Manoeuvring practice

Weather forecast for Saturday promised moderate wind and sunny weather so we set up daysailing for early afternoon. Marek wanted to get some training in handling a sailboat so I didn’t want to get us into some dramatic weather for this first trip.

Short safety introduction, basic line-and-sail terminology and we’ve left NSS harbour before 13:00, on engine - with SW wind. There was no need to reef sails so with both main and genua we headed past Harkö, where there usually is stronger wind and there is enough space to train manoeuvring. Marek took over the rudder and main sail, I cared for genua and my pipe.

After some exercises there - during which we probably scared Mats on his tug boat passing-by - we headed further East into Norttäljeviken to the waterways’ junction close to Rosättra. That’s the second wide place where there are usually stronger winds.

There it became little more exciting - to the point that I rolled-in half of the big genua, for easier handling.

We headed back home, mostly beating against the wind, with few gusts on the way. Around 17:00 the boat was safely moored so a pint of Polish beer could be executed.

What not to like?