58:13.90N  06:32.15E

Sun 30 May.  Quick explore of Mandal.  Ghost town, nobody around.  Some nice old houses.  Headed off at 11am towards Lindesnes, the southern headland of Norway and a serious obstacle in bad weather.  (The Vikings even dragged their ships across land to avoid Lindesnes.)  Forecast was for offshore winds up to 20 knots, so put up the main with one reef in place.  Lovely fast sail, gybing between the islands when disaster struck!  We were hit by a huge gust as we gybed and the wind went from 20 to 30 knots, with white water suddenly all around.  Saw that the main had a 15 inch rip half way up the leech.  Motored up into shelter behind an island to get it down and found a mooring buoy in Svenevig for the night.

Mon 31 May. Lovely sunny weather with light winds forecast. Set off at 6am under motor.  Flat calm around Lindesnes, lots of small boats out fishing, so decided to chuck our lines over as well. Caught four pollack and a small sea trout.  Had a visit from a “Kystvakt” rib, very friendly, quick chat and wished us “god tur”. Rounded “Lista” the next tricky headland and went into Flekefjord for provisions, had a rather expensive, but rather nice beer ashore (thanks Mick!). Set off again at 4pm and at 7pm we found a nice alongside berth in a really picturesque old fishing village called Kirkehamn.