Arrival: Harstena Flisfjärden 58:15.686N 017:01.295
Pelagia
Frans & Sarah Toonen
Mon 14 Jul 2014 16:17
| Monday 14th July. Wind Southeasterly F3-F4. Sunny. Heading north again with the intention to enter the Gota Canal on Thursday, just another 40nm to go. Joined a very busy fairway with lots of boats coming out of Västervik after the music festival. There were hundreds of boats within sight at times so vigilance was required in the narrow channels moving at speed under sail. Harstena is in the Gryt archipelago and has been a tourist destination since the 1940’s. It was settled during the iron age and some of the 18th century traditional cottages around the village green are still standing. All of the houses are dark red which seems to be the standard colour for houses throughout the east coast. Harstena was a substantial seal hunting area until the 1940’s when the market declined. During the 1960’s and 70’s virtually the entire seal population of the Baltic died out due to the effects of pollution. Numbers are increasing and some of the outer skerries are fully protected as sanctuaries now. We actually saw one seal, a rare treat to see anything in the sea here. We went into the channel next to the village but it was busy so we went further west to the Flisfjärden. After you pass through the narrow channel you are in a fully sheltered lagoon area. This was busy too but plenty of space for everyone. Explored on foot through the forest and into the village to find the bakery and tiny shop. Bugs made a meal of us and boat filling up with mozzies now. Anchored in 2.3m. Loads of boats coming out of Västervik Very narrow entrance to Flisfjärden |