2 November - Through the Baggensstäket

The Baggenstäket is a narrow and shallow canal joining Stockholm to the southern part of the Archipelago. It used to be the main entrance to Stockholm until the end of the middle ages. It remained afterwards a rote for smuggling goods without having to pay a toll fee. This is where the plague entered Sweden in 1710 when the first case was disembarked there from a boat coming from Estonia.

Baggensstäket by Olaus Magnus, 1555, via Wikimedia Commons

2 November - Time to document for next year

This time, it is the last cruise for 2015, after 1574 miles for her first season at sea. Back to Pampas, I start to remove the sails to get her ready for her stay on land. 

1 November - Belisama in Artipelag

We spend the day in Artipelag. Belisama is moored on the dock, alone after Cybèle left. Artipelag is hosting a new exhibition called "The monochrome symphony." White is the theme of this hall, through which we can see Belisama.

Two sisters - Belisama meets Cybèle

First November, Belisama meets Cybèle in Artipelag for the first time. They both come from the same matrix, couple of years apart. Cybele is N°16 while Belisama is N°39. But they share a true "air de famille".

Feeling a bit lonely on the dock!

30/31 October - Yet another last sailing weekend for the season

Well,  we could not resist for another weekend at sea for this season. Temperatures are now getting one digit above zero and days are getting short, with the sun setting few minutes before 16:00. Yet, still very much sunny and enjoyable as long as you arrive in time and switch on the heater for the long evening.

Belisama at Nacka strand, on her way to Satlsjöbaden kanal

28 October - Belisama moves to Pampas Lake City

We took a day off today to move Belisama from the private dock where we left her on Sunday to one  of the available slot in the Pampas Lake City. Quite interesting to moor a sailing boat between two floating houses. Weather was fantastic, but the nights are really getting shorter these days in Stockholm.

16:30 in Pampas Lake City

23/25 October - Last sailing for 2015

This was the last sailing weekend of the year. Temperatures are now close to zero in the morning, and it is time to get Belisama serviced for the winter and parked in Pampas Marina. She had been already three weeks in Södertälje, quite covered by Duck droppings.

The ferry to Drottningholm heading back to Stockholm

For this last cruise, we decided to spend the night in Drottningholm, the castle of the Queen, a few miles away from downtown Stockholm.