{"id":824,"date":"2018-07-26T21:38:29","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T21:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=824"},"modified":"2019-05-26T21:39:19","modified_gmt":"2019-05-26T21:39:19","slug":"an-ass-kicking-crossing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=824","title":{"rendered":"An ass-kicking crossing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"399\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?resize=1024%2C399\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?resize=1024%2C399&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?resize=300%2C117&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?resize=768%2C299&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?w=2216 2216w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/alsvik-cockpit.jpg?w=3324 3324w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The calm after the storm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sunday: July 1st: Sitting in the quiet boatyard at Alsvik on the Swedish side of the Baltic at 10pm as the sun makes its leisurely way to the horizon, the world looks a peaceful and unthreatening place<\/strong>.\u00a0 What a difference a few hours make!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This was toughest day\u2019s sailing by far. Leaving Bj\u00f6rk\u00f6r we knew there was a new front forecast to start building around noon so we slipped our lines at 6am and laid a course WSW to our destination of Fejan about 32 miles away. We figured we could average 5 knots, even with a few deviations for shoals, and so we\u2019d be only an hour away by the time the wind came up. As always the best laid plans of mice and men\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1108\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hPVv77pW1ik?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>Beware of over-confidence, grasshopper&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0We made good early progress under genoa and full main and the conditions stayed calm \u2013 mostly in the 6-8kt range. We both wanted to explore the capabilities of the boat\u2019s Cap Horn windvane and felt this was really the first time we had enough open water to use it. We tinkered with Sune (as Andy and Mia had dubbed her) for a few hours and got her to work intermittently but sadly we dallied a little too long. Still, the Swedish coastline looked barely 10nm away when the wind started to build but as can always be the case in sailing, things deteriorated quickly. As we started to get overpowered with gusts to the mid-20s and a growing swell from the north east I pondered my options: send myself up to the bucking foredeck (with no bow pulpit) to swap out the genoa for the 100% jib, or simply drop the main and go jib and jigger. I had wanted to try the fore-and-aft configuration for a while and this seemed like the ideal time. Although the boat immediately got back on her feet beating to weather was a lot of work and I knew there were plenty of inviting harbors further south west, so I decided to run before the wind on jib alone. Unfortunately the wind had other ideas, it both continued to build and move steadily westwards and then to the south, forcing me more and more to the south west while flying along at speeds of  6.5-7kts with the wind on our quarter.  With plenty of shallow water approaching this was turning into a very nervous ride for us both. We tried to seek shelter at a place J found on Navionics named Rodl\u00f6ga, but this turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. It featured a tiny channel facing north east, the direction the wind was now coming from, and led down to a small hamlet with a concrete pier and three feet of water. The idea leaving Arcturus to the tender mercies of a relentless swell and a concrete pier was a non-starter, so we motored back up against the chop and decided to cross west towards Blid\u00f6. J was fairly beat and went below at this time, leaving me to either handle the tacking single-handed and beat up to the north end of Blid\u00f6, or instead put the boat on a reach to the south end, where we could at least rely on a sheltered channel for the north. Another tiring three hours went by before I looked for an east-west alternative to the prevailing wind and found the sheltered Alsvik Marina, where we pulled into a pontoon berth. Cue beer, bread and cheese and a quick look around. It was now 7pm and our 32 mile, six hour jaunt had turned into an exhausting, 52nm, 13 hour passage in very challenging conditions. But we madeit home safely. We both slept very well that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"590\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/open-bow-pulpit.png?resize=583%2C590\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/open-bow-pulpit.png?w=583&amp;ssl=1 583w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/open-bow-pulpit.png?resize=296%2C300&amp;ssl=1 296w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/open-bow-pulpit.png?resize=65%2C65&amp;ssl=1 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" \/><figcaption>Must get one of these. Stat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However the difficulty of what should have been a simple passage taught me a few lessons I was determined to take on board. For all the ease of boarding, I really wanted a bow pulpit to make it safer switching out headsails. I determined that I would have one fabricated, open at the front in the Swedish fashion, from my existing pulpit, over the winter. I also decided that the old saw about reefing as soon as you start to think about it, would be incorporated into my sailing habits immediately. And when it comes to testing out new gear \u2013 like the windvane \u2013 I vowed never to do it ahead of a big front coming in. All just common sense really, but sometimes you need a kick in the ass to do the obvious thing. I know I did.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sunday: July 1st: Sitting in the quiet boatyard at Alsvik on the Swedish side of the Baltic at 10pm as the sun makes its leisurely way to the horizon, the world looks a peaceful and unthreatening place.\u00a0 What a difference a few hours make! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This was toughest day\u2019s sailing by far. Leaving Bj\u00f6rk\u00f6r we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7wHME-di","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":140,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=140","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":0},"title":"Stockholm. Now I&#8217;m on my own.","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"June 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Friday: June 10th: Making the brief walk back to the dock in the morning I had lots to think about. Andy and Mia were there to meet me and say goodbye and let me just say that it was a very emotional moment for me. A novel mix of fear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"Decisions, decisions","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Swedis-food.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1593,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=1593","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":1},"title":"Furusund&#8230;. and that very tasty V\u00e4rdhus","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"September 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Friday, July 1st. We enjoyed a brisk downwind sail out of Sandhamn and north towards Furusund, all three of us happy to finally put our sails up and enjoy the weather. It\u2019s close to a 30nm sail and we were in search of some good grub. Murielle had discovered an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/vardhus.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":345,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=345","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":2},"title":"One last time at Wasahamnen","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"August 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 It\u2019s early evening on Monday, August 1st and I\u2019m sitting in the cockpit looking out at the Vasamuseet which dominates the skyline looking north from Wasahamnen. I\u2019m back on the boat after six days R&R \u2013 if that is the appropriate term \u2013 at our friend\u2019s house north of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sweden at my feet? not quite, but Wasahamnen has become a home away from home for me","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/wasahamnen-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/wasahamnen-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/wasahamnen-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/wasahamnen-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":976,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=976","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":3},"title":"K\u00f6kar to Jurmo","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"July 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Sun 6\/30 Dep. 11.47. Arr. 6.0225. 3 nm. 6h 15mins.For a higher-resolution map of this route, click HERE: Lovingly tended: the graveyard at the Seafarer's Chapel in K\u00f6kar The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I often use that old chestnut to provide solace when the day\u2019s sailing was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kokar-chapel-2.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kokar-chapel-2.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kokar-chapel-2.gif?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1619,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=1619","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":4},"title":"Gota Canal 1: Mem to Hulta Sluss","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"October 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Tues. July 26\/Wed. July 27: The Gota Canal guide divides to the canal into three convenient sizes, beginning or ending with a lake. The first section, from the Baltic to Lake Roxen, has 15 locks and 7 bridges.\u00a0 After entering the system at Mem you\u2019ll find the charming town of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/norsholm-two.jpeg?fit=432%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":352,"url":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?p=352","url_meta":{"origin":824,"position":5},"title":"The Swedish Archipelago: what you really need to know","author":"Becoming Salty","date":"August 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Stockholm Sk\u00e4rsg\u00e5rd, or Stockholm archipelago, was described in one sailing magazine recently as \u2018a delicious chocolate box of 30,000 alluring granite islands, each with its own character, history and wildlife.\u2019 For the sailor, it's a fabulous cruising ground that can be visited again and again. It forms the central\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"From Vasteras to Moja and many spots inbetween: Our route, summer 2016","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Final-Journey-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Final-Journey-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Final-Journey-Map.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Final-Journey-Map.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Final-Journey-Map.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=824"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":931,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824\/revisions\/931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingarcturus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}