We once again have access to the internet, so youre getting the first direct update from me since Sandnessjøen today. As a disclaimer: if you have loved ones on this trip and do not want to know the most exciting details, you might want to read this post a bit later. Everyone is fine and well be in Rødbergshamn tomorrow, but the day has been interesting. Today we sailed hard. We set a new speed record of 13,7 knots, and this with a reefed sail. That should tell you something about the weather. To tell you the truth, we should not have been out at sea after three oclock today, it was no weather for a 25 open boat. Sailing up the west coast of Andørja saw us surfing for several kilometres on end, and I was considering finding a sheltered bay to anchor in. We should have done that. After Andørja we had a spell of slightly sheltered waters, which gave us a false sense of security and made us undo our reefing. We should not have done that, either. We started crossing the 10 km to Dyrøya with the intention of sailing up the narrow sound between Dyrøya and the mainland, hoping it would be more sheltered. With seven kilometres of the crossing left, we were hit by gusts that were close to storm force. For the first time during this trip I realised I might die at sea, because the gust that hit us was so strong it forced our bow under water. I was sitting on the høvedsmanns bench, looking with perfect clarity at green-blue water rushing over our white boards, and there wasnt a thing I could do except let the sail go. We tore the sail down and reefed sail. We made ready a tarp, which we attached to the anchor rope to use as a drag anchor should things go properly pear shaped. We bailed the boat dry, and raised our reefed sail. We sailed for a few minutes, but the boat was uncontrollable. We took down the sail again and jettisoned the tarp, which promptly tore off. Luckily the wind was strong enough to keep us going at about 6 kph, which gave us control on the rudder. What followed was the longest hour on this trip, as we drifted into the aforementioned sound to a sheltered little harbour where we beached our boat and managed to get shelter in a little cabin. We are safe at shore now, but this might not have been the case if it werent for a capable and cool-headed crew, and a seriously sea-worthy boat. Were going to take a proper rest now, and tomorrow well set sail again once the weather has calmed a little. Now Im going to hug the earth for a bit, after which Ill make supper. Good night.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:33:02 +0000
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