Sandnes, Gandsfjorden

Visitor berths, Sea chart, Natural harbours

Albin Express, heading towards Gandsfjorden.

58°51,186'N 05°44,712'E. Sandnes: To be honest, it's far easier to take the train from Sandnes to Stavanger, then sailing your own boat the eight nautical miles, approximately, from the head of Gandsfjorden. This is why – among yachters married by force to a harbour near Sandnes – Gandsfjorden has a somewhat stained reputation. Or to be more specific: The distance run before reaching the archipelago off Stavanger and the Ryfylke fjords, will cost them at least one an a half hour, and homewards the fjord seems to be even more outstretched, for some mysterious reason. If you are a visitor, though, you don’t need to be concerned about these local everyday worries. Instead you can enjoy what the Gandsfjord – and the town of Sandnes – has to offer. With a little luck you can steer on course both in and out of the fjord. Apart from the last distance, the fjord is relatively wide. In case of easterly winds, the high mountain on the eastern shore, will course some turbulence and gusts, fun – if your are in the right mood. A strong headwind is worse because waves will build up. Still it's seldom impossible to beat against the wind.

If you wish to let go your anchor before reaching Sandnes, several places can be recommended. In the mouth of the fjord lies the amusing island Usken (Uskjo): Leirvågen, sheltered by the islet "Snekka", (58°57,536'N 05°48,829'E ) is a perfect anchorage and a nice swimming spot. Vadholmen on the east shore is a recreation area with public pier, sheltered from all winds (58°57,338'N, 05°50,319E). Stora Marøy is suitable for smaller boats (58°57,774'N 05°46,935'E). At approximately 58°55,484’ N, you’ll find a small nice and popular beach – Vaulen. Here, the best anchorage probably is in the bay, inside of the small tongue of land. You’ll find safe anchorage also in Gauselvågen, six cable lengths to the south, but be aware of shallow water. Some shallows are marked with unofficial sticks. South in the bay, you’ll fins a nice “Robinson”-islet, Gauselholmen. If your draft is moderat, it should be possible to make fast to a small stone jetty on the western shore. You’ll probably have the whole islet for yourselves. If this doesn’t suit you, try Dalsvågen on the opposite shore of Gandsfjorden – the small cove has a nice, sandy beech. Another popular swimming spot is Holmavigå – one nautical mile to the south.

"Mrs Robinson and Man Friday" enjoying their twosomeness at Gauselholmen, Gandsfjorden.

Dalsvågen is a nice cove with a small sandy beech.

The town of Sandnes is situated at the head of the fjord. It has a roomy and excellent guest marina (58.51.144N 5.44.543E). Previously, Sandnes (Eng.) was often considered to be an ugly town, especially the port area. Today this is not the case at all. A culture centre and several restaurants and cafés, lies only a stone’s throw from the guest marina. Here, if you are lucky, you can also admire the veteran boat, Oscar II (No.).

The guest harbour.

Sandnes has several good art galleries.

Sandnes is known first and foremost to be a town of shopkeepers – forthcoming and friendly. The town also was the home of Norway’s most important bicycle industry, but the production is now moved from Sandnes, after more than 100 years. Due to natural recourses, Sandnes also had an important pottery industry. This too is history for the most part. Potter Stein Em. Simonsen though, maintain the tradition, and has a shop in the main shopping street, Langata. One of the newest attractions in Sandnes is the Science Centre. It has gained enormous popularity both among grownups and children, and is highly recommended.

Links:

Potter Stein Em. Simonsen

Science Centre, Sandnes (recommended!)

Sandnes Culture Centre

-(No.) - by the guest marina.

KinoKino

-centre for art and film.

Hiking, Sandnes

Cykling Map

-Sandnes (No., pdf)

The Art of Teaching your Girlfriend to Love sailing too (I)

 

Will her first sailing trip turn out to be a great experience? – It partly depends on you.

In his book Sea Gipsy (1966), after crossing Biscay in heavy seas, Peter Tangvalds wife has had enough of it, and gives him an ultimatum; – the boat or me! But probably Peter already was weary of his frightened and grumpy (?) wife, and he states what every sailor knows; finding a new wife is far easier than finding a new boat. So, in the nearest port, he buys her a one-way ticket home. The fact that the same Mr. Tangvald – during his lifetime – got married no less then seven times but owned just two or three boats, proves this to be true I guess – at least for him. Though later in his life Tangvald becomes a more solemn (but maybe less ingenious) writer, and he considers himself to be a caring husband. He seems to have learned a lesson or two, maybe something like this: If a man really happens to love his girlfriend or wife, he still risk loosing her far easier then his boat, and for some odd reason it is difficult to buy or built a new wife, same label, same love. Some men think a more modern Mark II will be available at least, but sad to say, like in the yacht business, a Mark II partner still in stock, often appears to have some basic faults. What complicates this whole business is the fact that a man might risk loosing his partner precisely because of his beloved boat. In his mind his boat is a sort of lady, and he knows precisely how to care for her. His wife on the other hand…?

So, in this and possibly other postings, I am bold enough to touch upon a well known challenge, but I warn you in advance: The whole mess is seen strictly from a male point of view without any significant sidelong glance concerning post-modern-hard-core feminism. In spite of this, I hold sailing women to be first-rate, so if your partner, wife or girlfriend already loves sailing, happy you are. That is; if you don’t hate it yourself. If so, this text is for your frisky partner too. The best advice I can give the yacht-resisting husband is: Don’t fall over board! I guess your sailor-girl is fully capable of hauling you up – but I’m not sure she will. In the opposite case, if your girlfriend likes your belly but not your stupid boat; yes I know it's hard, but at least it's worth a try: Let her dreams come true – aboard.