Thursday, 18 July
Today is Viktoriia’s birthday – Happy Birthday Vika! She is our lovely Ukrainian guest who has been staying with us with her 2 amazing boys Makar and Mykyta for the last 2 years and we are very sad that they are returning to Ukraine before we get back. Hopefully they will all return to sail on La Bamba with us one day!
It was windier than forecast as we left Tuborg marina, so it was 2 reefs in the main before we unfurled the jib. We need to get a better handle on how tight to have the various reefing lines vs the main halliard but we are learning every day! On a brighter note we did the smoothest gybe ever seen.
Frances and Olivia were unphased by the 22 knot gusts and steady 16-18 knots on a slightly choppy sea. Frances was wide awake for over 3/4 of the 5 hour journey, (she has a tendency to sleep in transit) and Olivia is a born sailor, only feeling slightly queasy after using the head. As usual, lunch solved all problems: ham or cheese sandwiches were served by me from the galley.
We enjoyed the panorama of ‘The Bridge’ (connecting Denmark and Sweden), the wind farms (very mesmerising as they aligned) and eventually the striated cliffs of Stvens where we are heading, including a church that seemed to be falling into the sea!
We came into the little fishing harbour of Rødvig in steady 18 knots of wind – which made mooring interesting.
We soon realised we were too big for the first harbour and after negotiating an aggressive mooring post David boldly reversed out and we found a very pleasant and friendly side-to mooring on the dock.
We went for a swim in the sea off a sandy beach – the first sand we have seen, much more to come from now on.
And had fish and chips at the local dockside café. We saw a family of goosanders fishing off the harbour wall and I’m writing this listening to swifts screaming over the quays.
This afternoon we got the very sad news that our great friend Mike has died from an aggressive brain tumour. Our hearts are filled with thanks for knowing him and we send love to all his family who mean so much to us. It was Mike’s distressing diagnosis just last year that spurred us on to finally buy La Bamba as who knows what is round the corner?
This is for you Mike- we love you.