The biggest day this year!

Today we were to go out in the boat, going round Stenungsön. This is a good get-the-feel-of-it-tour of approx 8 NM. We would go by motor because it was blowing 20-30 knots so sailing was unthinkable. We would get out of the port. This should be wonderful, despite the wind and the chill in the air. We started our trip in Uddevalla to get new Genoa sheets, in red of course 😊 and then to Båttema to buy a soft schakle and breakfast.

Yo yo yo wazz up sailors? 🤣

After having assembled the new sheet and done a few other smaller things it was time to start the engine. This went just great! For those of you who don't know, my last boat almost managed to sink me completely because of its motor that never was ok and that almost never started. So I was so happy when the little MD5 diesel engine started up purring. I had missed the fact that the clutch was in idle but it still started! We were chugging nicely out of the harbour and set course for 30 degrees NNE and then towards the inlet to Stenungsund.

Annika gets a little splash. 🤣
Some wind in the microphone but never mind. 😊

After passing Stenungs Torg and passing under the Stenungsö bridge we aimed for Låka until we saw the waterway mark on the south side of the Tjörn bridge and passed underneath without scraping.

As we passed under the Tjörn bridge there was snow in the air. It was now blowing at least 30 knots and the wind was cold. It was blowing north eastly winds so we had up wind and pretty rough seas straight towards us. I was really impressed with the crew. After having rounded the Almö beach the wind died down and it became almost windless. This is because Almösund marina lies like a lagoon, protected by hills and forests all around. The crew made everything ready on deck and hung out the fenders. This docking went just as smoothly as the last one. When we had moored we both needed coffee so cook went into the galley and handed out sandwiches and sailing rye bread. Soon coffee was done as well and the sun started shining.

The sky started turning dark in places so after we had finished our coffee we hurried to get ready so that we could go home.

Easter eve, when River kisses the sea

Today was the biggest day in our boat life. We came out early and quickly got all preparations done. After having talked to the crane operator Leif (whom I bought the boat from) it didn't take long until Berntsson came in his front loader and picked up RS.


After lifting RS and painting where the boat supports used to be it was finally time for launch.
The grey markings is to find the right places to put her in the cradle come autumn.

After checking the bushings and the bellow we were released and the time for masting had come.

The feeling is just so great, so close now.

When the mast was on and secured we of course wanted to test out how her engine was. She had stood on land for two years after all.

Overjoyed when we had moored at our place it was time for something to eat. Pizza, sweets, pop and YouTube!

The day before?

Crikey! We started the day with a double gym work out. Could that be called morning gymnastics? Then off to the ship yard of course. We have had top gear allthrough the day and didn't take any pictures until everything was done. Now RS is almost ready for launching. We hope for tomorrow. What have we done today then, this Good Friday? We have polished the hull, scraped the drive and painted it with drive paint. After polishing we oiled the rubber list. The name was put in place. We washed the mast and the head foil profile and put on paraffin oil. The whole rigg with the stays, shrouds and spreaders was assembled. Then the clock turned five pm. Here are some pictures.

Now we're getting really close.

Hi everyone. Today we worked hard from the start. Almost all of RS things was with us from the storage. The first thing to do is to wash the deck and the cockpit for the polishing to come. This means that we need to remove the spray hood as well as the cock pit cover. We managed to put them away into the cabin, after a lot of tinkering. Then we rinsed and scrubbed everything thoroughly until Annika became hungry (blood sugar level drop) 😊 so we had a fika when we were done washing.

While we had out fika the boat dried in the sun and heat. Spring weather for sure! When the coffee cups were empty Annika removed the last few drops on the hull and I put on new masking tape. It was time for a second coat of antifouling. I still cannot stop bragging about the work Annika put into scraping the hull. Then we started painting.

This turned out bloody wonderful. Now we only have the polishing and that we will do on Good Friday before the launching, rigging and starting up of the engine. So, if we are darn lucky and the opportunity arises we might chug around Stenungs Island on Sunday.

When we came home it was still wonderfully nice weather so we took the opportunity to air our motorbikes.

Ahoy! Anders and Annika

Quick move!

