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The
next day I bought Den Blå Avis (Danish buy and sell newspaper, edit) and
within the week I had purchased a boat that suited my limited budget. The
size of the boat alone would make it even more challenging. During
negotiation the owner wisely told that he thought I would benefit more
from sailing with him for a few weekends than I would by getting the boat
at a cheaper price. And that was how it went. I think I paid 23,000.00 DKK
for the boat, purchased as seen in(/at) Genner Bay (Genner Bugt). I drove
from Esbjerg (across Jutland, edit) to Kolding to purchase equipment and
then down to Genner to mount. The equipment I felt I needed for my "big"
sailing trip home past Funen and through the Kiel Canal was a handheld GPS
to find my way, a sailor VHF radio (a little contact with the outside
world might be nice), various life-saving equipment and a temporary
electrical installation.
22 ft with a 6 hp engine. I thought it was just perfect.
John and Jens
Jens (the now former owner) and I had some enjoyable sailing trips, which
undoubtedly influenced my continued sailing and also made it easier to
complete the following course. By now I knew a little bit about sail and
boat, and knew the difference between starboard and port (right and left).
I had made an appointment at Svendborg Sailing School (Svendborg
Sejlerskole) for a week's stay starting July 3, 1999. Well-prepared (so I
thought) I unmoored in Sønderballe Harbour and took off headed for already
plotted in waypoints on my little GPS towards Svendborg. My first sailing
trip on my own, and of course I was caught in fog along the way.
Well assisted by plenty of waypoints (18!! better safe than sorry!) I
worked my way through. I remember calling Jens, proudly telling him that
right now I was sailing Wing on Wing approaching the Svendborgsund Bridge
(Svendborgsundbroen) with my main and headsail, but without a boom, since
I hadn't got one.
This week's stay was probably some of the best money I have spent.
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