At last Swallow, our new Hallberg-Rassy 342, is almost finished
and we take delivery in Ellös, West Sweden on 16 June. We spent a couple of
days in and around Ellös two weeks ago delivering a very full carload of gear
to the HR Yard. This was Ann's first visit and the first time either of us had
seen Swallow. Whilst still a construction project it was clear (at least to
me) that most of the work is complete and she is right on schedule for delivery
next week.
Down below it may look a bit of a mess but almost everything
is installed.
By now she should be out of the yard and ready to be
launched, rigged and sail tested.
We are now completing our final preparations for our maiden
voyage. After a couple of shakedown weeks, we will head slowly up the W Coast
of Sweden and around the SE Coast of Norway to Stavanger before looking for a
good weather window to cross the North Sea to Shetland. The longer this takes
to arrive, the more we see of Norway's fjords. We want to spend a few weeks in
Shetland and Orkney and then plan to head round Cape Wrath and south to the Western
Isles - and relatively familar cruising grounds from Corryvrecken days. From
there we keep heading south, with planned stops in Belfast, Anglesey and
Southern Ireland, before rounding Land's End and to our planned winter mooring
at Dartmouth.
Not long now.
