The island of Gotland is not that far away from Stockholm so we could make the passage on slow speed. Staying in Stockholm longer because of that slow speed is not an option as the transit to open sea through the Archipelago has to be done during day light and that means you have to be out in open waters near sunset. So once we were outside we traveled at the sedate speed of 10 knots towards our destination Visby for a 0700 to 1400 call. We were allocated the anchorage just outside the breakwater. There is one dock inside where we could fit in, just, but that was given to the Silver Shadow. This ship had a shorter call staying only until noon time. With nice weather being at the anchorage is not much of a problem. The tender ride is not that long and the tender dock is directly opposite the charming down town centre of Visby. However the weather was not looking that good.
Yesterday the weather chart was already indicating continuous westerly winds, although getting less and less in strength. So it would depend on how quickly the wind would subside to result in reduced swells so we could conduct a tender operation. The Baltic, being an inland sea has no waves that roll in from 100’s of miles away (caused by windy weather somewhere else); the waves are purely generated by local wind. The moment the wind dies down, the waves will get lower very quickly and a flat sea returns. Thus all hope was based on this.
However when I arrived on the bridge at 5 am., there was still 20 knots of wind blowing from the West. The windy front had not moved away as fast as predicted and had even tilted a bit so it still sustained strong westerly winds. This did not look like a good day for tendering. By the grace of the internet I pulled out another Baltic Sea forecast and that indicated that in the course of the day, the wind would even increase in strength. Very slowly but another 5 knots extra was predicted. Even if I would start a tender service, by the time that all the guests would return, it would be very difficult to keep a tender safely alongside the ship. Not to mention the tender ride out of the port against the wind and the swell. Not pleasant for the guests at all. Secondly, I saw while floating near the anchorage, that the wind was already marginally increasing and that normally means bad news. A normal wind pattern increases only very slowly. Not with three knots in 10 minutes. I did not feel comfortable at all and that means only one thing…….
So, I decided the cancel the call and we returned to open waters. One hour later we had gale force winds blowing, winds that lasted all day. Where these winds came from I still do not know; the weather forecast for late in the afternoon did not go higher then 25 knots but we had by the mid morning at least 35 knots going. I never found out of the Silver Shadow made it back to sea at noon time, as coming off the dock in Visby with 35 knots on the beam is nearly impossible.
The good news was that all this wind had blown the rain away and we had a glorious sunny day. With hardly a cloud in the sky we sailed in the direction of the Kiel area with next to us the little Ocean Majesty and next to her the big ms Rotterdam, both going to Warnemunde. More good news is that the wind will die down overnight so that we will have very gentle sunny day in Copenhagen tomorrow. We are the only ship in and that means docking at the prime location of the forward section at the Lange Linje.
August 19, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I have learned today that when you return to London you will not be docking in Greenwich but instead at Tilbury. This concerns me greatly as the port at Tilbury is an industrial port, highly polluted, specializing in the export of scrap metal, junker cars and other waste. The town itself has a very high crime rate. Just why was so such a hell hole picked for embarkation?
August 20, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Having spent my working life on ships (kwekeling 1942), I was tipped onto your blog a few months ago. Since then I very much enjoy your daily entries. Apart from very interesting, I find them very educative and hope they let you keep up your good work for as long as you like.
KInd regards from an “Old Salt”.
p.s. Forgot the 25 earlier on. Correct address this time; blame it on the age!
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Good afternoon,
subject to operational requirements and change:
My sailing schedule
ms Prinsendam
1. 30 april – 13 September 2009 (Lisbon)
2. 06 January 2010 – 24 March 2010 Grand Voyage South America
3. 07 June – 11 September. European Season
4. 08 Oct 2010 – 08 January 2011
Best regards
Captain Albert
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.
August 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please advise your schedule for 2010 season. We want to book our next voyage with you.