Most commented posts
- Thank you for your Comments — 19 comments
- Learning to Fly ! — 12 comments
- Keeping a Promise — 12 comments
- New recipe layout — 8 comments
- Views from our surrounding — 5 comments
Patrik Naindenel
Author's posts
Aug 17 2019
We hope for the best but plan for the worst.
It start to come close to our holiday and the planing start to become real … and. …. Hhmmm soon some stress might come in as well.
It is me as so called skippers to write a post. Even though Diana is as much skipper and have the same education. Anyway it is quite an easy post only to show preliminary planed routes (fit to me perfect). Weather is will decide in the end and we are only human and have to follow suit and cannot do much more.
As Diana wrote some weeks ago we will leave home Saturday morning early (05:00): This to be able to arrive Loano before lunch. In Loano just take onboard all our gear and leave (OK we have a few small stuff to do before).
As we have seen it seems to be perfect winds and weather during our crossing of Gulf of Genoa. Winds between 10 and 15 knot with a temperature around. 25°C. We keep our fingers crossed that it stay like this. It would be wonderful to go under sail the complete voyage.
A overnight sailing is what we miss both Diana and I. It is hard to explain the feeling when you reach your goal one ore two days later. …
When Luna Azzurra is in Rosignano on the shipyard we will do some other traveling but this Diana will write about later on.
This is the preliminary route the we plan to sail.
We start of course in Loano and cross Gulf of Genoa to Rosignano. from there when Luna Azzurra is ready we will sail further south to the island of Elba where Napoleon was in prison during some years.
Our first leg from Rosignano will be approximately 37 NM to the bay of Procchio. this will take 5 -6 hours. Then finally we can jump in the warm Mediterranean sea for a nice swim in the late afternoon.
Second leg will be just around the corner to a city named Porto Ferrano if we can get some space in the marina. That might be hard as it is a tiny marina.
If no space we can sail a few nautical miles longer for an anchorage or we stay in the bay of Porto Ferrano and anchor there. We do have a dingy to drive in to town.
Third leg is to Porto Azzurro which was strongly recommended by Dianas brother. here we will for sure stay in the marina.
Next is over to a bay named marina di campo for a night on the hook and a swim in the bay. This is planned to be the last stop at Elba.
Next stop is planned to be on a little island named Capraia Island. Which is placed north west of Elba and east of the most northern part of Corse.
From Capraia we will head for Corse itself. Maybe for an anchorage on the east top of Corse. Or we sail all the way to Port Saint Florent. Depending of weather as usual.
Then comes the last Corse jump over to a village named Calvi where we will fill up diesel and water. Maybe enjoy a night or two before heading home. The last leg is the 97 NM crossing of the Ligurian Sea. This will be the second over night sailing. The first was the 105 NM crossing off Gulf of Genoa.
This route is approximately 400 Nautical miles in total. With two long legs of 100 NM each. The rest will be only a few hours jumps where we can just enjoy.
This is as everyone with some experience of the sea a preliminary planning. For those who follow us knows how we had it September 2018. Anyhow In the end the weather might force us to sail close to the cost of the Italian mainland home. Even so it will be a great holiday.
You should always think positive and enjoy life. Not be negative…. there is enough of those people around already.
We hope for the best but plan for the worst.
Jun 29 2019
A summer day in Zurich.
When I was in Sweden beginning of June I received information that my passport had arrived at the Swedish Embassy in Bern. As it would take a few day before it arrived the Consulate of Sweden in Zurich it was no stress really.
The week after I came back from Sweden I had a lot of work to do and no time either to pickup the passport.
Anyhow the day came and it was a wonderful day with approx. 30°C when I left with the train to Zürich Stadelhofen train station which is close to Lake Zürich and maybe 200 meter away from the Consulate.
As it was really warm outside with no wind or any cooling effect at all It was nice when coming inside the consulate which is laying really beautiful on a green inner yard.
It was quite forward to get the new documents. Only hand over the old one for destruction and then sign that you have received the new once, of course pay some handling fee😉. All in all it took 10 minutes and cost me CHF 17.
When I had received my documents I took a short stroll down to the Lake of Zürich which is 100 meter away from the Consulate.
When I was down there I took some pictures as you can see in the post.
Of course as everyone else I have an ice-cream as well.
Jun 08 2019
Running out of senior high school (gymnasium)
As my godson was ending senior high school I was up for the event in Helsingborg, Sweden. Running out of gymnasium as it is called (freely translated). This is a really big event in Sweden it is a must to one day in life. So if anyone have the chance and are in Sweden beginning of June I recommend to take a look.
