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| Over night passage north from Reykjavik |
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| Visitors Pontoon at Grundafjordur |
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| Wet day in Grundafjordur |
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| Departing Grundafjordur at dawn |
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| Dave Holden |
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| Dave and Helen Holden |
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| Passge from Grundurfjordur to Isafjordur |
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| Along side the pontoon in Isafjordur |
Reykjavik to Grunafjordur
After 8 months in the her Reykjavik berth Shimshal slipped quietly out past the Opera House and set a course for the headland 70 miles to the north west. It was sunny but the afternoon air was chilled by a gentle north easterly breezed which gave a definite wintery feel to match the snow laden mountains surrounding the Flaxafjordur.
The breeze filled and after half an hour we were speeding north at at 7.5 knots on a broad reach and with a flat sea. Better than we could have expected.
We kept surging along until we reached the headland when, predictably the wind rose and we took in some sail. By now spindrift was lashing us off the icecap and we crept north through the small hours of the morning before turning east for Grundarfjordur and being headed by the wind. The engine came on at 0430 and the rest of the morning was spent punching into a steep chop and a rising wind. After 20 miles of slow progress it was a relief to buck south into the harbour and find shelter despite a down-pouring of sleat as we docked.
The harbour masted directed is to a 25m floating pontoon and took our lines as we arrived. No charges. Not even for electricity which we used in abundance because, once again, one of electrical systems was not charging. Dave and I spent 3 hours checking wiring and relays before spotting that the engineer in Reykjavik had removed the alternator fuse for reasons unknown. An easy fix once the cause was discovered.
Ashore we had a warm welcome from the cafe who directed us to the hotel for showers and a hot dunk in the outdoor hot tub. No geothermal power here so the town's swimming pool was closed for the winter. In the evening snow plastered peaks emerged from the mists and The precipitous Kirkfjell stood proudly over the town.
The next day we sailed at 0630 on a pristine, clear morning.
