Little-big adventure
The weather was too good to spend time in dark shed in the boatyard. Besides - I wanted to check if longer oars will improve Nano’s performance on water.
Directly after breakfast we unfolded Nano and put her on beach-wheels. We have a good 40 minutes walk to the harbour but on such sunny morning it is a joy.
New oars are 30% longer than old. I did not swap fittings yet - I want to check if such length works and where they should sit on the oar.
My small helper was cycling in front of me, I was walking behind the “wheelbarrow”.
On the way to the harbour the weather changed a couple of times: there came snow, then Sun and then rain. All conditions within short span of time. I felt adventurous!
Launching went smoothly.
My daughter went onto the small beach nearby, I launched the boat and started rowing to meet her there.
Already after a few strokes I noticed how quickly the boat accelerates. Long oars have significantly more power than shorter ones. It comes with price, thou - in close quarters they are too long. I had some trouble to move away from the pontoon. Wearing winter clothes - bulky jacket and gloves - did not help either, oars were grabbing the jacket..
The wind peaked up so rowing downwind was almost a surf. I beached the boat to have fika on shore.
We had to adjust our plans when we saw big, dark cloud heading our way. The weather started to deteriorate rapidly.
We agreed to meet for fika in a small wind-cover near launching ramp. I wanted to recover the boat before the high wind and snow arrives.
I bent to oars while the wind was increasing. Now that was a workout! Nano is super light so she glides almost on the surface, very susceptible to wind gusts. Having very little displacement she is easily stopped by choppy sea.
Thanks to long oars I could fight my way through the waves but on my way upwind I was looking for places for alternative recovery, should I not reach the ramp.
I did, eventually, and put Nano on her trailer just in time for the main weather attack.
We took our fika inside the wind-shelter, waiting for the snow & wind to pass above us. Cild but happy we headed home for hot beverages.
It might be the last time in this season - next week the cold front will take over our island for good.