Midsommar
Jim texted me, worried that I died because there is no movement on this log. That made me aware that, indeed, I have not used my boat for many weeks since launching.
I was busy with other projects, house renovation and garden work. Somehow Meritaten slipped my thoughts in the abundance of activities. Last days before summer vacations are hectic at daily work - it seems that all folk suddenly need to finish everything, as if there is no tomorrow - or “after vacations” time. That makes me busy and tired so after coming home I keep myself occupied close to my workshop, not feeling attraction to leave anywhere.
It is Midsommar - the most awaited day in the summer. All Swedes who have summer house in Roslagen came - one can notice intense activity on the waterfront, too.
I went to the boat to finish rigging her and starting preparations for family sailing.
Genua sail is now fitted. Reef lines on the main sail are set.
Following Jim - and his Mentor, Börje - I’ve change the way I moor my boat.
It is in fact the old way of doing things which I was following until I came to Sweden: good sailor does not leave his mooring ropes upon leaving. Thank you Jim for reminding me!
All this came with the requirement to use mooring “dumpers” which should amortise boat movements while moored. As is build-in elasticity of mooring ropes was not enough.
Additionally - as a way to protect expensive ropes most sailors use shackles or carbines to attach ropes to the mooring loops. This results in trouble upon leaving - you cannot remove lines from the deck easily and undoing all this hardware becomes a pain. Hence folk leave them behind, on place, and sail away. Upon coming back they simply pick them up and tie the boat.
So a mooring place, in the absence of a boat, has these ropes and rubber dampers lying around - or hanging in the water. Not nice, not seamanlike.
Industry, recognising this behaviour, has even developed overpriced Y-rods to be fastened in mooring - to hang the ropes as to keep them away from water. All this is unnecessary if one takes his stuff with him, as it used to be in the old times - when ropes were expensive and sailing etiquette was in force. (Same as doing line ends with twine, not electrical tape).
So I reverted from this way to perdition and equipped Meritaten with new bungee dumpers which are easily mounted on already deployed mooring lines. No need to have a free end for threading these huge, black rubber dildos. Also - my mooring ropes can be set and removed from the deck - they run in loop towards the mooring loops. Like I used to do before.
Jim protects Kaika from frying sun. I admit that it matches nicely cream-white whale deck while doing its job.
I headed back home for midsummer supper but being on Meritaten has woken desire to spend some more time on a boat. Later in the evening I took Nano for a 3 km walk to the harbour. I use removable wheel-barrow wheels which nicely fit in centreboard slot from beneath. Steven, owner of the Seahopper Boats, presented them very kindly to me. They work perfectly and are small enough to be stowed in the dinghy upon launching. So as to not leave anything behind me on shore!
At this day the night is the shortest. It is in fact no night here anyway so even late evening escapades can count on warm sun rays for some time.
I launched the boat and rowed in calm water. No motor boats with their abrupt wake, silent midsummer night.
Around 22.00 I turned back home. It became chilly but I did not feel it - I had to work hard to push Nano on steep uphill way from the harbour. Good with some physical activity before going to sleep.