At home I wanted to go through the outboard engine. I got a barrel and "drove" it a little in there. The pressure in the cooling outlet wasn't up to par so a change of impeller and oil is needed.

Full with energy we drive to "The Yard" to get as much done as possible. Annika did the last scraping and I started painting the underside of the hull.

Because we felt that we would be able to polish and wash her during Easter I went down to find Berntsson, my dad's friend who owns the yard. I found him in his yellow truck and asked wether we could be moved indoors. This is because it feels nice to stand indoors to polish, but perhaps we could stay just outside the hall while we were washing RS? "If you have the time during the week, you are more than welcome to move her down to outside the hall", I said. "We can do that now, at once", he said. So I had to run up to Annika and gather our things and the paint stuff. Only the starboard side was done painting.

Then we had to finish painting the port side before we drove home. But there is a day tomorrow too. Five litres anitfouling and two coats. I have done one coat so far.

Wow, it goes fast.

Me and Annika have been busy prepping RS fo spring and therefore we have missed to two reports here. Let's summarize! Annika has admittedly done notning else but scraped the bottom of the hull. But by jove, she does a great job. I am particularly fortunate. I have done maintenence on the engine and got some new battry cables while also cleaning put the cabin.. Here are some photos from earlier today.

A spring day that wakes your appetite.

Today we stripped her naked, RS of course.
When we arrived we had a fika with Dad. We stand one to two metres apart and do not touch each other but only drink coffee and chat. Then it was time.
Annika more or less threw herself into her task and she is fast, I have to say.
Myself, I flystarted but tearing down the tarpaulin and disassembling the stand. A laguna table mount was to be mounted and a captain's table on top. This wasn't the easiest because I had forgotten my spirit level at home and I didn't dare only using the naked eye. So I took a bottle of distilled water and put it on the mount and measured how high the water level was on the right and left sides. A home made spirit level. 🙂 I also took the opportunity to put up the flag and the sprayhood. Now it was time for lunch.

Then we started working again, Annika with the bottom of the hull and I with this and that.
I changed the water intake hose, assembled the propeller, fetched the cockpit tent and assembled it.
It turned out darn well, and it became warm quickly too. Time for a fika.

Time had flown by very fast. Four and a half hours disappeared like nothing We started feeling that we needed to go home, so while I gathered the rubbish to put in the container, Annika collected our things. Check out her great job!

The best of all: Annika asked pleadingly if we could continue tomorrow!!!
Well, I am not the one who says no. 🙂 So there might be a post tomorrow too.
Tootle pip!
Capt. Hasselblad

Crafts for a rainy day.

I had an idea to create a stand to have in the inner compartment in the galley. When the prototype was done I saw that I have missed that a fan and a pipe for the fridge were in the way. So it turned into a stand which also works as a lid for the compartment and therefore will not move. 🙂 Imagine what you can do in the garage when it's raining.

Spring is trying.

Because of Corona making a mess we filled a day with boat work. Annika continued with her gigantic project of scraping away old anti fouling.

Myself, I had some jobs to do in the boat. The ingnition moves around when you start the engine so I had to remove the panel and tighten the bolt. I also changed the pull switches which were a bit patinad.

I also finished the electric outlet for the auto pilot.

Time for a fika. Since we didn't want to expose Dad to anything we sat outside by RS and enjoyed the sun. Admittedly, it was only 4 degrees, but sunny.

I took the opportunity to measure and finsh a lot of small tasks, and made a little movie. Could be a both before and after one.

After this it was time to go home. We were going to collect a chart which we had bought on FB Marketplace. I also took a trip with the motorcycle to fetch a Helly Hansen life vest for Annika.

It it spring! New contacts.

Today spring was in the air. About 6 degrees and suny. Annika started with her project to scrape the bottom of the hull.

Myself I would measure for new battery cables, change contacts and fix the zipper. Amongst other things..

After starting to feel satisfied that our day's work was done we had a coffee and a sandwich by our wharf.

When we came home I became a pyromaniac. A lot of twigs and grass to set fire to. Soon things will be for real.

en_GBEnglish