I have noticed that entries from Son are all a bit gloomy. I need to do something about that, because this too is a small picturesque artisan town. But not this time, our last stop on this summer’s sailing adventure, can very well look a bit gloomy.
SonLatitude: 59° 31.409 NLongitude: 10° 40.937 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
The first time I blogged about this place I boosted about art galleries in this picturesque artisan town. We keep coming back, understandably, but it is mostly for the shrimp sandwich. The place is still picturesque and we have friends that resides here in the summer, although we missed them on this occasion, but the shrimp sandwich alone will make us (me) take this detour.
HolmsbuLatitude: 59° 33.675 NLongitude: 10° 25.509 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
We were happy to get out of the waves and find a secure place to spend the night. Surroundings comprise of one pub, a few industrial buildings and a residential area, tranquil on the edge of boring. But the mooring was good…
ValløLatitude: 59° 15.574 NLongitude: 10° 29.373 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
Being a sailor (read: sailboat owner) one seldom admires motor yachts. In fact they are regularly frowned upon, specially if the motor to boat ratio is high. This one is a beauty though. Do not really know anything about it, but earlier it was moored at a royal summer residence and it was crewed by uniforms.
HankøsundetLatitude: 59° 13.205 NLongitude: 10° 46.645 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
We intended to spend a night at Refsnes Gods, and figured it would be fun to arrive by sea. My worries about the shallow water around their pontoon-dock was swept away by assurances that larger sailboats had visited in the past. We struggled a bit in the windy conditions, as we moored to the pontoon. However, the next day was supposed to be calmer, even so, I broke out the heavy duty mooring lines.
Next morning Ventulus and the pontoon was engaged in a crazy asynchronous dance, that had apparently gone on for a while. I cant blame the weather-man, the wind was calmer, but from the opposite direction, and with that came waves amplified by the shallow beyond the pontoon. The pontoon did not do much in breaking the waves either, more like encouraging them. The damage: a torn apart fairlead and a bent out of shape bow-ladder.
RefsnesLatitude: 59° 26.6361 NLongitude: 10° 36.4033 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
On this fine evening, a tough little towboat, towed a ‘barge’ loaded with ‘stuff’ into Sandspollen. It was heading for a corner of Sandspollen that is a protected recreational area. So, we must believe the purpose of the ‘stuff’ is recreational…
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
I spent a fine summer evening with colleagues at FB1860’s private port at Ostøya. It is private; you need to be member, so I am not going to talk it up more. Those of you that do not have access, may take comfort in the fact that this must be one of the most mosquito infested spots in Oslofjorden, to such a degree, that the popular name for the place is ‘Mosquito Bay’.
OstøyaLatitude: 59° 52.595 NLongitude: 10° 34.6104 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
The highlight of this weekend sailing was the view from OF’s mooring buoy at Steilene, 5 in the morning. I peeked out, took a picture and went back to sleep. The best highlights are volatile…
SteileneLatitude: 59° 49.1884 NLongitude: 10° 36.4315 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
It was a little windy at this well protected anchorage, as we enjoyed the last of the sunset, just before we retired below to watch an episode of Dexter. Well into the episode a slightly dramatic scene was enhanced by a loud bang, a little more natural than what our otherwise excellent sound system could reproduce. A 40′ Hansa had pulled its anchor out of the mud and descended on our bow. At least three times the depth, people! Repeating: minimum 3 x depth!
OstøyaLatitude: 59° 52.574 NLongitude: 10° 35.016 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
First sailing of the season was to Sanspollen, no surprise there. When we arrived the day before the place was deserted (17th of Mai, the Norwegian constitution day). But on this day everything was back to normal.
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |