HMS Alliance

HMS Alliance

HMS Warrior

HMS Warrior in 1864 (credit historyinportsmouth.co.uk)

HMS Victory

HMS Victory, 1928 watercolor by William Lionel Wyllie (credit Tall Ships FB)

Mary Rose

Mary Rose by Geoff Hunt (credit maryrose.org)

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. 

Getting local pilot knowledge whilst Chenok is photobombing us

Project s/y Fanny Djibouti to Sawakin

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

U-534

U-534 conning tower

Cruiser Georgios Averof

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