July 13th 2024- Kristiansand

We left for Kristiansand (Germany) the next morning. Motored and sailed for 2 days. We had to do 3-hour watches over night. Chris and I did one and Suzanna and John did the alternates. Not sure I was much help on the sailing front but not bad at tea and coffee making. Quite a feat when you are heeled over, but Clarissa and I did a sterling job while Chris had the easy job of keeping the boat on course. The weather was a bit rainy, grim and cold and required me wearing multiple jumpers and coats as well as the realisation that I needed warmer trousers. Night sailing itself was a bit scary as you have to rely on different channel markers and lights depicting dangers, boats and entrances

I also realised the importance of simple food and how ridiculous my cherished china mugs were.

We arrived in Kristiensand at 3:00am, it was blowing a gale. Tried to moore alongside but the wind was blowing us hard against the pontoon. There was a fair bit of swearing and carry on with one fender abandoning ship and floating off into the moonlight. The process had to ba abandoned and we tried a stern approach. This proved as difficult and we were being blown all over the place, pushing us up against the pontoon again and swinging into the boat next door. All very stressful.

Eventually untied and headed out into the harbour where we anchored and got to bed at 6:00am. (interestingly found out that only had about 45m chain rather than the expected 100!!)

Went ashore on Little Quirky, her first outing, shopped for provisions, managed to buy 4L sour milk instead of ordinary milk…, will have to get Google translate!! Filled up with petrol and water.  Despite having gone to Kristiansand primarily for VAT reasons, they were not interested in checking us in and left with no stamps on either papers or passports. Had a lovely breakfast, cooked a chilly whilst at anchor to eat while at sea. Chris managed to loose reading glasses over the side…. Pity the chart plotter isn’t in Braile.