West Coast 2014

We spent five weeks sailing on the Swedish west coast. The pictures are from some of the places we
moored: Gullholmen, Smögen, Fjällbacka, Hunnebostrand, Klädesholmen and Åstol, all in Bohuslän.

Gullholmen, an island with a very old history of fishing, connected by short foot bridge to Härmanö.

The houses are very close together.

Many small streets, and no cars.

A narrow path between houses.

Gullholmen at sunrise.

Härmanö, seen from Gullholmen.

Härmanö to the left, Gullholmen to the right.

Our sailboat moored at a friend’s dock on Härmanö.

Gullholmen seen from the east.

As we sailed north from Gullholmen toward Lysekil we met a group of around 30 kayaks.

Stand up paddling, a new sport in Sweden.

Windsurfing is popular in the strong winds along the coast.

It is easy to follow the recommended routes along the coast – just follow other boats.

Käringön, southwest of Gullholmen, is a very popular summer spot, especially for sailors.

One attraction is the fish shop that sells locally caught shellfish.

The queue waiting when the shop opens at noon. Those at the end are not likely to get any crayfish (Nephrops norvegicus).

Saltwater crayfish caught along coasts of Sweden and Denmark. The Danish island Laesö has an annual crayfish festival.

It is difficult to get a boat space at Käringön during July.

Many must anchor outside the harbor, and the harbor master turns away around 150 boats each day at peak season.

There are regular ferries to Käringön, but many sail in their own boat.

Käringön

Käringön

Måseskär lighthouse west of Käringön.

There are many swimming spots along the shores. To the right is the men’s bath house. The rock on the
left shows traces from the ice age when swirls of water and stones formed round shapes in the rockbed.

There is a white sign near the water line that declares that this is a swimming area. The water is shallow.

Sunbathing on the rocks at Käringön.

Käringön, looking south

Käringön

Hällevikstrand is on Orust, east of Gullholmen, and is also popular but with very few spaces for visiting boats.

Houses at Hällevikstrand

There were large schools of small herring in many of the harbors. The water sometimes boiled when mackerel came hunting.

This Syngnathus acus that we found in Hällevikstrand is unusual, related to sea horses (Swedish “kantnål”).

Hållö lighthouse close to Smögen.

Smögen

Smögen during July. Lots of boats and packed with people. Important to reserve a boat space early.

Boathouses in Smögen

The archipelago to the west side of Smögen.

Fjällbacka has a large marina, but is very popular and it is difficult to find a mooring space. Reserved spaces were booked early.

The archipelago to the west of Fjällbacka.

Towards the southwest

Southwest of Fjällbacka

The mountain above Fjällbacka makes a perfect place to watch the sunset.

Sunset

Hunnebostrand is a short distance south of Fjällbacka, also a popular place for boat tourists.

The toilets and showers were unlocked, but the trash bins had codes so only boat visitors who payed the mooring fee could use them.

There is a small mountain above Hunnebostrand that looks over the marina.

Hunnebostrand

You can see far from the mountain, and then note all the dangerous rocks in the waters around Hunnebostrand.

Hunnebostrand

Hunnebostrand

Hunnebostrand at sunset.

The heather was in full bloom at the beginning of August.

Klädesholmen is close to Marstrand and well known for producing pickled herring. It was well known as a fishing village already during the 16th century.

The houses are very close together as was traditional along the coast.

Klädesholmen

Hollyhocks

Klädesholmen has two good marinas.

The herring museum on Klädesholmen. They used to have 25 pickled herring producers. Only three remain, and they have merged.

Herring barrels at Klädesholmen, each holds around 200 liters.

The sign reads “Parking only for vehicles with an A-permit”.

Marstrand fortress seen from Klädesholmen.

The north side of the land where Marstrand fortress is located.

Seagulls

A young seagull that later will develop a red and white beak, and white and grey feathers.

Åstol, between Marstrand and Klädesholmen, our last stop in Bohuslän. Åstols Rökeri smokes shrimp and fish and has good restaurant.

Åstol

Åstol when the sun has set, around 10 pm.

The trip was not only sunshine. We got stuck for days in Falkenberg, half way home, with heavy winds and rains.

The last day from Helsingör to Lomma was like this, a good ending of five weeks of sailing.