Silver linings
It's been an enchanting week. It's Sunday morning, and we are back in Kalmar city marina, reading the papers (online) over a coffee, in the warm sun in the cockpit, and chatting to our German and Swedish neighbours. Invariably, the recurring themes include - what's that flag, Ireland, Britain, Brexit, Boris, the backstop, the EU, where we are all heading ...
A Pin Tale
We are working our way round the coastline of Sweden, heading generally towards Denmark. From Kalmar, going south, the wind was a southerly. When we turned West, the wind was a westerly, and then we turned southwesterly - you don't need me to tell you! Generally the wind has been 15-25 knots, occasionally gusting over 30, so we've been well-reefed, ...
Absolutely Åhus
As a gin drinker, I'd always assumed all vodka is made in Russia. So it was a huge surprise to travel into the Swedish port of Åhus, and discover that the world's fourth largest brand of spirit is distilled here. 90 million litres of Absolut Vodka are made here every year in a rather pretty factory from Swedish winter wheat ...
West winds
Ian and Mary left the ship at Ystad, where there is a good train connection to Copenhagen. It's a pretty town, and we spent a second day catching up with boat cleaning, laundry, shopping, and generally chilling. There was a mink scurrying between the rocks round the harbour, which seemed to live on an abandoned sinking boat, and we enjoyed ...
Ærøskøbing
The south sea islands of Denmark are one of the great sailing areas in the Baltic, and Ærøskøbing must be the jewel in their crown. The town on the island of Ærø is full of old timber and brick houses, dating back to the 1600s, all askew and looking straight out of fairytales. There is a tradition for interesting doors, ...
One last melodrama and we’re done
The harbour entrance, or more accurately exit, in Ærokøbing is sufficiently wide to enter and leave, under normal circumstances. As we set off back to our home harbour to lay up Melodrama for the winter, there was no reason for our trusty navigator and blogger, Me, not to take the helm. We were tucked nicely alongside between two boats, and ...