In the summer of 2007 we made a wonderful trip to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Also this year the weather is good. Not as sunny and warm as last year, but very good sailing weather for this trip through Scandinavia.

In total we will sail 1250 miles in just under 4 weeks time. The first part of the journey we sailed in three daytrips from Bruinisse, via Roompot and IJmuiden to Vlieland. With a lovely wind force 4 in the back and beautiful sunny weather. A fantastic feeling to be in Vlieland so soon.

In Vlieland we take a day of rest and rent bikes to explore the island in between the rain showers. The nerves in my stomach are palpable that day, because the next day our first big crossing of more than a day and a night to Norway starts. What will the weather do on the way? How will we cope as a crew? The night before we hardly sleep. Then we just leave at 4.00 am.

In the end it turned out to be a wonderful sailing trip of 48 hours with half to high wind, sunshine and wind force 4 with now and then a breeze of 5. You can't wish for a better experience. We enjoy it a lot and we already get a good feeling of what a longer trip will be like during the long voyage.

In the middle of the night, at 4 a.m., we approach Mandal. It smells like pine trees and the harbour is enchantingly lit. It's as if we are sailing into an Anderson's fairy tale. And that in combination with the feeling of victory that we have completed the trip well, gives a great feeling. We will never forget that feeling.

The following week we'll be doing daytrips through the skerries of south-eastern Norway. A beautiful area, completely sheltered, with nice narrow passages through rough nature and picturesque villages. Everywhere you can find a nice deserted anchorage in the middle of nature. The Norwegians are very friendly; we like it in this country.

From Rigor we sail at night over a slippery Skagerak to Sweden, using the engine. Sweden is also a beautiful country with rough nature. The people are much more reserved than the Norwegians. And it is much busier. But it's easy going as long as everybody leaves each other alone and respects each other's freedom.

In Sweden we also find beautiful anchorages in the middle of nature. An evening walk over the rocks has become a fixed rhythm. Because we are so far north, the night is very short; it's only dark for about four hours. We end up in Marstrand, the sailing Mecca of Sweden. From there we sail in another quiet night to the Danish island of Anholt.

We stay at Anholt for a few days and enjoy ourselves. The weather is nice so we can even play on the beach and swim in the sea. We also make a long walk to the lighthouse and the seal beach on the other side of the island. We are guided by the multi-day weather forecast and decide to sail back to the Netherlands via the Limfjord. That is easier to sail than via Kiel and the German Bight.

We don't regret this choice. The Limfjord is also a beautiful sailing area. We are only there for a short time, because we have to return home. Fortunately, the weather cooperates and we sail from Thyboron to IJmuiden in 44 hours. Partly using the engine, but at least half of the time sailing. We arrive just in time in IJmuiden, where there is a big storm during the night. Unfortunately we are moored at the wrong place in the harbour, so the next morning we find a huge load of sand (from the beach around the corner) on our boat. And if anything is bad for a boat, it's sand. After a couple of hours of cleaning, most of it is gone. We prepare ourselves for the last part of the voyage; with a rough first part from IJmuiden we arrive at the Slijkgat at midnight, with no wind and a smooth sea, and we moor in Stellendam at around midnight. The next day we arrived safely in our home port Bruinisse and we looked back on our second summer holiday on the Brandaan with a sense of pride and satisfaction.