Bergen to Utsira

After leaving Bergen, we pushed south into the teeth of 15-knot winds, alternating between motoring and tacking. A fuel stop in Hjellestad was the only interruption before anchoring in a pleasant cove on the south end of Huftaroy island. Early the next morning, we continued south, weaving through a labyrinth of channels to the Sletta, a short stretch of unprotected water just north of Haugesund. The winds continue to fight us, with close hauled sailing interspersed with motoring the mainstay. We arrived in Haugesund as a vintage boat show and week-long film festival were overlapping, and ended up rafting eight deep Saturday night. We were entertained into the wee hour by mobs of people on shore and pulsing music. What action! Sunday morning, as all was quiet, we cast off for Utsira, an attractive low island about 10 miles off the coast between Haugesund and Stavanger. After a satisfying beam reach across to the island, we are now comfortably tethered to a guest dock behind a stout breakwater as the winds build to near gale force. We expect to layover here tomorrow until the winds ease Tuesday morning. Andy and Carmen have proven to be able seamen, and we are benefitting from their culinary skills as well. (Carmen is a regional governor in the California Slow Food Society.) Tonight, it is salad, risotto, and open faced chicken sandwiches.