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We flew out from Stanstead at about 11:55 to arrive in Nyköping and pick up Pegasus at Oxelösund Badhusviken Marina. The crew consisted of Mike Bennett, Sue Hastings, Andy Jacobs, Pete Keeler and Dave Yewman. We arrived late afternoon after a bus and taxi ride to the marina, and immediately sent out runners to the local supermarket to stock up. We chatted to our Swedish neighbours who gave us some pointers on the best places to sail, and some mosquito repellent, as we were being badly attacked by this time, something that was to become an unpleasant feature of the trip.
Next morning was cloudy with a nice sailing breeze. We motored out of Oxelösund, and set the main and jib with a reef in for a good sail eastwards to Öja, an island at the entrance to the Södertälje canal, topping 9 knots on occasions.
The marina at Skravleviken consisted of a couple of dozen boom moorings and some buoys with rings onto a concrete quay. Facilities were a good shower block, a harbourmaster’s office come shop, and a couple of boat sheds.
Saturday and a virtually flat calm day meant that we had to motor out of Skravleviken and most of the way up the approaches to the Södertälje canal. The area itself was very pretty, with large areas of forest on both banks.
At Södertälje lock we planned to stop at the marina just short of the lock, but had difficulty finding a berth of our size that was not reserved. Finally, after circling for several minutes, a large woman appeared on the quayside and began shouting at us in German. She was shouting that we should take berth eleven, a reserved berth. So, as the result of a dyslexic skipper, we tied up in berth ten. Sodertalje Marina
Another calm and overcast day found us cast off and in the queue for the lock. Once the canal widened out, the scenery became more beautiful, with small islands covered in conifers and holiday homes hidden amongst them, some quite palatial. The Wasa marina was soon found, and we were moored up and went into town to explore.
Next day was a layover day.

Tuesday saw us leaving Stockholm for Sandhamn, an island in the outer Skärgård.

Wednesday arrived bright and sunny we set off for Dalarö the weather had turned really hot, but as usual with plenty of sun there was no wind. Despite several attempts to get the sails up, we eventually gave up and motored. Dalarö was everybody’s favourite spot. Situated in a lovely wooded, very scenic bay, the facilities were new and spotless, and the village was close by, with all essentials.
Thursday was another day of light winds The entrance to Nynäshamn, was somewhat narrow and intricate, but using the church tower as a transit got us in safely.
On Friday, our last day at sea, we left Nynäshamn through a tight and shallow channel that would save us three miles. We motored right up to the Badhusviken marina where we fuelled up and then moored bows to for the last time. Pete prepared one last delicious meal, and we sat around talking before falling into our bunks.
Saturday morning was taken up with packing, and thoroughly cleaning the boat ready for the next crew. Our final job was to raise the red and yellow recognition flag, before squeezing six people and luggage into a people-carrier for the 19-kilometre trip to the airport, much to the amusement and amazement of the Swedish taxi driver.
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