Copenhagen

For a few days, the forecast had said light winds from the northeast.

Perfect for a trip to Anholt during the holiday. Tuesday night we could sail to Gilleleje. Wednesday we could do 8 hours of off shore sailing to Anholt. Here we would have three full days if we sailed home Sunday.

But when we got to Tuesday, the weather forecast changed. Now, DMI forecast gale from the northwest for the next 48 hours.

Tuesday afternoon was windy, cold and rainy. Only when the sun broke out on Wednesday afternoon did we leave.

North of Kronborg we would be met by large waves and winds of gale force. Both against us. In the Sound we could sail in flat water and have the wind with us.

We gave up Anholt and decided to sail down the coast to Chr. Havn in Copenhagen.

It was blowing well when we got out of the marina. But significantly less than in the Kattegat, where the wind, unlike in the Sound, is not stopped by adjacent land areas.

The coastline was still dark and cold, but before long the beech would have leaves and color the coast with the special light the leaves have in the first weeks of spring.

There were more boats on the water than 2 weeks earlier and there the sun was also warming.

South of Rungsted we had close contact with a match racer - a J70 that passed a few meters from us at a heading up through the Sound.

When we reached Tårbæk, the wind took off and changed direction, so that the genoa was sheltered by the mainsail.

We pulled the mainsail in. When we reached the Lynetteløbet, which pleasure crafts must use when entering the Port of Copenhagen, we started the engine and pulled in the genoa.

We slipped past Langlinie, Kastellet, Nordre Toldbod, Amaliehaven with flowering Japanese cherry trees and crossed the monumental axis that connects Tietgens Marmorkirke, Rytterstatuen by Frederik V and Hr. Møllers Opera. When we reached the Skuespilhuset we turned 90 degrees to port and steered into the inlet to Chr. Havns Kanal.

There was barely a quarter of an hour to the opening at 18.30 p.m. But the bridge guard stated with an apologetic but also somewhat significant face that the opening of this hour had been canceled. A new pavement had been laid on the bridge and it had to dry before he dared to open.

We moored at the waiting dock. Started making dinner and found a vacant berth, which we sailed into when the bridge guard dared to open the bridge at 19.30pm.

A little geeky 

While Pia finished dinner, I set up the cockpit tent and plugged the 230v cord into a power outlet on land.

When we had eaten, I put plates, cutlery and glasses down in the sink for the rest of the dishes and turned on the faucet, which squirted hot water into the sink.

Suddenly there was a strange buzzing sound - was it gas from the stove? I checked the buttons - everything was closed. Then I went up on the aft deck, opened the hatch to the room with the gas bottle and closed the supply.

When I got back into the galley, the buzzing sound was still there.

Confused, I removed the hatch to under the sofa in the living room.

A powerful jet of almost boiling water was bursting from a hose from the hot water tank.

I closed the supply. It stopped the hissing buzz.

Wow there was a lot of water.

Luckily, most had found their way down into the swamp, which was easy to drain with the electric pump.

The prospect of lacking fresh water for the next 3 days was not particularly tempting. I set out to investigate why the hose was leaking.

There was nothing to see, so there was not much else to do but get help from a professional.

On the net, I found a plumbing company with pleasure crafts as one of its specialties. The next morning I called them shortly after 8.00am.

A friendly male voice quickly answered my call. I explained the problem.

»It is not uncommon for water hoses on leisure boats to spring leak« the man began.

»Many shipyards use hoses, which become stiff over the years. Hot water hoses are the most exposed and typically spring leak close to the hot water tank. If hoses are made of the right material, the durability is much better. The hose on my own boat has e.g. functioned without problems since 1984« he concluded his explanation with authority.

»Do you have time to come and replace our hose? We are located in Chr. Havn. It's not very far from you «

»Oh we are fully booked until the end of May, but you can come out to us and buy a hose you can install yourself« the man replied kindly.

We took the subway from Chr. Havn to Nørreport. From there we took a bus and walked almost 3 quarters of an hour in the cold and windy spring weather before we found the store.

»It was I who called this morning« I said to an elderly man sitting behind a counter.

»Oh yes« replied a younger man who sat a few tables further away and continued »They are the ones who need to replace a hose«

»Well« replied the older man. While he rose he continued »Come along. Then we can look at it«

We followed him to a couple of shelves with hoses and were once again explained that poor quality hoses typically jump leaks at the hot water tank.

We bought 2,5m hose of what the man called the good quality. Got good advice about the replacement and also about the gas stove and the hot water tank.

»And remember« he concluded »When all options have been exhausted, try the manual« 

When we got back on the boat, I replaced the hose.

In the evening it became really muggy weather.

Howling gusts of wind and rain showers. It was far too cold to sit up in the cockpit.

We turned on the diesel heater and the electric radiator, enjoyed sitting warm and safe down in the boat and now again having access to fresh water.

We turned in early, almost fainted as we lay down on the bunk and woke up well-rested up in the morning, where the sun was shining from a completely cloudless sky.

The waterfront

Yesterday's repair worked perfectly. We decided to go for a walk along the waterfront.

We passed Lagkagehuset, where as late as 1928 there was a women's prison. Went on and reached the corner between Overgaden above Vande and Langebrogade. In a window on the ground floor was a model of a fetus in a womb. A lively but also strange evidence that the property belongs to the Midwives' Association.

We strolled down Islands Brygge. Saw the hotel boat with 12 rooms and talked about that the area, on what seemed to us to be a few years, has been transformed from slum to luxury. So much so that there are now swimming facilities in the harbor basin.

We walked over Bryggebroen. So Aller's beautiful new office building that looks like a ship. Enjoyed shelter from the cold wind, the warmth from the sunshine on Havneholmen. Went back to Bryggebroen. Took the water bus to Nordre Toldbod, had the very special fish & chips at Løgismose. Took the water bus to Mr. Møller's Opera and got back to Heron late in the afternoon.

The sun was still shining from a blue sky. We spent the rest of the day relaxing in the cockpit and talking to the neighbors on the boats on either side of us.

We gave ourselves plenty of time the next morning. Caught the opening at 12.00, sailed to around Tårbæk. Here the wind went north and the rest of the way home we went for motor.