Captains log, Day 1,stardate 02062018
Arwens position as the log is written: Drøbak Guestharbour
Our orders have been recieved. We, that is the sailingboat «Arwen» and her crew, are to sail the coast of Norway, looking for the roots of our Captains family. We were hoping to reach Meskelvnesset in Varangerbotten, close to the border with Russia in time for a familygathering on my mothers side, but delays in the necesarry preparations of Arwen for the Journey makes that goal difficult to reach. And how boldly we go, is a decision made by the Captain, as our most secretive and mysterious Admiral will be out of contact until the mission goal is reached.
Arwens crew on this first part of the journey, is:
Dino, Captain.
Alex, First mate.
Emil, Steward.
Pluto, Deckhand.
Arwens position as the log is written: Drøbak guestharbour.
Set out from Oslo 1800 Hours, by engine as there was no wind. Our first goal is Tønsberg for repairs. We need to take our mast down, and we are to install a new radio. Arwen is an old lady, and there are plenty of other things to fix, so we plan a two week period in Tønsberg. Luckily both our first Mate, and our Steward have good connections there, wich we hope will make repairs and preparations easier and cheaper.
For a few hours we had a southern breeze that fit our course, and we got to test our brand new Genoa for the first time. However, as we needed to steer straight south, we continue by engine. It leaks some oil, wich was put on our extensive list of things we need to look into before starting the main voyage. Leaving a trail of oilpollution, however small, up the whole coast is out of the question.
Closing in on Drøbak, we decided to rest for a few hours. The crew insisted on buying the Captain a glass or two, and the Captain grudgingly agreed. A surprising coincidence awaited us at our regular place in Drøbak. When we visited two years ago, on the «mamasmeatpots» voyage, it was to watch Iceland play in the European championship. And tonight, Iceland was playing on TV on our first day of the new voyage.
Pluto got into a bit of a brawl with the Deckhand of another crew at the pub. But it all stopped at tough words, and as the Captains let their leashes off, the two youngsters became good friends. However, they soon made too much of a ruckus for the landlord, who ordered us to leash our crewmembers anew.
On the way back to the boat, Pluto started his own personal project of the journey. To put a stain of his pea, on every port we visit. Drøbak: Check!
Captains log Day 2, stardate 03062018
Arwens position as the log is written: Nøtterøy, south of Tønsberg.
The captain and Pluto were the first to awake. Pluto made a last imprint on the shores of Drøbak just to make sure. By ten o clock we had all hands on deck, and set off for Tønsberg again. By Tofte we recieved a weather-report saying we would have good winds from south by 1500 hrs. We made ready for sailing the Genoa again. Our mainsail is uneffective and old, and we have a problem in the top of our mast that prevents us from hoisting it properly. Another reason we need to take the mast down.
The wind never reached the promised force, but kept us crossing down from south of Tofte to the northern end of Bastøy. At this point it dropped, and at the same time the tide was coming in. As we were making little headway, we decided to continue by engine on the inside of Bastøy, where there is some shelter from winds and currents from the south.
With a small stop at Jarlsøy for food, where Pluto insisted we made time for him to work on his project, we made Nøtterøy were we will be staying for a few days. Pluto is a bit young for these long sailingdays. He was heroic, but the last two hours before Jarlsøy he was obviously not comfortable. We will need to plan accordingly, with more shorebreaks for his main project.
On Plutos checklist for the Day: Jarlsøy: Check! Nøtterøy: Check!
Captains log, Day 3, stardate 04062018
Position: Nøtterøy, south of Tønsberg.
The crew has been resting a bit. Except our first Mate, who left for work in the morning. Pluto helped the Captain start a much needed cleanup, before we made a trip to get coffee at the local store.
Both our first Mate and Steward are Captains in their own right, and their boats are neighbours in the harbour at the moment. Their local knowledge and network are proving invaluable. We are in negotiations about another engine with relatives of the first Mate on his mothers side, and the Harbourmaster has said he can help with the unmasting of Arwen for a reasonable fee.
The Steward, who slept aboard his boat «Blue Lady» came aboard bringing toast for a planning session with the Captain and Pluto. The problem with our young deckhand yesterday led us to decide that the goal first set, Meskelva by July 20, is no longer possible. With that in mind, we are no longer in a hurry, and have time to seek out more places of interest to our main mission along the coast. It also gives us the freedom to follow interesting developments in our quest.
Our first Mate returned on his boat «Rusalka» , with female company on board. Our first Mate is quite a lady`s man. He scarcely had time to exchange a few words, before leaving with the Damsel in question. But an episode on his way in made for something that might turn out perfectly for the Journey ahead. He caught a fishing line in the boat, and in the the process of getting it loose,we befriended Lasse, the fisherman. After a brief visit aboard hearing about our plans, he seriously conciders joining the crew! We agreed to talk more tomorrow. He seems to have the right attitude and some valuable skills. The Steward, furthermore, got to try out his drone while we were talking.
A minor setback was the Captain loosing his phone overboard. It now rests with the fishes. As we are now in harbour there was no development in Pluto`s personal project, just some refreshing of yesterdays work.