Our position is 60:13.725N 20:04.718E

Distance covered 11.9 Nm

Thursday had been unpleasantly rainy and Friday we woke to thick fog. We were keen to get to Kastelholm as there was very unpleasant weather forecast for Saturday and we were hoping to shelter there.  We had taken advantage of the laundry facilities at Mariehamn on Thursday and luckily the fog cleared at midday and we were able to leave and time our arrival for the Lemstrons Kanal bridge opening on the hour.

Leaving Mariehamn

In fact we were a bit early at the canal and had to kill time but once it opened we were quickly through, preceded by a flock of ducks going all out to stay ahead of the boats. Immediately after the canal there is a large area of open water between the islands, but we were soon across that and going carefully up the shallow channel to Kastelholm.  A moment of concern greeted overhead cables, but they claimed to have 22m clearance, which would be plenty for us, but they looked a bit droopy so we went right over to the left hand side to ensure maximum headroom. The channel runs alongside the Aland Islands main golf club with 2 18 hole courses and a 6 hole one for beginners, so we were able to watch golfers most of the way up.

Lemstroms Kanal

The ducks won the race

It was closing as soon as we were through

This was the smartest boat house we had seen

and people do keep ponies in their gardens

Looks a bit bleak. At first we thought the rocks just showing in the second picture were swans standing in the water but a look through the binoculars soon mad us realise our error

Wonder how many golf balls end up in the water

When we arrived at the guest harbour we were spoiled for choice as regards mooring as there were pontoons with buoys, poles or booms as well as alongside (we realised later!). The friendly harbour master said we could go wherever we wanted – there weren’t many boats there – so we opted for booms as being the most secure in bad weather. He also helped us tie up – the first time this year we have been helped by a harbour master; usually we have to rely on other boat owners. We were certainly secure – we seemed to use every warp we own.

  Approaching the harbour

And tied up very, very safely