Top view

Before our changed plans the crew climbed up to the local mountain. 

The guest marina is in the pic, can you find it?

Lessons about life in Häggvik - Part 2 (how to look after a crew member with sprained ankle)

I had a situation to manage. The captain was off to non-nautical duties and away from the vessel. And the first mate was incapacitated, suffering the sprained ankle. This was really the most demanding case I have met during my career as a sea cat indeed. The first mate was lucky because the injury was medium serious case meaning that she could use her right leg even the moving was difficult. However we concentrated resting in the cockpit and keeping the first mate leg in rest position on the pillows. I like hanging around at the bow when moored but now I knew walking was very difficult to the first mate so I decided to stay in the cockpit with her.

Those few days spent waiting for the captain, instead of doing excursions and enjoying rest as planned,  were long days but I managed well to support the first mate and help her taking care of the boat and the daily routines. I looked after her sleep and if there were some noises outside I woke up to check that everything was OK and notified the first mate too. Two Sundsvall boats with very nice crews,  twoSigma and Racoon,  were moored next to our vessel. We learned many new details about sailing in Högä Kusten and I could see the discussions cheered up the first mate.

The captain returned earlier than planned, due to the first mate ankle situation, on Wednesday morning. We could not wait as the weather seemed perfect for the passage to Vaasa archipelago. We prepared as soon we could and off we were for 16 hour sailing to Rönskär! Goodbye Höga Kusten, see you next time!

...

As of early September the ankle improves every day. The biking has started, but no running yet. The first mate is hopeful to start skiing season in time.

Lesson about life in Häggvik - Part 1 (and why tunnbröd became so important to us)

Next stop Häggvik, one of the most exciting harbors! There was a quite special situation with us. The captain had to return to Oulu for his non-nautical duties for few days and me and the first mate had decided to stay at Höga Kusten, to take care of the vessel, and to rest. The first mate had big plans for those days, about the mountains she would climb on and about small excursions, like one to Högbonden, she would do while I would sleep in my normal daily land routine between 10 am to 6 pm.  

However, you may make plans and have high expectations but they may not get realized as thought. 

Early Sunday morning the captain had a taxi to pick him to the railway station in Kramfors. Some time later I retreated to my nap and the first mate borrowed a bike at marina to ride to Nordingrå for groceries. She made the shopping and wanted to ride the bike further in the town for sightseeing. When she drove up to the church hill she was so impressed about the lovely view to the lake that when she stopped she forgot this was not her own bike but a different bike with different seat hight. She put her right feed on ground that her foot could not reach and she fell down with the bike.  The ankle swoll immediately and it hurt, really hurt. 

That moment was one of those moments that are short but feel like minutes - the pain made her worrying if it was serious damage to her ankle who would she take are of me and the boat, if she would need to go to hospital, how could she manage alone... Then from somewhere appeared a friendly lady who helped the first mate from the ground, instructed the needed first aid, and walked her to the local tourist office. The lady at the tourist office offered the first mate bag of frozen tunnbröd, type of local bread, that was used to cool the hurt ankle. The first mate believes that this was critical to get the ankle to heal fast. This was not all, the tourist office's lady closed the office to drive the first mate back to marina to the vessel. She also took care of the bike from the marina. 

We are very very thankful for the help of both the friendly lady who helped the first mate at the church parking lot and the friendly tourist office lady who returned my hurt crew member back to the vessel!   

(We do not have pictures of this incident, so some pics about arriving at and at Häggvik quest marina.)

Häggvik Happenings- Part 2

Ok, I was thinking that this day is going to be another rainy day in a marina but I was wrong.

First, we were asked if we would like to be interviewed by Sundsval's radio who would like to talk with Finnish sailors coming to Höga Kusten. I politely thanked and said no - my crew is not yet equipped with good enough Swedish language skills. I know they practice all the time but its not yet good enough... Personally I would prefer television, to show off my handsome appearance ;-)

Second, the treasure hunt game started. There were 15 teams in total. The first team was nothing less than the coast guard's team with their business ship. Hefty! The task in Häggvik was a kayak competition, one member from each team kayaked the same route. Teams were also given hints for navigating to the next stop.

Häggvik - Part 0 - Awesome arrival

Häggvik Happenings - Part 1

Another rainy day. I expected boredom. Little I knew; the day become so exciting I did not want 

to sleep until late afternoon. I was exhausted.

First, we were asked into Swedish radio. Then, Stjärnjakten, the treasure hunt game for motor boat teams, had one of its tasks in Häggvik.

  

I will elaborate in upcoming posts.