Life vest

I like to go out from the boat to piers. My crew has made me to wear this safety equipment. I think it looks professional. But it hinders a bit if I want for security reasons to crawl carefully before I have taken over a new pier. 

What do you think? How do I look like in it?

PS There is a secret to this safety vest, it is meant for dogs which is a bit embarrassing...  Please do not tell anyone.

Navigational Aid

Route planning is important.

I overlook the process and guide the crew.

One can do it with grace and elegance.

Poetic Bönhamn

The southern wind had ceased during the night as we left Ulvön. Exit from between the south and north islands where the marinas are located will be its own post, the passage is very narrow and as such an excitement and new experience itself. 

Yesterday's waves were still there, coming from west side exit from Ulvön harbour is kind of end of a bag where the waves from all the length from Bothnian Sea meet the land. So we got some nice swinging. The crew was concerned if I would get sea sick but you know there is a reason why I have chosen the front cabin  floor being my position in the vessel during seagoing - to me it feels the most stabile one. As the crew had anchored the vessel I gracefully emerged from my travel cabin for a snack. The crew was left wondering that if I am a such a strong sea cat who cannot be disturbed by some minor water movements.

Bönhamn, oh, Bönhamn is just like the harbors are in the poetics. The stormy sea is taming gradually as the  harbor gets closer and when the ship enters the gates of the pool the water is calm, the wind delivers the warm scent of forest and the sun creates silvery lining to the dark clouds passing away. Entry to Bönhamn is a route between the fast land and small islands isolating it from open sea and nothing less than the mighty lighthouse of Högbonden guides the sailor approaching from the sea. 

The marina is convenient for a visiting sailor. The neat facilities are right at the guest pier, the cafe is excellent to treat the crew (what I elaborate later) and there is a nice path with super-lovely views around the mountain behind the pier. The crew swimming was also good in clear and 16C refreshing water. Note to a reader, I did not swim. Also if you really want to have time to yourself you can send your crew to Högbonden visit as the connection boat has a stop at the cafe. And to myself there was so much to see. In this harbor the guest marina is a side business and the real life goes on. Fishing boats coming and going, seagulls in search of a treat from the fish cleaning, children playing in the water, dogs, more birds... I can say looking after this all kept me entertained and busy. 

To conclude I believe Bönhamn will be a strong contestant in my Top 3 Destinations for 2013 competition, in both categories, crew's and my own selections. 

Start of the path.

The poetic entry.

Island of Högbonden.

Weekend Weather 1 - Sun Sparkle

Boat cooking

The first mate wanted to share some boat cooking with you. 

I would not eat this preparation, I had my pilgrim mussel sashimi style. However my observation on the captain was that he considered this dish at least edible, maybe even enjoyable. 

The recipe can be found here.

Career planning

A siberian cat reaches her maturity at age of four years. This year I have my second birthday so I have started to think about my career as a seacat. I definitely enjoy this job. The only con is that it is a seasonal job. Of course there is the planning and preparation but I have learned appreciate the execution  in the vessel more and more after the long Winter.  As we met some nice international sailors I got a idea about becoming an international seacat. Not an bad idea at all. I have some contemplation to do!

Reporting the Weekend

The Spring is really in, the lovely alder leaves are growing.

The hull was polished.

The mast was polished too and top of it equipped.

I was super-busy supervising this all action, both on the boat and managing the outside.

I monitor the situation carefully.
I stayed awake all the nights, securing the crew's sleep.

The old wise light house in the distance waits for us (it can be seen in the pic if you look carefully).
We are almost ready to set the sail and meet him again.

Wohnmobiling

I made an experiment with a new way of transportation and accommodation. The captain rented a camper, or ein Wohnmobil as the crew calls them for still an unknown reason, for our weekend at the boat yard.

 This vehicle seems to be a combination of a car (while driving I stay in my travel compartment or wear a safety belt) and a boat (mooring possible close to shoreline and it can be used for sleeping and preparing food). The key difference is the transportation medium, its the road and not the water. 

The first night we stayed at Kalajoki. A parking site with a nice view was selected to be our camp for the night before driving to the boat yard. I totally relaxed as we arrived since I could see the Sea for the first time after the long off-season. The camper was equipped with plenty of windows that I learned during the night to be super-useful...

Oh, I was tired next day. I used most of the night observing the birds - what a selection of them there was available, almost non-stop for all night long...

Blogging plans after Summer vacation 2012 finale

Sammakkalahti was the finale issue in my summer vacation production and its time for new plans, for upcoming summer and the blogging before it.

So I would like to share my posting plans with you.

To prepare for the new season its important to exercise both body and mind, for me and the crew. What would be the better way the motivate the crew than showing example! I exercise a lot in my lair on land, now I just have to train my crew to take pics on athletic action so that I can share those with you. Also mental training is important, meditation and some philosophical thinking - you can expect to see some feline philosophy during the winter.

In November and December the First mate arranges a lot of Xmas fuss in my lair on land. She probably will pursue me to publish some Xmas themed photos. To keep her happy I will but I look after that the attributes "cat" and/or "sea" can be connected to them. The attribute "cat" I can easily arrange ;-)

When the Spring starts to get closer it will be time for dreams of the new season's adventures. And the preparation - there is plenty of maintenance on the vessel to make it ready to venture.

And, of course, memories from the Season 2012 will be on agenda - as the days get shorter and shorter here near Arctic Circle the sunny summer day memories at sea are treasured.