18 September

Let's face it. Nothing really came out the way I would have wanted it to. Northerly wind near gale force predicted. Would have been terrific for me, heading south. Dead calm it was all day. Drizzling rain until noon. Decided to start motoring at 10 am, assuming that the wind would soon come. Ended up motoring for eight full hours, and moored in the Borgholm-?-land guest harbour. At 6.30 when I had dinner on board, the northerly started to increase. I begin to think that the Kalmar Strait has a curse hanging over R�de Orm and me. For years now, I either get calms or 25 knots headwind. At least I made some distance today, and did NOT get a headwind.
Had a walk in town before dinner. It's such a weird feeling to walk the empty streets of a place that is sooo hectic and full of people during the vacation period.
The Mets keep talking of N -NW winds near gale force. We'll see about that tomorrow.


19 September

Well, bad luck. This morning the Met Office suddenly changed their mind, SW 14-20 knots were the Mantra for the day. Got underway early,at 8.30, after some trouble leaving the dock. Smart as I were yesterday night, I berthed on the windward side of the dock. Obviously this caused me some minor problems getting away. All went well though. I sailed close-hauled all day, but I didn�t have to tack until almost at Bergkvara in the southern part of Kalmar Strait. Even though I was aiming at Kristianopel, 12 miles further south, I settled for Bergkvara. The reason for this being the simple fact that I have never been here before. Also, I could make it to port before dawn.
Off season as this is, I haven�t seen many yachts lately. A few in the Stockholm archipelago last weekend and then almost none. (not counting the ones at the race in V�stervik) In Borgholm Port there were only two more yachts in the guest harbour. None of them seemed to be manned. I saw no signs of people there. Today, when the sailing was, well, semi-rough, I spotted 4 more yachts out there. One going the opposite way, To smallish Polish sailing yachts heading south and one german single-handler in an IF-boat (Folkboat made in GRP) Since I have been sailing an IF for years (wonderful boats BTW), I was happy when I found out he was going to Bergkvara too. Sadly, he didn't seem interested in any kind of socializing, though.
After more than 2000 miles on the log this summer, it should not come as a surprise that a couple of minor mishaps, or breakdowns, occurred today. Firstly, one of the lines to the Aries windvane parted due to constant chafe, and then the Bb lifeline let go when I left harbour in the morning. Fixed the lifeline with a rope, and changed the lines t the vane too. Then upon arrival to port, I nticed that the idle rev's on the engine had become too low. Fixed this too. This whole operation took me about thirty minutes. A cruising sailor's life is hard, remind you. Lol.