Exquisite harbour cinema

In the German language there is an expression for watching boats come into harbours or marinas – it is called “Hafenkino” of harbour cinema. Everybody who is in the harbour sits on deck watches the new arrivals messing up one way or another.

Well, and let me tell you today was a very good day for Hafenkino.

The strong wind that was predicted for last night arrived, somewhat subdued but still at 6+ Bft, today. It was therefore a fast and furious sail from Gällnö to Vaxholm and mega cool.

A foggy morning delayed things but the sun quickly cleared the fog and blue skies appeared. It was warm, it was sunny and up went the sails. Main at 2nd reef and the genoa furled I hurtled past Grinda, Mansören and through Lindalssundet in under 1 1/2 hours. Just at the end of Lindalssundet I took the sails down as I knew it would be blowing up from that point onward. Well done that skipper as it was a trifle windy around that corner so that waves washed over the deck. From there I motored to the entry of the guest-harbour at Vaxholm and this is where it all got “really interesting”.

3 sailing boats were circling in-front of the harbour entrance and from their attire and confusion I could tell they were less experienced than yours truly. So I joined them circling (spray flying over the decks) and waited my turn as I knew that there is very little room for 2 boats inside the harbour and I could tell these three will never make it on their first attempt.

The German charter crew on the Finnish 51 Gib Sea topped it by almost ramming me twice and forcing me out of the way once so I had to deploy another wonderful German expression “Manöver des letzten Augenblicks” which translates to something like F*!K!

Patiently I turned my circles and finally saw my opportunity and moved in. The reserved Dockspot mooring was already occupied by my friends the Germans on the Finish boat but the friendly harbour guides quickly redirected me to a free spot on the other side and helped to moor Akka. Well, OK but my mental picture was already set for the whole manovuer and ran something like

• smartly motor in
• at spot no 12 turn to port
• the wind will be directly from the bow
• hook up the bow lines
• you have then the rest of the day for the mooring line
• go to the Kaffekuchenhaus and get a Törtchen

The change of spot meant however that I had to turn to starboard – HOPE for a harbour guide to be there to hold the boat while I grab the mooring line and run like hell to make it fast. The girl in the green Harbour-Sweater was ready and everything worked just fine (fist pumping in the air – lots of). She then told me that she recognized Akka with her Austrian flag and was relieved as she knew that I knew what I was doing (unlimited air-pumping, tears in my eyes, hugs etc.)

I then had a wonderful couple of hours in the cinema and decided later to get some fresh bread from the supermarket. And who do I meet in town – my German friends on the Finnish boat, partly still in their foul weather trousers and life-vests carrying some rubbish bags which they deposited next to a rubbish bin in the middle of Vaxholm!

Ah yes, thanks to my German friends in the Finnish boat the 6+ Bft are now blowing right into Akka and I have to keep the hatch closed. I think I will go over to them later tonight and piss on their mooring lines.

Must dash now – more cinema to watch!