17 July

We woke up early and took the boat out to try out both engines. The newspaper interview was due for between 10-11 so we had limited time to try her out. Heading out with the main engine we got her to 34 knots and started to rebuild confidence in the engine. We are confident in the auxiliary engine now too, so would feel a lot happier about heading out to sea again. Returning for the newspaper interview we had a few moments to spare and started to change the alternator, whilst doing so the boat yard owner Håvard asked if our boat was ready to go, he had received a call asking for a boat to take ambulance crew to an emergency. After all were aboard we followed directions to a small island where we were first on seen to a diver with his 74 year old diving partner. A few moments later the Maersk and an ambulance boat and rescue helicopter turned up. Unfortunately despite everyone's best efforts the diver passed away. We would like to express our feelings of sympathy to the family of the man and also share our thanks to the emergency services who give their time to helping others.
It was important for us to feel as if we had given a little something back to the emergency services here who had helped us. It was something we weren't expecting to see the Mearsk again just days after they had towed us.
On our return to the boat yard we spent a quiet while contemplating the fragility of life.
After a while the newspaper reporter came to interview us, after which work on the alternator began again. Unluckily it turned out to be less straight forward than we had hoped. Håvard contacted a friend of his who is an expert on petrol engines. We were kindly invited out for tea by Svein and Håvard and several of their friends. It was a lovely evening and we all came home aware that if we depart tomorrow as planned it might be the last big meal for a few days. Planning to head off tomorrow we feel sorry to be leaving such a lovely place with many friends, our first introduction to Norway has come with a whirlwind of emotions. One thing clear to us is that this is a beautiful place with beautiful people.