Set sail! - the upside down story

They must have been put in the same way they were taken down — I thought.

Looking in the sack, grabbing a part of the sail. Joined it to the rigging. – This doesn't look right at all. Why is this sharp part down here, I mumbled to my self. – Silly boy. You don’t know these things. Just snap it to the rigging. Don't think and every thing will be all right, I replied to myself.

Clear of the docks I killed the engine. Opened the lock. Grabbed the rope, and hauled. Up came the front sail, and all my suspicions were right. I had hauled the sail up side down. The sharpest part of the sail pointed down at the deck.

You could say I learned to rig the sail pretty fast - the right way this time.

I used almost two hours on the fjord to learn what all the ropes and locks and stuff were there for. I was pretty proud of my self when the wind grabbed the sails and we gained speed.

This was the first time I sailed. I have no sail training and no sail course. Still I managed to get the sails up. Sail for a couple of hours and bring her safely back in to harbor.

And for those of you who have a clear eye. Yes! It is a eZ publish partner t-shirt I wear ;-)

Bringing her home

Bringing her home was an eight hour ride on a calm sea. That’s not how you would like to bring home a sailboat.

Per was all geared up and looking forward to a long sail back home. When we arrived at Vabø the wind was gone. I had to drive back to a gas station and get 30 liters of fuel.

On the map John pointed out the best way to sail home. His wife and their grand daughter showed up to take a last goodbye with Marie Lovise. The kid was dressed in a pirates costume for the occasion.

We used about two hours just to get past Mongstad, the oil refinery. For a very short time we thought the wind would come back, but before we managed to haul the sails it had gone again.

I was in the stern handling the tiller, while Per had one eye constantly at the chart.

We passed many places I would like to go back to. Small islands, only inhabited by sheep's. Narrow straits, small bridges, and cabins on the beaches. Beautiful sceneries.

What I remember best from this trip, is possibly the eight hours of noisy humming from the engine.

– You've bought your self a lot of worries, Per said when we finally reached Bergen and our place in the harbor.

My greatest worry right there was that I wouldn't be able to sail here for a whole week. The weather forecast wouldn't promise wind for at lest a couple of days, and then I would be off for the eZ publish conference.


Per - not so geared up any more, after hours for engine.


First night at the new pier.