Anyhow Diana drove me to the train-station Tuesday morning and left me there, as she could not take off from work due to colleagues who had holiday. I had to go alone this time. So I went by train to Zurich airport which takes me 25 minutes. Everything went smoothly concerning the trip including security and flight.
It was first when I was waiting for my luggage in Copenhagen it stopped a little. This must be one of the slowest airports in the world handing out luggage. Looks good when coming to the belt (It’s written 20 minutes) the last 1 min takes approx 30 minutes though. In the end this time I had a new speed record…. it took only 43 minutes (earlier record was 55 min). Now I knows why they have restaurants in the luggage area. Only airport have seen this on during all my travel.
After receiving my luggage I took the train up to Helsingør in Denmark. From there and beside the train the ferry for Helsingborg, Sweden is leaving. I arrived Sweden 3 pm and headed for the hotel.
Check-in at the hotel and had a shower. Then my parents picked me up and we drove to my sister which son is my godson and who was to end school the day after. We stopped only to say hello and see you tomorrow.
After we left for my parents place where we had a nice dinner and a good chat. Took the bus back to my hotel about 11 pm and headed for bed 10 and out. The day after I woke up to a blue sky and a wonderful day 30°C. was promised. Which I love but thought could be quite hot when standing outside the whole day.
I was picked up at apron 12 o’clock by my parents again. We drove to the place where the students for this school was running out of gymnasium. The name of the place was Sundspärlan which is in a nice park.
We did not have much of shade even if it was in a park. Of course were we was waiting not many trees were around.
Later we drove down to Råå Marina for lunch my parents and I. Was nice to take a stroll down there as well after lunch and cool down a little.
Then back downtown for me to make me ready for the evenings event at my sisters place. On my way to the hotel I arrived in the middle of the parade for all students as is common in Sweden.
Back to the hotel and the second shower of the day changing of cloth again. Good that I had two sets of shirts with such a heat.
At 6 pm I was picked up once more for the ride to my sister and husband for a nice dinner. Here I meet my own kids as we who came in from Gothenburg for this event. It was wonderful to meet everyone and we had a great and funny evening. The food we shouldn’t forget which was outstanding and made by my sister and her husband.
We where going on until close to midnight before it was time to head back to the hotel again.
Thursday morning at 10 am my home journey started with a short walk down to the ferry. Blue sky and 26-28°C which fitted perfectly to the Swedish national day.
When arriving home Diana was picking me up at Frauenfeld train station which was covered with clouds and a temperature of 17°C.
Jun 01 2019
Passport challenges at renewal
.My passport was on its way to expire and as it nowadays is mandatory to book a time for renewal of the passport. I thought that I will book a time really good in advance this time.
What a surprise I had when I realised that it was 4 month waiting time at the Embassy in Bern, Switzerland where I do my passport !!!!
I didn’t had a clue that there lived so many people in Switzerland.
Anyhow I come with the smart idea to do it in Sweden as I will be in Helsingborg between the 4th -to6th of June.
Went to the platform where you shall book your time …. and … As well fully booked for the next 3 month in the complete southern Sweden!!! Seems like everyone needs a new passport in Sweden.
Anyhow I thought why not call the Embassy and ask if there might be an error in their booking system.
The person answered at the Embassy did confirm that they where fully booked and she asked if I shouldn’t travel to Sweden soon and could do it there? I explained that I had already checked that out but no chance (fully booked).
Then she asked if I shouldn’t travel to some other country and be close to a Swedish Embassy… I had to say NO on that suggestion as well. Last she asked if I would travel much for the next months. If there was no chance to wait with a new passport. I had to tell her that I cannot wait either.
Then she gave me the email address direct to responsible person for passports at the Embassy in Bern and told me to explain that I am travel a lot and need my passport and if could help me.
This I did plus informed here of my next 3 trips which I had booked in plus asked if she could squeeze me in somewhere.
The day-after she answered and told me that I could come when the Embassy was closed for lunch. This I accepted and confirmed direct. I was impressed that the Embassy was so flexible and helpful.
I got my time and the information that I must fill in a document which state that I am Swedish citizen. Thought it strange though I have a Swedish passport already.
But anyhow that done all other papers filled in. Off I went to the Embassy in Bern and did my passport.
In the end everything went good. Now I am waiting to picking it up at the Swedish consulate in Zurich.
