Still cheeky cruising

May 22nd Ansnes - Uthaug

Whilst still not participating in any organised event I was the last boat out of the harbour.  With pleasant winds the sails was set just outside the harbour and due to a beneficial I could keep at the same close hauled angel even when the direction of the fjord was more and more towards the direction the wind originally came from.

Eventually I had to start beating to the wind. But after just two tacks the wind became confused and weak and the trusty Volvo had to be employed to secure some sort of progress. After a short while the wind became unconfused. still weak, but direction had changed allowing for a favourable reach on an almost glassy sea. 

For the destination at Uthaug later in the day gale force winds was forecasted. So in good time before approaching I reefed the main, but the gale didn't materialise (just jet) so a shook the reef out and got a lovely broad reach reaching 8,2 kn of boat speed. In hindsight I should have read the landscape and rereefed before sailing onto Bjugnfjorden that is open in the direction the wind came from -  for there the wind was gale force. Furling sails on an overpowered boat is difficult and doing it singlehanded even more so. Since I normally is running a conservative set up I'm not specially experienced in that manoeuvre either. But after trying different ways with and without engine I was able to furl the main on a somewhat close hauled starboard tack with a loose main sheet. And with the main saved the jib could be furled on a board reach. Luckily the open fjord that allowed for the strong wind also provided plenty of space. 

The final challenge of the day was docking singlehanded on the outside of another boat. Third row from the dock actually and still in a gale. With the dock being windward I would be blown away from the boat I was to dock against in seconds. But I dutifully prepared my four lines on the starboard side as I usually does when coming alongside and the boat I was to dock alongside had prepared fenders. I went in a little faster than I usually does and used more revs stopping the boat AND there where four sailors from the other boats grabbing my lines as soon as they could reach immediately securing them on the relevant cleats. And thus the docking went smooth despite the skippers very high pulse.