South to Gotland and beyond - 57° 38' 19" N 18° 17' 14" E

Stockholm to Gotland and beyond!

All to ourselves tied up on Lila Husarn

With Wendy and Graeme on board, we left the hubbub of Stockholm and started south.  Mooring on granite outcroppings is only part of the fun of the Stockholm archipelago.  We also were manoeuvring through narrow channels between cottage-covered islands, giving them a taste of what we have done this summer. 

We had a very scenic and uneventful motor inside the protection of islands along the Swedish coast to Nynäsham.  With the weather stormy and a crew member ailing (poor Kate suffering from a nasty cold), we spent a couple of days poking around the delightful town.  

Picking the weather to perfection, we had the most glorious sail across to Fårö on the Swedish island of Gotland.  With calm, sparkling seas and wind on the beam, we zipped across The Baltic Sea.  Sailing in The Baltic is just glorious.  Even Graeme who frequently suffers from 'mal de mar', was grinning away with the wind in his hair.  The wind died out as we approached Fårö and we pulled into the tiny harbour in dead calm conditions.

How many photos of your boat does on need?

Digerhuvud, a former coral reef on the northern end of Gotland

Out for a stroll in the forest

Another magical sail saw us in Visby, the main centre on the island.  Like many places in these parts, Visby has been around for some time - since the Stone Age.  It is a wonderfully preserved medieval town, UNESCO listed and a Hanseatic League harbour.  Most happily for us, Visby is one of the sunniest towns in Sweden so we enjoyed glorious weather. 

Glorious sailing

Passage-making at its best ... able to enjoy a book while on watch

The sheep of Visby! 
The Gute Sheep is native to Gotland and are now bred mainly for genetic conservation. Cross-bred between The Gute and a couple of Russian breeds,  the contemporary Gotland is polled and prized for both its meat and fleece.  

Imaginary sword and shield at the ready, Sean channels his Swedish heritage

Visby Cathedral

Yikes, its a dangerous place here!

Windmills are not just in Holland

Always willing to try the local fare!

Following an overnight stop in Byxelkrok on the northern end of Öland, we arrived in the thriving town of Kalmar.  Yet another stunning town with a long history, a castle and a cathedral.  Naturally we explored them all! The harbour was bustling with waterside eateries and the facilities were excellent.

Photos of castle/cathedral and cemetery - best cemetery ... evah!

Kalmar Castle - postcard ready

Graeme and Wendy are ready at the drawbridge

The cemeteries are an idyllic place for a morning stroll

A view of the Castle from the graveyard

And they're off! 
Wendy and Graeme caught the train back to Stockholm heading off for different adventures.

We left Kalmar with the intention of visiting Utklippan, a tiny dot of a rock off the coast.  But the conditions were so magic, we sailed right by and arrived in Ystad the next morning.  A glorious night's sail with stars, moon and phosphorescence. Ystad was our last stop in Sweden.  What an amazing few months it has been.

Sorry, Utklippen.  We will visit next time!