The conference cruise

I just returned from a somewhat unusal cruise. Normally I don't sail longer distances this early in the season (in fact I normally would have launched the boat this week-end). However these last few days good weather co-incided with a work meeting at one of my collegues summer places on the island of Ljusterö, about 18 nautical miles out into the archipelago. We were four people attending the meeting and as it was to take place Monday-Tuesday I thought I might try to sail there instead of taking the car or ferry. I then would take a day off on Wednesday to sail back home.

Of course this scheme would need some co-operation from the weather gods, but as it turned out it worked perfectly altogether. In fact I did not have to tack once either on my way there or back.

Sunday came with unusually warm weather and a brisk south-westerly wind that propelled me nicely towards my destination. There was not much traffic on the water, first when I had passed Vaxholm castle and crossed the main shipping channel there were some ships and ferries.

These bastards normally are a swell-inducing nuisance, but this early in the season they are almost welcome. Some life on the water at last.

Another one. Note the sail to the left, some kind of high tech dinghy making very good speed. Myself I was making more than five knots on average, quite good for my little tub.

Here I am entering unfamiliar waters. I have not been to Ljusterö before, but the navigation was straighforward. The very entrance to the cove where I was to moor was unmarked though, so I was grateful seeing a small motorboat leaving it just as I arrived, giving me a bearing.

My collegues had just arrived and were waiting at the dock, beer in hand.

I was allowed to use a guest berth at the dock which was very nice and secure.

Now followed two days of budget meetings and strategy talks in this beautiful place...not bad!

After finishing work on Tuesday we climbed the highest hill on the island to get a view.

Up here was an old coastal artillery gun mounting. From here the gun could cover the main shipping route towards Stockholm from the North. All the ferries towards Finland pass here.

However, the gun is gone and the place seems to be used for barbecues now.
That same evening my collegues left by car. I had the house for myself during the last night, which was very nice considering it was getting colder as the wind veered towards the North. On the other hand, that wind was exactly what I needed to get home without a hassle.

I started at ten and encountered light winds from the Northeast which gave me about three knots on average. Thus the journey home took about six hours instead of four and a half on my way out.

However there was even less traffic and the trip was nice and calm. I did use the engine to get past some windless spots but did not use more than two litres of petrol during the whole trip. No idea trying to get a refund from work!
Finally the short video clip trying to imitate Dylan Winter-like commenting and not succeeding very well...

And here is the trip on Google Earth: