Kopervik
Kopervik
Kopervik our base for a weather window south and opportunity for some repairs. It welcomes us with the last thing we expected. Loud religious music followed by a sermon that has all the characteristics of a good ranting. Our neighbours ensure us it has been going on since Friday and probably will until Sunday afternoon. Norwegians are always right...
We completed twelve hours through narrow channels under increasing wind. In the end we had just a bit too much sail and could find no place to reef it safely. So we raced through the channels at neck breaking speed. That is to say 8 knots... The fishing was good though and after a few more Mackerels the boat started to look like a slaughter house.
Though bigger than Erøy, Kopervik has the same dynamics. Here youths express themselves with classic muscle cars in weird colors. If they can't afford that, an Opel Astra with oversized exhaust pipe will do, too. And of course the Africans keep singing and preaching in a language that's definetly not Norwegian. The bar sells light beer only and the other one is a club that will pour us whiskey after we pay a 50 kronor entrance fee.
But we find two priceless assets here. The first one is a retired electrician, who's kind enough to bring all his gear and give our Victron a look. The battery charger has been acting weirdly and quit altogether in Kopervik. Without it, we can only charge our batteries using the engine. The Victron's transformer spool overheated due to salt water overkill. Cleaning its internals and cooling down solves the problem. Having experience with mobile phones in salt water, I'm impressed with the Victron; its contacts and electronics don't look corroded beyond recognition.
Kopervik's second asset is a Vinmonopolet. Just like in Sweden, where it's called Systembolaget, this is the only retailer allowed to sell booze. Scandinavians interpret the definition "booze" broadly; everything over 4.7% alcohol. Officially - and according to their brochures - these governement owned monopolies serve a higher goal. Limit the citizens' consumption of alcohol, primarily by means of high cost and limited access. As well preventing the sale of alcohol to minors - feeding minors alcohol is a crime punishable by 6 months imprisonment - and obviously drunk customers.
The primary goal of the Vinmonopolet clearly is to limit private economic profit from alcohol sales and the governement's desire to control individual's consumption. The fact that social security numbers are registered with each purchase proving the latter.
We're just purchasing two typically Scandinavian liquors. Gammel Dansk (Old Dane) and Aquavit. Especially Aquavit is funny. The name degenerated from the Latin 'water of life', it has been produced since the 15th century and spiced with herbs after distillation. In Norway they believe Aquavit should travel in casks across the Equator and back, before it's drinkable; those they call Linje Aquavit. And to this very day the Norwegians send casks full of Aquavit to Australia and back, before they drink it.
We're allowed to try it, at a price that - in the rest of Europe - would involve an account manager from the bank.
Kopervik our base for a weather window south and opportunity for some repairs. It welcomes us with the last thing we expected. Loud religious music followed by a sermon that has all the characteristics of a good ranting. Our neighbours ensure us it has been going on since Friday and probably will until Sunday afternoon. Norwegians are always right...
We completed twelve hours through narrow channels under increasing wind. In the end we had just a bit too much sail and could find no place to reef it safely. So we raced through the channels at neck breaking speed. That is to say 8 knots... The fishing was good though and after a few more Mackerels the boat started to look like a slaughter house.
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| After the third Mackerel, the deck is starting to look like a slaughter house |
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| Kopervik harbour |
Kopervik's second asset is a Vinmonopolet. Just like in Sweden, where it's called Systembolaget, this is the only retailer allowed to sell booze. Scandinavians interpret the definition "booze" broadly; everything over 4.7% alcohol. Officially - and according to their brochures - these governement owned monopolies serve a higher goal. Limit the citizens' consumption of alcohol, primarily by means of high cost and limited access. As well preventing the sale of alcohol to minors - feeding minors alcohol is a crime punishable by 6 months imprisonment - and obviously drunk customers.
The primary goal of the Vinmonopolet clearly is to limit private economic profit from alcohol sales and the governement's desire to control individual's consumption. The fact that social security numbers are registered with each purchase proving the latter.
We're just purchasing two typically Scandinavian liquors. Gammel Dansk (Old Dane) and Aquavit. Especially Aquavit is funny. The name degenerated from the Latin 'water of life', it has been produced since the 15th century and spiced with herbs after distillation. In Norway they believe Aquavit should travel in casks across the Equator and back, before it's drinkable; those they call Linje Aquavit. And to this very day the Norwegians send casks full of Aquavit to Australia and back, before they drink it.
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| Linje Aquavit and the healing Gammel Dansk |