Prelude
There was a man in Stockholm who had a beautiful sailing boat.
He had equipped it well: six different sails, for all kinds of weather. A GPS. An autopilot. A wind rudder. A depth sounder. Music. A VHF. Spare parts for the engine. Food in the kitchen. A carpet on the floor.
Everything was there.
But one day, after a heavy rain, the boat filled with water.
Several years passed.
Mold appeared.
The engine would not start.
The man had to focus on his health.
Now… he just wants to give his boat away.
The boat was found on Blocket – the Swedish second-hand online platform – by the most unlikely creature imaginable: a Hästekasen member.
For free.
The promise
A first trip to Stockholm, to meet the boat, to meet the man. He liked the fact that Hästekasen counted good sailors among its members.
The boat had some damage, but the main problems could be fixed.
The trip ended with a promise: more members would come back and the boat would be salvaged.
A few weeks later, another Hästekasian crossed Sweden on board the high-speed VR train between Gothenburg and Stockholm.
The boat had to be put into the water.
The mast installed.
The sails set up.
Some pipes replaced.
New oil. New diesel.
The boat was ready for its new life. A new Hästekasen adventure had started.
The boat
An Allegro.
27 ft (8.2 metres) long.
Built in Sweden during the 1970s – an old-school Scandinavian cruising design.
Almost three tonnes of fibreglass, ballast and machinery.
A long keel for stability and a protected rudder for offshore sailing.
An inboard Volvo Penta diesel engine for when the wind disappears.
A compact but complete interior with five berths, a kitchen, a toilet.
Built to be steady.
The adventure
THE ROUTE
About 400 nautical miles. Around the southern tip of Sweden.
8 days.
Leaving the Stockholm archipelago, then heading out in the Baltic Sea.
Seeking the protection of Öland, passing by Kalmar.
From Karlskrona, the seemingly endless Hanö Bay – the great bay between Blekinge and Skåne – before following the coast south.
This part gave way to Sweden’s Riviera – long beaches, dunes and small seaside towns, from Ystad to Trelleborg.
Passing west of Saltholm between Copenhagen and Malmö, then heading north towards Helsingborg.
Gothenburg, then a stop on Käringön, and finally Koljöfjorden – reached in a gale.
Home.
Winds came from all directions over those five days. Even moments without a single wrinkle on the surface of the sea.
Fortunately, the engine could run for longer than the 20 minutes expected before overheating.
Apart from a seawater leak that meant frequent use of the bilge pump, it turned out to be a functional engine after all.
THE CREW
With only two people on board and a schedule to meet, the trip was a challenge.
To keep up the pace, night watches had to be taken. Solitude with the stars and the wind, with cargo ships to avoid.
The autopilot was used for naps and necessary repairs.
And a few hours here and there, anchored near an island, allowed some sleep.
After Helsingborg, a third crew member, a former volunteer from Hästekasen, joined the adventure and became the official photographer of the trip.
LIFE ON BOARD
As always on a sailing trip: expect some problems to occur. The toilet tank had become blocked during the years when the boat was not used.
A rope had become caught in the stays of the mast.
These were only two examples of problems that required some work during the calmest moments.
The calm sailing moments were also used to make life on the boat more comfortable.
Scraping the mold from the floor below deck. Cleaning the deck. Cooking good food. Over the days, the Allegro 27 became a cozy home.
And there was also room for social moments and enjoyment of the beautiful weather. The crew tried the ladder at the stern of the boat and took a few swims in the cold sea.
A new life
After this journey, the Allegro is safely docked in the harbour, in the good care of Hästekasen members.
It is used by the association as a training boat, while also offering beautiful nature experiences to volunteers or visitors who wish to visit the west coast archipelago and its wonders.
It was given away.
It was given a new life.
And with a few more repairs, who knows where this Allegro 27 will sail next?
Epilogue
During the 1970s, many capable sailboats were built in Sweden. Now they’re starting to show their age, with worn-out sails and engines that aren’t running as well. But the hulls and rigs are still in good condition. Many are sold cheaply, sometimes even for free.
Hästekasen specializes in saving some of them. We have already saved three so far. If you’re interested, please get in touch.