“What a cosy hotel” Jonathan said looking around in the dining room. Although one could argue about that, I was happy being with both children on this “secret trip” to Legoland, which we would not tell mamma until her arrival.

I was thinking of a toast to absent friends and suggested “Skål to mamma”. - “Yes”, both kids replied, “Skål that mamma is gone far, far away sailing in Norway! Otherwise, we would not have gone to Legoland!”

Piiiip Piiip. An SMS arriving! I found some space between Jonathan’s and my large plates (I moved mine a bit), placed the telephone on the wine-red paper tablecloth and read: “22-24 knots of Wind. Speed 7,5 knots. Huge waves. Only water and bred. At helm steering or in berth resting. Karolina”.

I took another sip of my Carlsberg. The SMS reminded Jessica of Pippi Långstrump, whose father, Ephraim Långstrump, was kept as a prisoner among dreadful pirates. There, in his prison, he got only water and bread, Jessica explained.

Jonathan wanted to know how many times mamma had vomited already, so we sent off this question as an SMS, but did not receive an answer that night.

Time to go to bed. After a very hectic week (I am the only one at the office at the moment), I fell to sleep together with the children at 21.00 already.

After a long night sleep, we were woken up by a new SMS in the morning. “Now already 5 nights at sea. Speed of 9 knots in 30 knots of gale wind. 12-14 feet waves. Horrifying delight! (<Skräckblandad förtjusning!>). No food - no vomit. Karolina”

I really start to get bad conscience to eat food, drink beer and sleep all night. What is Karolina actually undertaking? What did she mean with “Skräckblandad förtjusning!” meaning both horror and delight at the same time?

I had to wait all day for more details until she called at 23.00 Saturday night. They had now safely arrived at Mandal and rounded the southernmost tip of Norway - Lindesnes. They had all been having a Pizza in a local restaurant which was wonderful. The smell of food onboard Mahina just did not invite Karolina to eat and, instead, had the opposite effect. On these last two days, Karolina voluntarily abandoned cocked meals. However, on the second day, she felt clearly better than the first, she added.... She had even been able to sleep well in the end and once slept for a total of three (3) hours in one go, which was fantastic, she thought!

Two days earlier, John had explained that since the sea is picking up, one has to take the waves exactly from the stern, otherwise one can broach the boat if a wave hits from the side. Breaking waves should be avoided, where possible. How should Karolina cope with the job at the helm? Thinking of this, sleeping had been difficult in the beginning.

“It is a hard job to steer in these conditions, Leon”, Karolina explained on the telephone, “You have to concentrate all the time and the helm gets heavy in the end in these waves. You always have to think ahead and steer before the wave hits you from the stern and lifts Mahina up like in an elevator...”. 4 meters up, 4 meters down - 4 meters up, 4 meters down.

During such conditions, John was like one big smile himself. He loves the sea and thinks that this is just perfect sailing condition. Amanda moves easily like a cat on the rocking deck. They are both very experienced and good sailors.

Earlier today, just before rounding the rock of Lindesnes, they had a shower on board. Karolina felt like a new woman afterwards and tried to remember when she had brushed her teeth the last time... If you ask me, they must have adopted quite well to the movements onboard when taking a shower was at all an option on open sea. “Well, you see, the seas had decreased in size by then”, Karolina explained.

Karolina never feels afraid and totally safe in the hands of John and Amanda. I sure will, too, feel confident sailing with Karolina on REGINA in the future! Her limits have been pushed onwards and upwards all the time. Of course, she is not as unified with the open sea as John and Amanda are. Having the choice, Karolina said still to prefer comfortable day-sailing like they did at Lofoten while offshore passage making is more like “work” rather than a joy ride, especially when it is this cold. Well, who wouldn’t agree?

These last days have given her a fantastic experience. Although two weeks of sailing on Mahina can not replace years and years of sailing experience, Karolina has definitely become a safer seaman and has clearly gained new perspectives on sailing.

Like when she ended the phone call by saying: “Our next leg will just be a short 120 miles sail”.

Remember: The distance between Ystad and Germany is 50 miles...

Karolina feels that she has now arrived in home waters: the sea of Skagerack. We have already almost sailed as far as Mandal with our first sailing boat, the 21 foot Albin Viggen CELICIA. Karolina’s local knowledge guiding them along the Norwegian South and Swedish West Coast with Bohuslän will certainly be a special joy for her.

I wonder which route they will take from now on....