Our position is 60:01.825N 22:17.008E

Distance covered 10 Nm

We had identified Helsingholm as a good venue before it was recommended to us, and it was only a short distance from Brannskar so it didn’t matter that we didn’t leave until after lunch by the time we had finished exploring and chatting.

Leaving a somewhat deserted Brannskar

It was a lovely sunny day and we had good sailing. When we arrived there only appeared to be one stern buoy left in the area the chart showed as deep enough. However after hooking it a helpful bystander suggested it was too shallow close in so we dropped it and considered our options. In the end rigging the stern anchor won against anchoring in the bay and having to blow up the dinghy to get ashore so the Fortress was called into action and much heavy warp was unearthed from the bowels of the cockpit locker.

Approaching Helsingholm

We managed to get into a spot on the corner of the jetty next to a German boat. The warnings about depth put us off the inshore jetty along the shore, but actually that would probably have been a better option, as it was tricky tying to the corner and while we were approaching a huge wake rolled in sending boats banging backwards and forwards and threatening damage, which was equally unnerving.

Eventually we were secure and able to go ashore for a walk around. The shop took orders for bread in the morning and smoke rising from the fish smokery augured well for an evening meal. We were able to buy some freshly smoked fish and some fresh tomatoes. Apparently the fish is farmed close by and in return for the site the island are given the fish. Later that evening we saw the guy who had sold us the fish putting out nets in the bay, so it appears he doesn’t rely totally on farmed fish.

Tied up on a corner

Later someone came between us and the German

Going ashore

Not sure of the purpose of this shed but an eclectic mix of lost property

 This was the fish shop

and what we bought

attempting to replenish his stocks

On our walk through the woods we encountered a horse grazing on the shore and drinking the sea water (it’s very brackish this far up the Baltic). This explained the book encouraging bookings for riding in the shop although I’m not sure there are any very exciting rides through the woods and you’d have to take a lot of care not to get swept off by branches.

a friendly horse

The other thing you could book in the shop was the wood fired sauna, a little way through the woods – very peaceful – but we gave it a miss. I still think the air is quite cold, let alone the sea, so can’t see the attraction of doing something that ends up with plunging into icy water, but the Finns seem to love it and swim off their boats for pleasure.

that’s what I call a wood store – it supplies the sauna

I guess they make hay for the horse

Rubbish goes in bins on a pontoon which are then emptied by a bin boat. The big brown sacks go in the bins and are exchanged when full. The boat is named Roope and this is also the name of the scheme to ensure environmental standards of rubbish handling and recycling. Roope flags and awards are given to communities achieving and maintaining high standards

a peaceful evening