Archipelago boating

My longtime friend Heidi called on 6th September and asked if I was interested to join her on the 7th for a day of boating going to the old naval fortress of Katanpää from Uusikaupunki where her boat was moored. I agreed and we set out from our house in Kustavi early in the morning by car. Arrived about an hour later and set to prepare Heidi's boat for the trip, it was already fueled so it wasn't much more than a bit of snacks and drinks.

Getting local pilot knowledge whilst Cheche is photobombing us

Project s/y Fanny Djibouti to Sawakin

N Djibouti, dunes in the sea, some of them Islands

Cruiser Georgios Averof

For this Sunday entertainment I decided to visit the Cruiser Georgios Averof (Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ) that was moored down in Flisvos, next to the marina. The cruiser is a one of a kind still left floating, any others have long already been sank or scrapped and relegated to the annals of history.

G. Aberof general arrangement

(courtesy of FB group Ships general arrangement plans)

Military service

In 1988 I was drafted to do my military service and I managed to get into the Navy. In Finland this could be tricky as the draft officers could be difficult and just assign you far up north to Lappland if you wanted to be in the Navy. Furthermore, I was a serving merchant navy seaman so it was bound to attract some questions if I would not like to go inland and serve my country. Fortunately the Draft Officer was in a good mood and after some discussion he assigned me to Helsinki to do my basic training. 

Photo by Kari Martiala