Summer cruise 2018

scubaman

scubaman

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 May 2006
Messages
2,253
Location
Finland
Visit site
Summer cruise 2018 (with pics)

It’s been a funny start to the summer here. Pretty much the whole of May and first three weeks of June have been outstanding weather wise. Temps regularly above 20 C, often more than 25 C, and hardly any rain. Getting used to the balmy weather was so easy. More difficult was the return to normal when our summer holidays started last Thursday. We spent the Midsummer Eve moored in a small marina in a small island and waited for +20 m/s winds and heavy rain pass…

Anyway, we have since started our slow summer cruise with a plan to go west, as far as Stockholm if all goes well. There are some family matters that may alter our plans, however, so we are not going to make any firm plans and just take it easy and see how things play out.

I’m currently typing this in Hanko, right about here -> https://www.google.fi/maps/place/Ha...x319e5f55f98a2441!8m2!3d59.834482!4d22.964781

I was having an evening stroll with a camera and spotted some nice boats so I thought I’d some pics.

This Nordie is a new kid on this marina and boy does he have some presence.

IMG_8913-4_zpsmzxftgtd.jpg


IMG_8910-3_zpsoiw30d7u.jpg


IMG_8927-8_zpsev5ixetz.jpg


Nice Brig.

IMG_8908-2_zpsqpqz247z.jpg


Spanking red XO.

IMG_8904-1_zpsvipclihe.jpg


Moon rising.

IMG_8918-5_zpsnmj24urc.jpg


The plan is to stay put for a couple of more days and then head further west.

If I manage to get any half decent pics or bits of vid, I’ll update this thread as we go along, so feel free to check back if you like.

Happy summer and happy cruising everyone!
 
Last edited:
AndieMac said:
These words bought a smile to me :)
Click to expand...
Positively +1.
Scubaman writing a conditional sentence about taking "half decent" pics and clips is akin to an astronaut in doubt about whether he can fly a kite! :cool:

A great starter indeed K - the last pic is particularly inspiring, btw. Thanks for sharing the experience, looking forward for next steps!
 
What I meant by that was that for the past year I have been so busy with trying to learn the vid stuff that I have only taken a handful of stills and feel that the photo eye is rusted. I find it very hard to switch from photo to vid mode. Wasn't meant to be sounding pretentious :).

Is that only a 55? There are many fifty+ footers around and even an Elegance Mega 92 and it seems very impressive in that company.
 
Believe Sweet hope is a 64 and spent a long time in the UK a few years back before being sold. if i recall the previous (original) owners are a lovely american couple and the ships cat is also very friendly!

lovely pics. will try and dig a picture from my phone of the Nordhavn that we were admiring in St Georges, Grenada last week, they really do have a LOT of presence up close!
 
I love it. :encouragement: Fab pictures as ever accompanies with the usually interesting narrative.

PS: Just started a trip ourselves.
 
scubaman said:
It was such a beautiful evening that I found myself drawn to the same view again.
Click to expand...
I can see why - stunning images! :encouragement:
Btw, it's not the first time I'm wondering this while looking at your photos:
Is there any physics reason that I'm completely missing, behind the surface tension-like seas that you find so often? :rolleyes:
 
No meterological reason that I’m aware of, it certainly doesn’t feel like it happens very often. Although when it does, it’s a photo opp not to be missed. Maybe that gives the false impression :).
 
A little update from our cruise.

Fitting to the discussion above regarding the calm scenery, strong winds were predicted to Baltic Sea and we had to adjust our plans for an earlier departure to avoid the worst weather. My wife went back home for an overnight stay to attend some family matters and right after she got back, we cast of with the final waypoint set to a lighthouse outside Sandhamn on the Swedish east coast.

