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.

Summer vacation 2012 - Sammakkalahti

We left Huvön very early in the morning as anchor alarm woke us up - the wind had woken up and blew in exactly from the bay opening causing small but effective waves running into us.  Captain decided that we will not re-acnhor but we move to an other bay very close to Huvön, to sleep few hours and then continue to Sammakkalahti. I have never run to the cockpit as fast as then - I thought that finally the crew realized that four am is a excellent time to make day's first bird observations. But no, they just started the engine and very fast collected the anchor and motored out from the bay. Getskär-Renskär is very close to Huvön and its bay is protected by mostly underwater reef that settles the waves. We decided to check if SXK buyou would be available and it was. We settled down quickly, continued our sleep for few hours and woke up to notice that the wind was totally calmed down. We had long drive ahead of us, with engine - how unpleasant.

We arrived in Sammakalahti late afternoon and it was very warm and sunny, perfect day for enjoying a beach.The mini peninsula was full of sun bathers and swimmers - my crew told me they have never before parked the boat like this. There was also entertainment for the beach folks as the captain wanted to test how the dinghy works in anchoring business, practicing the double anchor technique. This resulted that the anchor was relocated three times. "Jobbig"(hard) was a statement from our audience on the sand.

One of the lighthouses on our way through Kalix coast.

It is possible
to have such moments in your life
that
the Sun
shines from your mast.

Sammakkalahti is located between the Seskarö's  westmost "fingers" pointing to north, here is the map.

Summer Vacation 2012 - The Finale approaches

The next post in this series is the last one, Sammakkalahti in Seskarö.

In this picture we have sunrise, yes sunrise, at 4:00 as we left our anchor position in the lovely bay of Huvön.

One more time - Closing the season

I have now spent the first weekend in my lair on land and I have to say that I still need to contemplate before I can comment about my first season ending. Staying on land the whole weekend, this is different.

Before publishing my season end analysis I still want to return to the last weekend of season in the vessel, and the last morning after the night I spent in Tankar with my crew.

The morning was exquisite. My crew woke up at 7.20, this is very close to the my preferred schedule to go out, inhale fresh and invigorating sea air and observe birds. As we knew this is the last morning of the season we wanted to enjoy as much we could so I had my crew to have their morning coffee on the deck while I did my meditation. As the days get shorter and sunrise later we could admire the big yellow sun raising from the sea. Then sky turned bright blue just before big thick fog enveloped us and the island.

After few hours of lovely morning in the cockpit and having slow breakfast I felt ready for the nap. To get my crew to exercise I sent to them to a walk around island - they went once more to meet the old wise lighthouse, say goodbye and agree happy rendez-vous in the upcoming spring.

No photography while I meditate!

Inspecting storage areas - Closing the season

Great fun started when the first mate commenced to transport provisions, equipment and other items needed for boat life from the boat to the car. I was thinking "Why we do not do this more often!" All the interesting storage lockers and cupboards. Exiting!

This may be to much information but I will share it anyway: the white, sleek container
on left hand side is my personal toilet. My crew has their own. 

Monitoring work on the deck - Closing the season

I have received a request from a reader that I should post more pics of myself. Well, this kind of requests are naturally understandable. Here you are!

In this post I will show how I was comfortably rolled up and in deep sleep once the captain started to work on the deck to get sails down from the mast as part of winter preparation routine.

I always monitor the sound scene in, on and around the vessel. Even when I am sleeping. I pay attention specially on any noises that are not part of the regular repertoire as they may indicate problems - this is what all the sea cats in duty do.

The sail removal sounds were unknown for me as this is my first season. This series of pictures show how fast I detect, analyze and react if needed. And even stretch in the process ;-)

Wrapped up

The sailing season 2012 is now over. Over the weekend we prepared the boat for winterization.

On Friday evening the mighty wind took a break and we got chance to sail last time this fall - we sailed to Tankar for the night.

As the sun set the moon raised and the old wise lighthouse guided us to the island.

On Saturday my crew removed the sails and on Sunday we moved tons of equipment and provisions from the vessel to the car. This turned out to be very entertaining - I will elaborate in my next posts.