Mid Summer's Day celebrations - Finnish style!

Astra of Hamble
Jan & Danuta Grieg-Gran
Sat 23 Jun 2012 17:58
59:51.20N 23:24.00E

Friday. Early 6am start in brilliant sunshine, gentle 4 hour passage threading through the islands to Fladalandet, a lovely pink granite island, part of a national park, again recommended by a Finnish sailor. Here we moored with a stern anchor and bows to mooring bolts set in the rocks. Several other boats were moored nearby, setting up barbeques for the mid summer celebration. Fantastic weather, so we inflated the dinghy (First time so far!) and did a slow explore around the island, then the boys did a quick 5 mile dinghy run to a guest harbour with a general store to get provisions, while the girls sunbathed on hot rocks.
Water temp now up to 13 degrees and we saw several people swimming! Chatted to various other sailors and discovered that the idea was to toast the setting sun and stay up to greet the dawn. Lots of singing and carousing up to sunset, then the various groups just sat quietly drinking and chatting as the sun hovered just below the horizon. Chris and I made it through the night to see the sun reappear, but I am afraid we switched to tea after midnight. Lightweights!

Saturday. Woke at 9 am, hangover and headache to grey skies, rain and a howling wind that made the anchorage uncomfortable. Motored for 12 miles to Tammisaari a pleasant leafy little town and moored in their guest harbour after first emptying the sewage holding tank in a rather explosive manner when the pump-out hose jumped. Danuta was not amused!


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