Latvia does not have a big yacht infrastructure and the geography of the coast does not lend itself to anchroages and sheltered bays. This means that you have to hop from harbour to harbour. The distances can be quite long. Especially if you are a lucky guy like me who seems to have to tack all longer trips this year.
I left Ventspils at 06:30 to make my way to the top of Latvia and to see how the wind actually turns out. My plan A was Montu (Estonia) – ca. 40 nm. Plan B was to put in an all-nighter and go to Roja, saving the miles going north, when I actually want to go south into Riga. In any case a long journey was ahead of me.
As the day wore on, plan B become more and more the preferred chioce. Late in the eveneing I decided to go around the top end of Latvia. at the top end of Latvia is Kolka and that rounding will stay in my memory for a long time. It seemd to go on and on and on. But, in the end we made it and to have the wind from the side was sheer bliss.
During the night, I dedided to wait for the sun and not to go to Roja but headed for the next harbour south of Roja. So, after 25 hours and 104 nm I am in Mersgras.
It was a long journey, but BBC radio kept me company all night.
