Fog
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Fog suddenly descended, but with the GPS unit we could still navigate, so we carried on, giving loud toots on our foghorn if we heard a boat approaching.

Spinnaker
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We got some spinnaker advice from a couple of old sailors at Gullkrona, and this time it went up fine.

Hanko approach
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Nearly there – I’d better wake up Eve.

The perils of blogging while sailing singlehanded
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Oops – nearly went on the wrong side of this one.

Kittiwake at Kasnäs
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Back at Kasnäs on the way home to Helsinki. The big boat next to Kittiwake is a Swedish Omega 42, a lovely boat that passed us on the beat up to Kasnäs.

‘Hyvä meno’ at Kirjais
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We went to Kirjais because a sculptor lady we met at Nauvo promised there was ‘hyvä meno’ (lively atmosphere) at the restaurant there. As you can see, it’s not actually the archipelago’s liveliest harbour. And it rained.

On the way to Kirjais
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Not so nice weather on the way from Nauvo to Kirjais – cold and yet another headwind. I took some videos here – I’ll upload them once we’re home.

Nauvo
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

After Airisto, we went on to Nauvo. Everyone said you had to see it, and it was pretty enough but too big to have the same kind of charm as Gullkrona. Nauvo has one of the oldest churches in Finland, rather like Porvoo church. This photo shows a bible they had on display – it’s the oldest Finnish bible, from 1642.

Airisto
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Today the wind eased a little, so we sailed on to Airisto, on Stormälö island. The wind was still strong enough that with just a reefed mainsail we were sometimes doing more than 6 knots, which was a little hectic at times but we’re getting used to it. In the photo you can see the channel up which we approached Airisto – the yellow ships are island car ferries, which we had to dodge.

Tomorrow we’re off to Nauvo, which is supposed to be amongst the best of the archipelago – next report from there!.

Staying put at Gullkrona
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

The wind today is 14m/s, so we’re being smart and staying put. Kittiwake is rocking and pitching at her moorings (you can see her near the end of the jetty – the smallest boat, white with a red stripe), and Eve in particular didn’t sleep well last night. Around 5:30am I followed the example of our neighbour and swam out to the buoy with a second stern rope – brrr! Luckily we had the sauna booked for 9am, which got me properly warm again.

So, another quiet day in Gullkrona, either wandering around the island or sitting somewhere reading. Eve is hoping to try out her hammock, if we can find two suitable trees :).