We left Akrehamn just after 10am and decided to do some fishing around the reefs to the south. There was very little wind but some current running. We were after some mackerel so put the hooks on the line rather than a spinner. First we caught a small sythe, which went back as we aren't keen on it. Then we caught a small pollock, so we needed at least one more to go with it. Then Pete is shouting at me to get the landing net, as the rod is nearly doubled over. It's either something big or it's been foul hooked. It's big! I came at it from behind with the net and lifted, swearing at the weight of it. It was a cod, probably about 7 or 8 pounds, along with another small pollock. Theory is that the cod went after the pollock on the line and got hooked, as you wouldn't expect a cod that size to take the hook. The 2 small pollock went back in, their lucky day. Pete put the cod out of its misery and we stowed it in the starboard cockpit locker. As we passed the headland by Skudenes, we went close to a little fishing boat and Pete held up his catch. One of the girls sang, 'na na, na na na'. We sailed on, to Mosteroy. There were 2 yachts and a motorcruiser ahead of us and we hoped they weren't going to fill up our chosen berth. They headed for an anchorage on the opposite side of the channel. We motored into Finnesandsbukta and moored up by the hotel there. The hotel turned out to be closed for the summer, so there was no electricity or facilities but that also meant a free mooring. Pete filleted the cod and then we took a walk to the Utstein kloister, which dates from 1200. It had just closed to visitors but we were able to walk round the grounds and take some photos.
Another yacht arrived and moored up in front of us and Pete helped with their lines, having a brief chat with Tor, while I made a fish pie for tea. We spent a pleasant evening in the sun and their was a lovely sunset. The next morning we fed a lone swan. It hissed at the neighbour's beagle, Tel but it purred like a cat, when we fed it. We had a chat with Tor and his wife, Randi and it turned out we were both heading to Stavanger, by the oil museum. We would be motoring as there was no wind. Feroa set off and Muirgen followed. When we arrived in Stavanger, Tor took our lines and asked us to go on board for coffee in the evening. We set about catching up on washing, 1 load of sheets and 2 of clothes and towels. In between we did a little shopping and sauntered through the old town, stopping off at Vinmonpolet to buy some wine. After dinner, as we were playing backgammon, Tor came to invite us on board. No coffee, just wine, beer and Cognac. They had been to Denmark a couple of weeks before and stocked up. It was a late night but we had an early start as Tor and Randi had proposed a road trip to Rennesoy, where they live. At 0845 we set off to catch the bus to Rennesoy, which is connected to Stavanger by a tunnel under the fjord. We were soaked to the skin by the time the bus came as the rain was torrential. Luckily it dried up and the sun broke through as we hiked to Rennesoy summit, to take in the 360° view. I managed to bang my head on an overhanging rock as I levered myself up from one rock to another. Just a graze though. We signed the visitor book at the summit. The view was amazing and really helped us get our bearings. You could see out to Kvitsoy, the point above Tananger, Stavanger, Lyesfjord and Tau. We hiked back down and had lunch on the patio at Tor and Randi's, overlooking the marina where they keep their yacht. We returned to Stavanger by car. In the evening, our friends came on board Muirgen for drinks and to point out nice places to moor up, north east of Stavanger. We all moved to their boat when Tel decided he had spent enough time alone. The Cognac came out again and consequently we slept in the following morning, before saying our goodbyes and heading north.
We motored for the first hour, passing Lindoy and Tau and then picked up a bit of wind, allowing us to sail on the genoa. As the wind eased and we slowed down, we fished for a while but didn't catch anything, so motored on to Boroyholmane, a small pontoon on a small island south of Boroy. We had a walk and decided to prepare a fire in the iron barbecue, so we could cook our tea on it. The island had huts, picnic tables and barbecues at various points. A boat stopped on the pontoon for a while, 2 Americans and a Norwegian, all related through the marriage of their US dad to a Norwegian lady. We chatted for an hour and then they left to go home and we were alone. Pete lit the fire and we cooked our food ( Aldi tinned steak and potatoes, peas and carrots). As we were eating, a small yacht, maybe 28 feet, moored up. We watched as man, wife and their 4 girls disembarked, changed into swimwear and jumped in. The girls were screaming and laughing and it was fun to watch. The father told us they were on a 2 night trip and it was very cosy with 6 sleeping on board. They came from Hommersak and knew Hege. It was a peaceful night on board.