GÖTA KANAL and the GREAT LAKES - [Part 2] / Yggdra Sailing Sweden

Leaving the vastness and freedom of the Baltic Sea behind, we take the 200 year old inland waterway across Sweden. Motoring in through 64 locks and 58 bridges on Göta and Trollhätte Canal. Experiencing Swedish summer in 5 knots at its prime from a unique perspective. A surrealistic sightseeing tour that included the traversing of 5 lakes under sail. Vadstena Castle towered over us and an expedition mooring was made on Swedens largest lake, Vänern.
The canal pass costed 1200 EUR and included the fees for the 21 guests harbours along the way. We never had to wait in line for any of the locks and the bridges normally opened upon arrival.
As we arrive on the West Coast, we are in the Kattegat Sea. Night sailing through the archipelago north of Gothenburg. Reaching Boaterland, a gathering that will be then venue for the next chapter of this journey.
End graphic: @olssonbill

[@KenDavies-qv3fs]

Excellent ------ thank you

[@osanoff]

Johan, very nice! Beautiful footage from drone. Each next episode looks more and more professional. Keep going, the world is waiting for Yggdra to explore it. Can't wait for the next episode!

[@yggdrasail]

Dear Alex! Thank you for this comment! Can´t wait untill our courses intercept in the future, hopefully without any collision ;) Johan

[@wellamarie5600]

I think this may be my favorite episode yet. I am amazed that ships, the size of Yggdra (or larger), can fit through some of the in-land waterways you traversed. Seeing you pass by other boats that were sharing the same space had me, at least, holding my breath a bit 😅 hoping you would not bump into one another. Were you nervous at all? Do maneuvers like that require a lot of skill? I was also curious to know how you move Yggdra forward without a sail/wind. Does she have a motor that provides the power you need for forward movement? The "7-step-stairway", was also incredible! I can't believe Soldiers built that work of art with shovels alone...and it was so neat that you were able to meet the sail maker! It was rewarding seeing Yggdra with 4 sails; she looks majestic with them! Thanks for taking us along on your journeys and for providing so much educational information - the videos are always a pleasure to watch.

[@yggdrasail]

Miss Wella! Thanks for the thorough reply and the positive energy. I am honored that you find it interesting! Yes we passed the catamaran just after squeezing through the bottleneck in the preceding scene. Their margins must have been very slim. Thankfully Yggdra only draw 2 meters (six foot eight) but our limiting factor was the depth. In the middle it is 2,8 meters and the seabed has a slope of 30 degrees.
The canal surely offers good training in maneuvering but the whole crew got the knack of it quickly and partly it felt like we drove on tracks. All the locks tunes the comfort around mooring as well but it was nice to have a few extra hands on deck.
She has a large engine and a tank capacity to motor across the Atlantic!
Despite that the canal experience was good fun, it was a blessing to be out on the West Coast and hoisting sails for real. Take care!