May 11 2019
Trip to Mariehamn Åland
Mariehamn, Åland island
I arrived home from Mariehamn late last night where I have been for an exhibition.
Normally it’s not me who’s going on the exhibition’s. But as they speak Swedish on Åland and I have some old contacts as well old class mates from university (Marine academy in Gothenburg) who came. It was not much of a choice and an easy decision to go.
If you attend this kind of exhibition the connections and speaking Swedish is more or less mandatory.
Not because they don’t speak English there. It is more that it’s a more relaxed exhibition than normally, here you chat with everyone “more as friends” even if it is only to say hi.
As Åland is and Island country it is not that easy to come in and be accepted. But when you are accepted you have more or less friends or partners for life.
As there are two of us in the company who speaks Swedish (Kristoffer who are sales and Finish citizen and myself a Swedish citizen) It was we who would go.
Kristoffer know heaps of people in that area as well. All from ship-owners, suppliers and even politicians in the Finish government. We had a really good, interesting and fun time to talk to everyone.
At the same time we could meet and talk to new people and get new contacts from within the marine business/industry.
The trip/journey in itself makes the visit a must and one of the most beautiful voyages you can do with ship.
I can just recommend to make this wonderful journey between Stockholm to Mariehamn.
I add some pictures from the voyage / trip to Mariehamn.
Mar 02 2019
My skiing holiday in Austria .
This holiday was unplanned.
When Lasse, a childhood friend called and told me, that he and his son William had rented a house for a week near Zell am See, Austria and asked if I wanted to join. Space was no problem at all. WHY NOT. I did not have to think it over for long.
I had been away on work for a while in USA so no one at work protested. Diana new that I love skiing and that it was 4 years since last time we had our skiing week. So for her was it OK too.
Anyway it was quite some drive there, as I am used to ski in Switzerland where I have maximum 2 hours of drive it was quite boring to drive for 6 hours. Specially when you’re alone in the car.
But I had a clear blue sky during the hole trip which made it OK to drive and when arriving it was super great to meet Lasse and Wille at the house.
They told me that they had arrived just some minutes before me so when I arrived we emptied our cars and went to the closest shop to by some necessary food.
Then back and enjoyed our evening and discussing where to go tomorrow. Lasse had been there before skiing in Kaprun and suggested that we start in those slopes.
The next morning we aimed for Kaprun and after a while we found it and bought lift card and headed up in the gondol-lift.
What a day with blue sky and +5°C, the sun did not soften the snow to much either so we had a great skiing. After a while Lasse told us that we where in another lift system that he wanted.
Not at that high altitude (only 1600 meter). But as the slopes was good and we enjoyed we decided to go for the correct system the day after.
In the evening when we made ourselves a nice diner and around 21:00 we where all ten and out so we headed for the bed.
Next day we had an early rise and was at the correct place to ski at 8:30 in the morning.
It was quite some difference to ski up on over 3000 meter. The snow was a lot different, much softer and still a hard nice slope below it.
A wonderful day we had and again with a blue sky but today the temperature was +14°C down in the valley. So at lunch sitting in the sun and enjoy was fantastic.
The week went on like this and we had blue sky and +12 to 16°C during the day with cold morning with about -2°C. So for use was it skiing until 12:00 then lunch and after that we took it easier and enjoyed the weather at a sunny restaurant or apero ski bar.
I took a few pics during the stay but it is hard to catch the beauty nature and views on a camera.
Anyway I hope you can imaging it with these pictures.
Feb 02 2019
Video Presentation of Luna Azzurra & Marina Di Loano
On our last visit in Loano, over Christmas and New Year, I’ve made a movie about the marina and our yacht.
We thought it might be helpful, if one can see how everything looks like when entering the marina. How it works with the card to open the barrier, the short drive to the boats and where you can park to unload your car (in the “tunnel”, beside the recycling station).
Afterwards you’ll leave the marina area the same way as you came in and park your car. You can choose either the big parking ground beside the marina office, or the underground car park – whatever you like (either are possible).
The movie about Luna Azzurra became a bit wobbly, sorry for that. Nevertheless, it might give you an impression how everything looks like when you’re on board.
Another movie shows how close the facilities with showers and toilets are from Luna Azzurra. Plus how they look like – very clean indeed!
We believe presenting Luna Azzurra and her surrounding like this give one a much better idea, than just photos. Don’t you think?
Charter S/Y Luna Azzurra
We care……you may too with your next donation?
Recommended Host
Visitor counter
Visitors since March 23, 2016
