The biggest challenge of the passage through the canals and lakes from Stockholm to Goteborg was always going to come right at the end.
We knew that the main commuter bridge across Goteborg was 19.2m at its highest point, and that although it was possible to open a small section, they were not very happy to stop all the traffic just for a few yachts. (Though it seemed to be more likely after midnight).
The actual height under the bridge depends on the water level on the day and the charts say that permission must be sought from bridge control to pass under.
Our mast is supposedly 17.82m according to the spec. We have a wind sensor, radar reflector and VHF aerial that sit on top of the mast. We knew the radar reflector was 0.6m and it looked like the aerial was the same again, but bendy!
So the chances were we would indeed squeeze under, maybe with our aerial clattering on the metalwork. Yikes!
In a chat earlier in the day with our lock buddies, we knew that two of them also had masts around 19m.
We each contacted the bridge and were told we should go on through.
A big sign on the bridge said 18.3m max as the highest part of the bridge was closed for construction work. But the bridge was not for opening.
So there we were floating in the river, looking at the bridge and no one wanted to be first to go …..
Then along came a large wooden sailing ship.
A bit of an argy-bargy took place on VHF Channel 9 between the big boat and the bridge, all in Swedish, so we hadn’t a clue.
And low and behold, the traffic stopped – cars, trams, buses, bikes, the lot – and the bridge opened.
We all cheered, and tailgated the big boat through, relieved that our mast tops remained intact.
Five minutes later we were tied up in the marina, sharing ‘safe arrival’ drinks with Ian and Mary on the last leg of their time with us.