Selje

While the weather not set to improve until much later in the day Daniel and Daniel set off to explore the island while Amanda tidied the boat. The helpful skipper off the Eirin had been advising us on the best times to attempt the peninsula passage. There seemed to be a possible weather window around 8 pm so we waited in the thought we would attempt it then. Whilst we were in the marina a British yacht turned up, we haven't seen many foreign boats at all, so to see a British one was a surprise!
The winds dropped as the evening began and the Eirin and their friends boat were going to be heading south round the peninsula and offered to help guide us round if we wanted. Local knowledge and expertise is something we could not pass by and were massively appreciative for the help offered. We headed off with them the most difficult stretch is around 13 miles long and consists of some of the worst and most dangerous seas in Europe. They picked up the pace sitting around 20-22knots and we followed on, the swell and waves threw us around a bit but the comfort of their knowledge made the passage far easier then we had imagined it could be. We pulled in to a filling station and began the task of putting almost 800ltr aboard. As we filled the bladder on deck it wasn't missed by locals who came down to look at us. Saying our thanks and goodbyes to the crew off the boats that had helped us round we knew without their help we could well still be at the other side. Leaving the filling station we headed to a the nearby island of Selje where we had been told there was an interesting monastery. When we arrived the monastery was in site and despite being late we couldn't resist but to have a look. The monastery was founded around 1100 and was used until approx 1500 when the effects of a fire, the plague and the king left it with a blow it never did recover from. Still a magnificent building and cave.