I did not do a good job in purging the stern gland (the seal on the propeller shaft), and a few days after getting back to waters, we got into a crisis with hundreds of litres of waters in the hull.

What sounded at the time as a major crisis that could jeopardise the start of the season, ended-up smooth and easy as we happened to be passing Gävle...

Belisama on the good care of Christer in Gävle Fliskärvärket

Gravad lax on board - 7 June 2019

Gravlax (or gravad lax) consists of salmon cured in salt, sugar and dill. It is typical of scandinavian cooking. It is very easy to do, can be kept for couple of weeks after curing, and is agrementing our lunch salads on Belisama on a routine basis. It is a very good food to bring or make in a boat, as it can be kept safely for couple of weeks and will complement salads and aperitif in a very nice way.

It only takes few minutes to prepare...

Belisama kefir, 6 June 2019

The winter 2018 has made us discovering the value of the fruit kefir, a fermented drink based on citrus fruits and tibicos cultures. The final drink is sparkling, slightly fermented, very refreshing and particularly healthy because of the probiotics it contains. Tibicos cultures are a stable mix of bacteria and yeast in symbiosis. They present as grains. They can be bought on the Internet or given by anyone engaged in producing kefir.

Tibicos culture on board Belisama

We decided to produce it locally on the boat.

Lövgrund, the Celsius island, 4 June 2019

Lövgrund is an island close to my mind because of the study that Celsius, a well known Swedish scientist for its heat scale, conducted regarding the level of the sea in the Baltic which appeared to be lowering along the centuries. In the mid 1700's, Celsius was asked to measure the rate of decrease of the water in the Baltic sea. He studied it in a couple of islands and Lövgrung is one of them.

Lövgrund island

 What he found was astonishing...

Lidö to Lövgrund, 89 miles, 3 June 2019

Night in Lido's, at the jetty, with two other boats in the bay.

The following morning, with 10 to 15 m/s winds coming from south west, we decide to go to Lövgrund, an 89 mile ride.

Fejan again, on the way up north, 2nd June 2019

After Svenska Högarna, on our way up north to the gulf of Bothnia, we made a stop over in Fejan, the historical quarantine place for cholera, but hoping nowadays for good food and services. Tyvär, Fejan was closed, with workers making new facilities for the season. It will be very nice when completed. A change of scale with what we have been used to in Fejan. Very fine though indeed as the Fejan spirit remains. We managed to bargain a power connexion with some workers for a bottle of wine. Nice for our battery park in need after Svenska Högarna.

Alone in Fejan, or so as kayakists were there, quite frozen...

Start of the 2019 season - 1 st June 2019

Well, 2019 is the year of my retirement from my job in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. As a result of being a new retiree, I have never been that busy, as François from Cybèle 17 has always told me I will. 

After atour of Europe in my car (7,500 km), I had to get Belisama off water for the cleaning and antifouling of the hull. A hell of a job as this is exponentially related to the size of the boat.