Return to Augustenborg

Annabel returned to Långedrag on 20th August so that we could sail back to Augustenborg. It hadn’t been a very relaxing week for me, as the wind had been blowing up to F 8 and raining hard. I had managed to get some jobs done though, and so we were ready for the last leg of our summer cruise.

We set off for either Lerkil (again) or a nature harbour near Mönster which we had read about. In the end, the wind was right on the nose and the sea lumpy. We ducked in behind the islands north of Lerkil, and decided we had had enough for the day. So I found myself back at Lerkil; Annabel hadn’t been with us when we were here before so at least it was new to her.

Also new to her was Varberg, which I knew she would like. Again, there was a huge difference in the number of boats about - the harbour felt quite deserted. And there were less American cars too!

We had decided that we would cross to Anholt from Varberg. The wind was ENE F 3 to 4, and it drizzled persistently. At about midday we exchanged our Swedish courtesy flag for the Danish one, and got in to Anholt late afternoon. The rain and wind discouraged any exploring, but the beach looked nice. There is a ‘desert’ on the island which is apparently worth a look, apparently created by the cutting of timber to fire the lighthouse on the island.

Grenaa was our next stop, and again there was plenty of room in the harbour, although a lot of boats came in after us, including one Brit - the first we’ve seen for weeks. We had to motor most of the way due to lack of wind. It looked as though we had just missed a regatta, as there were empty marquees everywhere. There are good facilities here, and a yacht club on the corner near our mooring. Fuel is also available.

Grenaa

We had been hoping to anchor near the island of Hjelm, which would have been a convenient stop for us, as the harbours are a bit sparse on this part of the coast. But with a W or SW F 5 it was clear that there would be no shelter there. We kept on going, and eventually anchored at Bogens Hoved, on the opposite shore to Endelave.

Hjelm, from the west

As we made our way towards Samsø it became rougher and windier, with gusts up to 27 knots. By the time we got in to the harbour at Kolby Kås it was blowing a steady WNW F 6. It was a hard sail and we were grateful to get in to the shelter of the harbour. There was only one other yacht in the harbour, and we were joined by another a little later. The weather forecast was threatening winds of up to 15 m/s - around 34 knots, F 7, and the sea looked rough so we spent the next day in the harbour. The harbourmaster was charming and very helpful, bringing us a weather forecast in English, and then a booklet about Samsø also in English. He apologised for the date of the booklet - 2006, but said that it hadn’t been printed since, as there were so few English visitors to Samsø. We will definitely return when the weather is kinder to us!

The weather was still windy the next day but in a good direction, and the sun shone! We had a tremendous sail from Samsø to Middelfart with speeds over the ground of up to 7.8 knots - not bad for a cruising boat like ours! We went in to the modern Tel Ka marina which has a library and tourist centre in the middle of it - along with the harbourmasters office. The shops are close by, and the facilities good.  She enjoyed the little musical ensembles that were playing on the pavements. We finally got a good look at the porpoises here - but still no photos!

Strib lighthouse, north of Middelfart

Tel Ka Marina, Middelfart - the harbourmaster, tourist information and library building

Heading south from Middelfart

We set off in pleasant weather, heading on almost our last leg back to Augustenborg. The tree-lined shores provided plenty of shelter. Once we were clear of them though, the wind got up to F 5, pretty much on the nose again. We had visited Årø last year, so went in to Årøsund this time. The harbour entrance is very narrow which was interesting in the strong wind!

Buildings south of Årøsund harbour

1st September and our last leg back to Augustenborg. The wind was quite strong, and right on the nose. The water was quite rough as we cleared the south of Årø, and it didn’t get much more comfortable until we reached Augustenborg fjord. But the last sail of the season down the fjord was very pleasant.

We met up with several CA colleagues who had already got back, and the main talk was of how awful the weather had been during the summer.

Despite the weather we had still sailed well over 700 miles, and most of the places we visited were new to us. We had enjoyed the Rally, and the ruggedness of the SW Swedish coast, and all that remained was to put the boat to bed for the winter, and plan for next year!

©2007 - 2011 Jonathan & Annabel Hoseason