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We wanted to visit Irland and Scotland before we sailed to the south but wanted also a real test for the boat before we finally left our home port of Göteborg. We sailed via the Kiel canal to Helgoland, den Helder, Dunkerque, Dieppe, Cherbourg, Guernsey, Falmouth, Kinsale, Glandore, Dublin, Port Ellen, Caledonian Channel, Fraserburgh, Egersund. 2400 nm in 9 weeks.
After new antifouling and last minute preparations we left Göteborg again on September 1st . We followed the same route to Guernsey but this time the weather was not so favourable. We were met by a number of mean low pressures with SW gales. But accompanied by moving birds we were sailing in the right direction and in Bretagne summer weather was waiting. The sailing distances became shorter and we stayed in the harbours a little longer because now we realized that we were in no hurry for the Med. After a couple of days in Viveiro we liked the town so much that we decided to stay for the winter. Then we had sailed 3910 nm during 2007. |
English channel
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| Dieppe is a pleasant stop which preferably should be made outside high season. |
Cherbourg has a large and well organized marina. The entrance to Cherbourg reminds of less peaceful times. |
St Peter Port on Guernsey. The tide level difference could be 8 m. The tidal stream at Cap de la Hague can reach 8 kn. |
Ireland
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| The Irish Sea decided to test our boat and crew a couple of times but mostly the sailing was very good. |
We were at anchor one week in Glandore on the Irish south coast. At least a couple of hours of sunshine and one shower of rain each day. But as one Irishman told us: "No one visit Ireland because of the weather". |
We also had time to walk and bike. in the countryside |
Scottish West coast
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| The marina in Port Ellen was small and shallow. But we met the highest percentage of Swedish boats in any harbour outside Scandinavia. |
The landscape on Islay is beautiful. |
One of three distellieries on walking distance from Port Ellen. |
Caledonian Channel
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The Caledonian Channel offered beautiful nature and relaxing days. Loch Ness also offered good sailing.
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The lock attendants were helpful and very friendly.
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In front of the final lock. We prepared ourself for the trip to Norway with a good meal and a couple of pints. It was good that we didn´t know about the weather that was waiting.
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Sailing south
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| The tidal stream in Raz de Sein can reach 6 kn. Precise timing with respect to stream and wind is vital. |
Biscay in October - Calm, on engine, autopilot, reading. |
We were accompanied by many birds heading south over Biscay. Some of them needed a rest. |
Winter in Viveiro
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| A nice little town in a beautiful landscape with a very well protected harbour. |
In February it was carneval. Just like Rio but the girls dresses cover more. |
Sundays were days for the weekly exercise | |
