Saturday, August 18, 2007

Real Sailing!

Sailing from Rosala to Pargas
Originally uploaded by Minnalang

In July Fredrik and I went for a sailing trip from Helsinki to the Turku archipelago. Seikkailu is a small boat made in the 70s in Finland. We are quite proud of having sailed it such a long way. It's not the quickest boat (with about 17 ft length) but sails quite fast in proper wind. However, in very rough sea it can get adventurous... But being small is an advantage when laying anchor in a shallow bay or when slowly gliding towards a sandy beach...

The keel is only 80cm deep, which is good when sailing in the archipelago crowded with shoals, reefs and sandbars. On the other hand it makes the boat slow since it drifts easier sideways.

We were sailing for two weeks, some days shorter trips and some longer. As the boat is made for inner archipelago and lake sailing, we were a bit cautious when rounding Hankoo and Porkkala peninsulas, but actually those were some of the most fun distances to sail. We had been traveling in head wind the two first days, but from Hankoo to Hitis, we had perfect side wind, and could just hold the rodder with one hand, lean back and hold a glass of chilled white wine in the other! Ironically we sailed that long distance really quickly but when trying to turn into the tiny Hitis sound, we got stuck tacking for almost as long!

We had a couple of really nice days in Hitis, Rosala and Pargas.

We learned some basic navigation and reading the nautical signs, how to sail in different weathers, how to lay anchor, etc. etc. It would be interesting to sail a boat more optimized for sailing with a more varied set of sails, a more stream lined shape, etc. But this was a nice intro.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

ROSALA

This is Rosala. When you arrive by boat to an island that far out in the archipelago, you notice (if your nostrils are somewhat intact- smokers will probably miss this...) the strong scent of earth. Flowers, wild strawberries and sun toasted pine needles.

My favourite childhood path! What multitude of flower spieces! I picked a huge bucket. But didn't find the queen of forest meadow flowers:

Platanthera Bifolia, or Nattviol in Swedish. The Swedish name reference to night is derived from it's habit of releasing the sweetest of smells late in the evening to attract insects. It blooms in late June, so let's hope that's why I didn't find this rare little orchid.

Hanna biking to Hitis.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Midsummer

Back on Suomenlinna

I didn't plan on leaving the nice new flat I have in town, but when April arrived with light and a promise of summer... a spontaneous longing back to Suomenlinna grabbed me. So here I am again. This photo I took with my new camera to try out the second camera it has. Why smile at a small plastic device?

Sunday, June 11, 2006

SPRING came and went

Back in front of a computer with Internet after months of running around. Having my own Internet connection in the public library only made me really efficient. And updating a blog just wasn't on my priority list. But on my mother's request (she lives up north in a neighbouring country) I won't stop blogging...

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Fabulous party...

...last Friday at Taidehalli Klubi...

Babs and Heli after closing hours.

Winter disguise.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Fast work and Bufferin

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On the ice.

We went for a walk

Monday, February 13, 2006

Pink nights

February has been very busy. I've worked on my Dream project, organized the second part of the Interdisciplinary Studies workshop at the Art Academy, and other teaching. This weekend I've worked and worked out (on Saturday which was well needed in deed). This picture I took late last night on my way home from the studio.

Eerikinkatu

Eerikinkatu, one block from where I live.

We're having a pipe renovation in our house. The dust originating from this excavation has been distributed as an even layer all over our apartment (and lungs).

Forgotten shoes...

minnadiary@blogspot.com

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Another summer on Suomenlinna