image001.gif          "Järnavik", Blekinge 2012      Klik her for norsk tekst

W.Int. Rally BLEKINGE AUG 2012: "Same Passion and Super Superlatives are not sufficient !

 

 "Any Better is Hardly Possible!" A HUGE thank you to the organizers(ref. wayfarer.dk: Internat. W. Rally 2012) who with some solid back up by our SWS Chairman launched

this indeed marvellous event on "Järnavik Camping", wonderful Blekinge, between Karlshamn and Karlskrona, the latter being a city on the Wolrld Heritage List. On this Camping Site of high standard the local *Spiderman* and Manager is Stefan, who gave us a sound and solid Swedish Welcome-feeling.

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The Baltic Sea with Poland behind the horizon        La-iad and Wayfarers at Stefan's grillparty

 

A total of sixteen Ws being represented, though three herof not brought, but absolutely no problem as all know: Always plenty of heart- and shipmate-room in a Wayfarer !

From FRA came Serdar from Nice, without W263, from NDL/Holland five of three Ws, herof two brought along. From UKWA six persons/three couples with three Ws and there among Sue Parry(www.wayfarerjoller.dk/7556) with her guitar, splendid songbooks and lovely Allan with "Dylan" and partly stern-faced Hamish, his dog. The rest from DEN, including W1348 with La-iad to represent Thailand, and with Scandinavian me of my good old country Norway - with roots in DEN.

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W1348 Ken t.o. and Allan, W7556 "Dylan", at Spray Isle/'Spjutsö"             W-nature harbour

 

Those coming from afar really paid for the trip - in comparison to attending from Scandinavia - since crossing the North Sea, over and return, as well as the Great Belt and The Sound Bridges are rather costly, but: "Ooh, it is so Worth it!" a most lovely, sweet and wonderful comment to hear for a scan.ear !  Wonderful people all, and splendid company day and night, sailing, dancing and singing.

 
So song-sunset evenings, dance on the wooden floorboards and a most splendid rounding off buffet-dinner Saturday night in a former church(would have delighted Darwinist Richard Dawkins !) and that one being just one of three dinners included in the 'starting fee' that gave us so much, also: Sea maps, T-shirts and 'after sail drinks' - marvellous

 

Saturday night brought many thanks, praise and presents for the organizers, and a funny, entertaining sketch about Admiral Horatio Nelson(Allan Parry) and his Chief Comman-ding Officer, played by Ralph Roberts. It is historically known that the admiral's blind eye caused the loss of the DA-NO Fleet in the battle of Copenhagen 1801. The mentioned admiral I admire - not for his blind eye - but for his ingenious and clever strategies, and his sailors and their commanders for their most impressive seamanship - second to none. 

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              Shelter and the Baltic behind                                        Snug W-nature ports

 

W1348"Maitken" flew naturally the Swedish guest-flag at SB-spreader, but in addition the Thai-flag from the Larboard/Port spreader, and was asked, quite understandably: What club is that ?  Since Chief-officer, La-iad and I(for talking about Wayfarer at a club-meeting there) have been presented with the Royal Varuna Yacht Club's flag(www.varuna.org ), we consider bringing that the next time. The king of Thailand once build a Danish OK-dinghy and also sailed on The Sound by Copenhagen with OL-gold King Paul Elstrøm.

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                   Rock-hillock sunset-singing                               Sue on guitar, Allan contemplating!

 

An extraordinary and eventful week in the Blekinge Skerries' beautiful nature-reserved areas with few cabins and houses, with impressive and wonderful sailing conditions.

In our subjective report about this marvellous time W1348"Maitken" was sailed by Chief-officer La-iad all the way, close-hauled, tack-by-tack out into the Baltic to a small, furthest out skerry isle with rich bird-life and very little vegitation, scarred by the sea and ice, in a force 4, about 15 knot wind, sunshine, and in friendly competition with 8 - 9 other Ws filled by the same passion and fascination of nature and the joy of using the wind and sea for a stimulating play for heart and soul.

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SWS-chairman, Sue and Bjarne of "Samsø"         La-iad by night, post rock-hillock sing-song

    (isle near centre of EUR+Denmark).

 

Weather-wise just about perfect. A few sailed a little less (than I could understand) from not knowing, I believe, how little sail is really needed to move a W. with a great safety-margin! Due the navigational challenge of the area W1348 normally started 10-15 minutes early - being a 46-years old, heavy W. with worn sails - in order not to follow a GPS-vessel(GPS being OK for back up!) and loose the chance to seek out the intended destination.

Only one day with some wind 'she' came home under W-trysail and Genoa, so La-iad fairly relaxed could helm the *the old Lady* safely back without scaring herself and me too much. Another day W1348, as the only one, reached the destination at 'Tärnö'/Tern Isle, since the rest, to our surprise, turned off half way - being lured some said - towards the lee in order to avoid the white breakers of the open Baltic. Well, anyone could sail freely and always at their own responsibility. 

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            Part of 'port' of "Järnavik" and W-parking                            Thai-lady at Tar Isle/"Tjärö

 

Friday, AUG 3rd., the most lovely daysail, initiated by Ton, 'headmaster' of the Dutch, westward for Karlshamn, 3 hours tack-upon-tack there and only 1hr.35 min back, where W1348 pushed by an oncoming Swedish 'Monarch' keelboat, using spinnaker effectively, managed to sweep her of the 'board' by seeking windward for a more narrow reach and passage coming out about 1 n.m. ahead south of the next isle. "No better feeling than that!". The W. willingly semi-surf and plane at times for the condition mentioned.

 

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Foto Arne Stahlfest: On "Dragsö"(drag or draught/pull/slide isle!). Clockwise from lower left Gunnar, W5460 Bornhom and crew Kjeld, UK W6633 Anthony + Sarah, La-iad + Ken t.o., Serdar(W263 Nice) and Klaus, W10332 Esrum. A joyful remark must be in the air - according to the looks of the faces!

 

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Foto Arne Stahlfest: "On 'Bockö' first arrivals - from far left Sue Parry and far right Allan Parry in W7556"Dylan" - but Allan aint singing just then!"

 

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"Hurray - what a place to be!"

 

There are Life stimulating "W-vitamins" in getting to-gether and W-sail, so be most welcome on the water, even if you only got the Wayfarer as your good company !

Our great thanks you for your contribution to these lovely W-days with our very best wishes and kind W-regards.  La-iad and Ken t.o.W1348

 

 

Blekinge W.Int. Rally 2012. From W10332 Klaus Hindsø, Esrum –    Link to pictures:    

                                                                                                                                                                                              

Blekinge W.Int. Rally 2012. From W263 Serdar Kasakyan, Nice -    Link to picture series: