From the anchorage at Trossö, it was just 12 miles north to Strömstad and we initially took a relaxed approach to the trip. However, the realisation that today is Ascension Day somewhat accelerated the process and we decided that it would be best to get to Strömstad in plenty of time – in the event this was a good decision.
We motored the first hour or so to weave through some fairly intricate channels (with the wind on the nose), but then we pulled out about two-thirds of the genoa and the full main and had a cracking sail up the coast with the wind on the beam. We arrived in the harbour just before lunchtime and moored behind a very friendly Danish Hallberg-Rassy. However, that proved to be short-lived (the mooring not the Danish friendliness!) as a fishermen moved us on. It turned out that the sign which said guest harbour also had dates on it – 15/6-15/8. Sadly we have arrived before the 15th June, so we moved further down the jetty and went along side the Hallberg-Rassy.
Strömstad itself became part of Sweden in 1658, as part of the Treaty of Roskilde. This transferred the whole Bohuslän province from Norway to Sweden. These days though the Norwegians have invaded again – an invasion that has been led by motorboats and cars. The motorboats come to stay and drink (and apparently buy sweets/candy!) and the cars come to buy drink and drive it back to Norway again. It is simple economics – alcohol is a lot cheaper in Sweden, so they cross the border in droves giving the System Bolaget (state alcohol shop) the dubious honour of being the busiest in Sweden. There are apparently a lot of tourists for other reasons as well, but the motorboats and cars do seem to dominate the town …..