“A low-pressure system over Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea is causing extreme gale-force winds” (German Weather Service warning for the 8th of August). Friends ask us how we are weathering the storm nicknamed “Zacharias”, so here is a brief situation report: Ultimately, the situation is hitting other regions harder than the Ålands, but we are definitely getting a nip of wind. We had chosen the northern jetty of Kökar, Sandvik, because we hoped for some protection from the strong gales from the south. SY Blue Layla seems well prepared: A total of eight lines hold the boat in all directions (see above), the headsail is down, everything on board has been cleared away or lashed down, and with the help of the harbour master we even caught a second stern buoy (something we do not usually do):
During the storm we get a visit from our jetty neighbours from the SY Lycka (“luck”) and exchange heroic stories of past sailing adventures (above). Then the wind picks up and it gets a bit hectic on board for a short while, because the anchoring of one of the two stern buoys breaks off and we are in danger of being driven onto the jetty (on the bottom right of the picture the remains of the buoy that U. saves from drifting into the open sea). U. then courageously jumps into the choppy sea (well, the water in the sheltered bay remains quite calm – but the wind...) and gets hold of a third buoy, so that we can sleep peacefully after all. It is all over the next morning and the sun is shining.
