Today we were planning to leave to anchor overnight in the archipelago. It was a bright, sunny morning but as usual, the air was still somewhat on the chilly side. However, before we could set off, we had rather an important task to perform. We had finally received, in our account, the moneys that our (thankfully) ex-neighbour had reluctantly agreed to contribute towards our costs incurred whilst trying to get our land back. Whilst I realise that the amount of interest that is paid on deposits nowadays is paltry, nevertheless it is slightly less paltry in a building society than in a bank's current account, so I spent a frustrating initial hour or so struggling with passwords, failing connections and other incidents designed to tempt one to throw one’s computer into the Baltic but I eventually succeeded and we can look forward to our 3% or whatever it is.




That done and equanimity restored, we started off on our little voyage of adventure . We’d decided upon some islands just south of a large one called Stora Askö. The one mentioned in the pilot was called Jungfruskär, apparently it’s famous and I quote 'everybody remembers Jungfrusund ‘ (ie the sound of Jungfruskär) ‘and the cottage with the model ships but not everyone knows that a lovely archipelago is to be found beyond Sundsholmen ‘ (the next island to the west) ‘which is where the cottage is situated. The islands are close to the fairway, it is beautiful, unpopulated, free of shoals, rich in harbours and there is good shelter. What more can you want’. There – that is why we wanted to anchor there – wouldn’t you??

After an hour under engine , we found ourselves heading northwards in a gentle SE wind, F2/3, so we were able to enjoy the unfolding scenery at a gentle 3 knots under sail. And what scenery! It really is gorgeous here, it is completely unspoiled, or at least the spoiling by man has had little impact and what he has done is rather pretty . One example of the unspoiledness (I know there’s no such word) (but there should be) of the area is that we came across no fewer than four, yes four, white tailed eagles!!! In fact, a pair of what I think are juveniles, were sitting on an islet, as cool as you can be, as we sailed past. What’s more, we even managed a photo (or 10, but I’m sparing you 9).

We continued sailing along in this manner until about 14:00, when we reluctantly started the engine in order to head ‘off piste’ (ie off the marked channel) to find an anchorage. We’d decided upon a bay that was between two islands, Långö and Trässö – that doesn’t make geographical sense, but the two parts of the conjoined bits of land do have separate names. It could be that they were islands until recently but what you may not know (we didn’t) is that this part of the world is still rising, bouncing back after suffering the indignity of being squashed by quadrillions of tons of ice during the last ice age . So even as late as say, 100 years ago, these could have been islands, now they’re joined. My theory.

We found our anchorage, it was beautiful. Sadly, the only other boat (virtually) we saw that day also thought so and decided to anchor, within 5 minutes of our arrival, about as close as you can get without causing alarm. Offence, yes, alarm no. It’s so silly, he had acres, literally acres, he could have chosen, but no, the old instinct ‘they look safe, I’ll anchor nearby’ kicked in. At least they were quiet.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon sunbathing and reading – I was in my usual lack of attire and it was their lookout if they were offended, then later, we relaxed in the saloon, reviewing a splendid day and watching Julie’s last recording, part 1 of a 2 part Casualty. The pressure is on to get wifi so’s I can download part 2…!