Dressed for winter

Our adventure has ended

Our adventure ended 5 July 0600, when we had reached our goal and tied up in Leangbukten. Steve Cooling Jr is now getting a well deserved rest in our new Marina. After 5500nm without any problems to mention, 160 engine hours during 31 days of sailing I´m very happy with our boat. The Crew, Nicolai, August and Henrik all performed in excellence and met my highest ecpectations. I feel very lucky to have had such a quality crew. Well done. Nicolai is back to work in fishfarming north of Bergen, August is about to leave Norway for 3 year circumnavigation in his own boat, and Henrik is underway sailing his boat to North Norway. I have returned to the US and am wrapping up my four years engagement. Thank you very much guys for sharing a month adventure and all the hard work to make it sucessful. Also thanks to all the followers and their supporting comments and advice, We will see what the next adventure will be.

Day 35, 4th July

A day for celebration, we are back in Norwegian waters. Happy 4th of July to our American friends. Thanks for all the generous support and friendship we have enjoyed for 4 great years. We are celebrating with American homemade pancakes for breakfast enjoying Norwegian summer weather. No kidding.

Day 34, 3 July

Finally entering Skagerak, our home waters. At 2300z we have 175 nm to go. This afternoon we got headwind of 7 to 11 knots so we are motor sailing, it is the first headwind so far on our over 5000 nm of sailing. We also had to turn the heater on, we have been living with wet clothes now for a month, but when temperatures outside are only 12 celcius, it’s nice to dry up. We expect to tie up early Thursday morning. Tomorrow Steve Cooling crosses wake with 4 years and 2 weeks between.

Day 33, 2 July

We are comfortably cruising north east in southerly breeze between 10 to 15 knots. This evening west of Germany and later Denmark. We have 350 nm left to our destination in Leangbukten, expecting to get there Thursday evening, until then we will enjoy our last days at sea. Sitting in the cockpit at night with full moon and millions of stars is magic. Casting shadow at night is fascinating. The temperature not so, but with 5 layers of clothes and a cup of shrimp noodles, life is good.

Day 32, 1 July

After our small party last night, we passed quickly through Dover, we left the Channel as we entered it, with a blast. Winds from southwest between 22 and 28 knots and luck with the strong currents have made us see double digit numbers in speed over ground several times. This evening we are passing through the ghost oil fields from early offshore drilling. Not pretty. After a sunny day we are again looking at rain showers the coming night. This afternoon we enjoyed the second round of Melkesjokolade, saving the last bite for Oslofjord.

Day31, 30 June

We had a lot to celebrate this afternoon passing Dover. A month underway, crossing the zero- meridan and of course it is Saturday and weekend. Wearing our party hats we put on some local brit pop on the radio and enjoyed it. Entering the North Sea and home in 4 to 5 days. Yahoo

Update Day 30, 29 June

The southwesterly gale is pushing us through the Channel in 7 to 9 knots. We expect to pass Isle of Wight tonight and be out in the North Sea tomorrow night. Two days ago when north in th Bay of Biscay we had the normal drizzle during the night, when daylight came everything was colored brown, later in the day it started raining, the rain looked like Fanta a yellowish brown color, I got pictures I will post later. We passed a couple of tankers the same night, If there are any ideas out there on what it might be, please respond. The nights are getting shorter and temperatures are falling, we are getting closer to home.

Day 30 , 29 june

The Atlantic ejected us into the Channel with a blast of 30 to 40 knots. All is well with Steve and the crew resting after a hard nights work. The weather is settling down and we are heading east. Will give a update this evening or tomorrow morning.

Day 27, 26 June

After we started motoring last night, we did some maintenance on the sails, had a beer in the cockpit and went early to bed.
This morning we were all recharged, both batteries and crew. When we woke up the sun was shining and we had egg and bacon for breakfast with Clifford T Ward on the radio. We finished breakfast by opening the Melkesjokolade we got from Therese. Then we hoisted sail and did a leisurely 6 knots in the little breeze there was. A relaxing day in the sun. As i am writing this 1945z we have 327nm to the Channel and expect to enter Thursday. A good southwesterly breeze should make our passage through the Channel a speedy one.