We set off around 9.30am, put up our sails and were soon sailing the inshore route behind the islands, moving into beautiful clear waters and clear skies. We were sad to say goodbye to Helsinki. We’d enjoyed a fabulous crew meal at the yacht club the night before – as well as a sauna, and a shed load of washing.
Unfortunately the tumble dryer couldn’t match the washing machine, and we left with our saloon looking like a chinese laundry – a makeshift line hung up to try and dry the last load of washing.
Pottering around Helsinki
Our trip to the island of the street of chandlries had been interesting and fruitful. It’s not often you get asked to leave a chandlery at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon because they are closing. But yep, they all did. We had lunch of the local delicacy of fish soup – basically salmon and potato – very delicious, in a restaurant overlooking another marina. Bit of a busman’s holiday…
Mid morning we caught a glimpse of our first sea eagles, as we wove our way carefully through the guide poles between small islands.
Beware the gusts that come between islands! These are strong and can almost knock you over. We were caught out – and Andrew’s full glass of squash went tumbling down the companion way, over the newly washed clothes – of course!
Others from the rally had taken the outside route, and appeared to be battling against a strong headwind and rain. Around lunchtime they started to move into the inner route and we met and past a number of the other boats.
Barosund had been one of the recommendations of the speaker at the crew dinner. He said it would be like sailing in a swimming pool. Not sure that some of the other yachts would quite have agreed with that on the outer route – but here as we drifted through the islands, we understood exactly what he meant.
Having learnt the lesson the hard way on arrival in Finland – we knew we would want to find our anchorage in day light. Andrew had earmarked a few on the chart – and we discounted the first – as too small and possibly also belonging to someone – there was a buoy.
It was getting close to 6pm, the wind was picking up and our swimming pool was becoming quite choppy. Luckily our next choice proved just the ticket – some carefully following of guide sticks, and we were hunkered down in an anchorage made for one. The small island of Sundskar was to be our berth for the night.
We dropped both bow and stern anchors, and settled down to some mushroom risotto for dinner.
Our daily stats
We made 51 nautical miles in 8 and a half hours, averaging 6 knots. We sailed for an hour, motor sailed for 7 and used 7 gallons of fuel.
2 in a boat is our podcast that brings you the sailing and travel world of Suzanne and Andrew on their aged yacht Crystelle Venture.
Join us
You’ll join us along the way as we prepare for our longest sail yet, from Dartmouth, UK to St Petersburg, Russia. Our route takes us across the North Sea and around the Baltic this summer, a round trip of about 3000 nautical miles.
With a fab intro music written by our talented nephew, Joseph Turner, and artwork by our equally talented daughter, Jessica Caballero – it’s something of a family affair.
The novice and the old salt
The novice and the old salt. All the gear and no idea? What on earth (or on water) could go wrong…? You’ll have to tune in each week to find out how we’re getting on. It’s available from all good podcast sites, Apple Podcasts, Google podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, Breaker, Pocket casts, Overcast, and Radio Public, so hopefully one of those will do it for you!
Crystelle Venture at Darthaven Marina, Kingswear, Devon
We’ll link to each episode as it goes live here, and if there are any show notes, we’ll include them here too.
We’ve now decided to publish our podcasts on a Sunday and a Wednesday – around 6am. So don’t forget to check for new episodes!
Please let us know which is your favourite episode and if you have any questions you’d like us to answer in podcast.
Join us on a wet and windy Sunday evening in the saloon of Crystelle Venture – slightly tired after all our preparations, and excited too to be setting off next day.
Warts and all live recording of our time sailing across Lyme Bay to Portland. Ever wondered what goes on during those long hours in a small cockpit on a yacht? Now’s your chance to eavesdrop and find out what Andrew and Suzanne get up to!
Finally Suzanne, Andrew and Crystelle Venture make footfall in France. But how did the channel crossing go? Was it all plain sailing? Download this latest podcast to hear how it all went.
Enjoy this bonus episode with our sailors first morning off on the other side of the channel. Join them as they discuss the delights of Dunkirk and bothersome Belgians.
Join Suzanne and Andrew in the cockpit of Crystelle Venture as they motor sail from Dunkirk. Does what happened in Dunkirk stay in Dunkirk? Listen in to find out.
Wind shift not in your favour? You have three options – which one are you going to choose? Listen in as our 2 in a Boat, Suzanne and Andrew, sail up the Dutch coast.
Just where have our 2 in a boat washed up now? They’ve spotted submarines, been boarded by the Dutch authorities, and now want to buy concrete sheep. Listen in to find out what on earth/on sea, has been going on.
Settled into their island berth Suzanne and Andrew discuss the various tactics to mooring up in a box berth, being the only Brits in the village and other such nonsense.
A hard day and night’s sail and our 2 in a boat are reliving the tale. Just who gave their account to Neptune, and just what did it consist of? Find out in today’s episode of 2 in a boat.
At last our 2 intrepid sailors have made their way to the gateway to the river Elbe and the prospect of the Kiel canal looms. But what are our 2 in a boat talking about? Borkum, bikes and boys! Listen in to hear about their journey from Borkum to Cuxhaven, and all manner of other discussions.
Today is the day our 2 in a boat face one of their biggest fears, and most anticipated parts of their journey to the Baltic – going into the Keil canal (NOK). Find out how they got on in today’s episode.
Today we find our 2 in a boat preparing for the first official leg in their Baltic rally – from Warnemunde, Germany to Bornholm, Denmark. What have they done in the past few days and what are their thoughts on the rally? Join them on Crystelle Venture to catch up with our 2 in a boat.
Our Baltic wanderers talk about the first two islands they’ve visited on their trip, Bornholm in Denmark and Gotland in Sweden.
Episode 22 – Loving Latvia
Live date: 1 September
Our 2 in a boat make an unscheduled stop in Lativa – and love it! Find out how our intrepid Baltic explorers got on in one of the smallest Baltic countries.
Episode 23 – Talking in Tallinn
Live date: 8 September
This episode finds our 2 in a boat talking tales of travel in Estonia, as they find themselves in the capital city, Tallinn.
Episode 24 – Thoughts on Tallinn
Live Date: 11 September
Our 2 in a boat are all Tallinn’d out! Hear them chat about their time in the Estonian capital – we’re talking showers, submarines, and chandleries of course!
Episode 25 – How we almost joined the Russian navy
Live date: 15 September
Our haphazard sailors almost join the Russian navy, are boarded by sniffer dogs and eventually find themselves in St Petersburg.
Episode 26 – Tall tales of Russian sailing
Live date: 18 September
Talking fried egg sandwiches, touring St Petersburg and the terror of anchoring at night
Episode 27 – Where the devil does his washing up
Live date: 22 September
Time for our 2 in a boat to start recycling their Scandinavian jokes. When and where will it finish?!
Episode 28 – In search of vikings
Live date: 25 September
Join our 2 in their cockpit as they’re under sail making 7 knots and looking for Vikings.
Episode 29 – Think we’ve found our viking!
Live date: 29 September
Our two touch bottom, again, visit the old capital Turku, and discuss cake gate. Find out how and why in today’s episode.
