Sweden heading south - The Blue Coast
Astra of Hamble
Jan & Danuta Grieg-Gran
Tue 17 Jul 2012 22:20
57:54.87N 16:44.72E
Sun. Now just four of us, Jan, Danuta, Steve and Veronica. Did a big 8 hour passage southwest from Nynashamn to Arko, where we found a wonderful enclosed bay. We were the only boat!
This is the "Blue Coast", where a chain of small islands provides sheltered sailing down towards Oland and Kalmar,
Bird watching highlight was several razorbills close enough to the boat to enable a precise match from the Collins bird book.
Mon. Nice sun and cloud day. Lazy morning and a brisk Morgen Bad, 15 degrees! Favourable wind so managed a couple of hours of peaceful sailing following the buoyed route between the low granite islands. Found another lovely enclosed bay on Fango. Tried mooring Swedish style to the rocks, but sadly the stern anchor would not set. Plenty of room, so anchored conventionally with the big Spade anchor. Dinghied ashore and picked two big tubs of blueberries.
Tue. Lovely sunny day. Gentle five hours of meandering through the islands, binoculars in constant use looking at birds. We needed to find a shop, so found another lovely sheltered anchorage at Langudden, where we went ashore and trekked through the rocks and trees to a small track, which joined the road to Loftahammer. Really nice to have a good walk after a few days on the boat, lovely scenery and wild flowers everywhere. Also picked wild strawberries and raspberries beside the track. At Loftahammer we found a big ICA supermarket and a proper "Bageri" for fresh bread and cakes. The bird life at Langudden was amazing and all happening really close to the boat. Several family groups of Great Crested Grebes, Greylag Geese, Velvet Scoters, Swans with Cygnets, Herons, Cormorants, Terns and Swallows. Finished with a back deck barbie and watched an amazing sunset.
