From Pampas to Vasahamnen - First move for the season

Today is the big day, awaited all along the freezing winter, the first day that we release the mooring lines for the season. As a sign, my coffee welcomes me with an apparition.

Shoal of fishes - 2 May 2016

I could not resist the picture, having come across large shoals of fishes on the way back from Podgorica. This is a call!

6 May, back to water!

Sjösättning is an institution in Sweden. After a month of working in the shipyard to get ready for the return to water, two cranes are rented to get all boats at sea at once. Such a good feeling.

Rangsta båtklubb

Piraeus - April 2016

This is Piraeus, couple of weeks ago. What a harbour should not be, filled with travellers stranded on their way.

Sewing by the fire...

Sewing is one of the skills that a boat owner should develop. So much to be done, from sails repair to tailored bed sheets, from helm cover to winch covers...

With a cold wave on Sweden in recent weeks, I have been sewing a lot by the fire. Today was the fitting day for the helm cover and the winch covers...

Frozen Mälaren

The sea has frozen. The ice has not yet reached the bank of the Mälaren as the temperature tends to be higher there. Belisama is resting in the marina yard, 200 meters from here.

Mälaren, from Pampas Marina

Freezing archipelago

That's it. Finally winter has arrived, and temperatures have been around -15°C for a week. Time to get the nordic skis ready for the next couple of weeks, and ensure that Belisama and La Malouine have the minimum comfort for surviving this polar anticyclone. Way to cold now to consider doing any serious work on board!

Time to go south to get some light and burn the excess of melatonin. On the way back though, the rising setting sun at around 16:00 these days provides a nice view of the southern part of the Stockholm archipelago. You will recognize some of the islands mentioned in posting from the summer!