Faroe Islands!

Monday the 23rd, as forecast by the high, the sun shows up and we set off in the morning for a long hike up to Lake Vestdalsvatn. As we climb along the river, snow appears and the view over the fjord opens up. At the end of the day, worn out, we enjoy the hot baths and sauna at the Seydisfjordur pool. Wednesday morning, departure for the Faroes. The wind isn’t ideal — SSE for a course of 134 — but we’d rather leave before the next storm arrives. Besides, the weeks are going by and we need to get closer to Saint Malo… The first day of the crossing is quite pleasant, close-hauled in 15-20 knots with a moderate sea. The next day, passing through the occluded front, we spend a rather uncomfortable dozen hours working two long tacks in 25 knots of wind and a sea that has built up. On the plus side, the front’s passage brings a slight veer of the wind to the SW, letting us make Eidi, on the island of Eysturoy — one of the 18 islands of the Faroese archipelago — soon afterwards. Saturday morning, after a good night’s rest, we set off to explore the small village of Eidi. Yesterday we covered the 30 miles to Tórshavn, the first half under engine, the other half under sail, in unusual sunshine for these islands famous for their dense fog. The passage through Djúpini and Leirvíksfjørður was truly grand! This morning, after clearing customs and meeting the “harbour-master”, we stroll through the charming streets of Tórshavn, where we’ll stay a few days waiting for a favourable wind to reach the Hebrides.