Year
2007
From:
douglas addison
Sent: 22 September 2008 23:52
To:
website@tmsc.org.uk
Subject: :
Galatea of London
Hi Ralph,
Continuing the saga of Galatea of London, I sailed back again through the
gap between Helsingor and Helsingborg visiting fishing harbours and
marinas in Sweden and Denmark and then south to
Gedser, a small fishing harbour and ferry port on the southern tip of
Zealand. I passed a number of gaff and square rigged old trading vessels
enjoying the strong winds.
Galatea on her fast
crossing to Warnemunde.
I had an excellent fast passage across to
Warnemunde in Germany in a SSW6 and then took a bus up to Rostock,
another old Hanseatic port. While beating along the coast in a SW6 towards
Travemunde, I had to heave to and put additional rolls in the main and
genny when the wind increasd to F7 and beyond. As I entered Travemunde
in the dark, the
Passat,
a four masted barque stood out with lasers playing on the masts and
rigging. Attempting to enter a box with a strong cross current and wind
proved impossible but I managed to raft up. The river flows down through
Lubeck, the major port of the Hanseatic league. It suffered badly from
Allied bombing but much has been restored. I continued along the coast of
Schleswig- Holstein to the Schlei and Flensborg Fjords before crossing to
the Danish Island of Aero and mooring up in Aeroskobing, a pretty little
place with cobbled streets and painted wooden houses. Finally I
sailed through mist and then bright sunshine to the
Island of Thuro. Here Galatea now resides in a shed with power
attached, to weather the winter.
I have had an adventurous summer with some great sailing and
fascinating landfalls en-route to Denmark from Finland via the Aland
Islands, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.
The photos attached are of Hamlet's castle at Helsingor
Best Regards to all at TMSC.
Douglas
23.9.08
From: douglas addison
Sent: 21 August 2008 21:22
To:
website@tmsc.org.uk
Subject: Torpoint Topics
Hi Ralph,
I have spent the last few weeks around the Kategat. I headed north to
Helsingor (Hamlet's castle) and across to Helsinborg in Sweden. Then
with strong westerlies instead of going around the north of Zealand,
headed south down the Kategat calling at various harbours and heading down
towards
Rodvig. A Southerly 6 and promise of a 7 developed on the nose so bore
away and had a cracking broad reach to
Mosede, a tiny fishing harbour. Southerlies persisted so headed back
up the Kategat to Kestrup. Younger daughter Clara joined me and we headed
north passed Hamlet'st castle again and round the top of Zealand to
Giilleleje, a charming fishing village with thatched cottages. The
wind went round to the west and F5 to 7 forecast, so headed east and back
into the Kategat and headied south again. I hope this time to reach
Germany. Weather continues to be very gusty with heavy
showers. Fortunately I had some time to be flexible so have had some great
sailing but not always in the direction intended.
I hope all the events at Torpoint that I get e-mails about have been a
great success.
Best Regards,
Douglas
21.8.08
From: douglas addison
Sent: 29 June 2008 20:53
To: website@tmsc.org.uk
Subject: Galatea
Hi Ralph,
I set out from Klaipeda in a F5/6 with surprisingly big waves on the nose.
The forecast was for it to ease during the night to a F4 and eventually as
I sailed outside the Russian 12 mile limit during the night, it did. No
sign of Russian patrol boats but a number of commercial ships passed and
with AIS, one could interrogate them and check their heading and speed.
One could also satisfy one's curiosity as to where they were going. AIS
and radar certainly make for safer night passages.
The following afternoon
I tacked across the traffic lanes which lead to Gdansk and Gdnia, quite a
busy area. The river up to Gdansk was alive with ship building and
repairing. The Clyde must have been like this in the old days. I passed a
memorial on the river bank which marks the place where the first shot was
fired by a German warship. This signalled the beginning of the second
world war.
Eventually I
arrived in the centre and moored up in the marina. The centre has been
rebuilt and restored to its former glory. The main street is
pedestrianised with fascinating facades and many pavement cafes. The
memorial to the ship yard workers is both moving and impressive.
I intended to sail down
the Polish coast, avoiding the firing ranges, but because of limited time,
I set off straight for Ystad in Sweden. I had two nights at sea and past
Bornholm, the claimed jewel in the Baltic.There was no time to stop. From
Ystad I sailed down the coast and through the canal, which cuts across the
bottom corner of Sweden and up past the new bridge to the Marina near
Copenhagen Airport.
After a quick flight
home to set up my painting groups Summer Exhibition, I will return to
Galatea on the 30th and head up to Rungsted for the Centenary Rally of the
Cruising Association.
Wishing everybody fair winds,
Douglas,
29.6 08