Forecast was for F4 to F5 which would die down towards the evening. When we left Hanko, the sea quiet enough to take the offshore route along the coast but as we approached Utö, the southernmost inhabited island of Finland, the winds had picked up a bit to F5 gusting F6. The waves were directly on the nose, so we had to drop back the speed to 16 knots to make the it more comfortable, but as it wasn’t too bad, we decided to alter the course slightly to south and head out to open sea for crossing over to Sweden.

As the day turned to evening, winds started to abate and we gradually lifted the speed to 25 knots. The sea was completely empty for the majority of our trip, only when reaching the Swedish coast did we see container ships hugging the coast on their way south.

Moon raised at around 10 pm and together with the calm and empty sea, the scenery was very very beautiful. A great sensation of achievement was felt when we reached the Revengegrundet Lighthouse after a 125 mile and eight hour trip.

Here is a short vid to share the feel of the journey. Please click on the Youtube link to see the vid on full screen.



Day after our cruise the winds picked up with first F5 from south then changing direction within an hour to F7 from north. We stayed put in Sandhamn for four days and waited for the winds to die down. Sandhamn is a beautiful place with a special atmosphere spiced up by Swedish author Viveca Steen,who has written a series of murder mysteries taking place on the island.

Here is a clip of Sandhamn from last year to give you an idea of what the place looks like.



After the winds calmed a bit, we continued our cruise towards Stockholm from where I'm typing this post.
 
I'm in awe of your photography/videography skills, you really can take some stunning shots. :encouragement::cool:
 
Last edited:
scubaman said:
......A great sensation of achievement was felt when we reached the Revengegrundet Lighthouse after a 125 mile and eight hour trip.....
Click to expand...

Its a great feeling SM, especially with your family around to share the experience.

Thanks for the update

Edit: I was just checking your possible route from Sandhamn to Stockholm, plenty of zig-zagging involved between and around the islands, but nothing you are not used to :)
 
Last edited:
MrB said:
I'm in awe of your photography/videography skills, you really can take some stunning shots. :encouragement::cool:
Click to expand...
Absolutely.
Not that I'm surprised anymore, mind... We are all used by now to expect this quality from scubaman!

What I find most intriguing is his capacity to condensate in very short clips the whole experience of a long trip.
Possibly the best minute of boating video I've ever seen, considering a theoretical "content vs. length" ratio! :encouragement:
 
Re: Summer cruise 2018 (with pics)

IMG_8927-8_zpsev5ixetz.jpg


[QUOTE END]

Beautiful pictures again Skuba! Can’t wait for casting off and heading out for this summer’s adventure.

Som sad news unfortunately, the Princess 55 named Quinna next to the Nordhaven belonged to my dear friend Stefan, who also posted frequently on this forum, died som weeks ago after battling cancer for several years. This did however not prevent him from cruising extensively every summer and even make plans for this season. He also made upgrades to the boat as late as a few weeks before passing away. Stefan owned Quinna for 20 years and he definitely had the ultimate passion for the sea and motor boating as many of us here have. Quinna is up for sale now and it is probably the best P55 from that era that exists.

We are starting our cruise a bit later this year, in 10 days from now. We plan to head west also, maybe To Stockholm. The long term weather prediction looks very promising for July at the moment

...hm Quinna use to be one of the bigger boats on this dock, the Nordi almost compete in the ice breaker category :-)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Thank you gentlemen for your kind words!

AndieMac said:
Its a great feeling SM, especially with your family around to share the experience.

Thanks for the update

Edit: I was just checking your possible route from Sandhamn to Stockholm, plenty of zig-zagging involved between and around the islands, but nothing you are not used to :)
Click to expand...

There are two main routes to Stockholm, the more obvious one rounding Värmdölandet from the south and the more exiting one going right through it. We took the latter as it's very pretty and at times also very narrow as you can see from the pic below.

IMG_1219_zpsf9nufbw3.png


Screenshot%202018-07-03%2022.09.12_zps1dlp8bzb.png


The scenery is indeed beautiful as are the numerous summer houses all along the route. Shallow too, only two meters where the pic was taken.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top