Peter Gustafsson's video: First 18 adventures

Western Sweden, and Bohuslän, has one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world. Thousand of small islands make it possible to find magical anchorages or private islands without going very far. But with a bigger boat, you’re somewhat restricted by the depth and play it safe when getting to unknown areas. So the first weekend in September, I got the opportunity. I sailed solo and had decided to explore the southern archipelago just outside Gothenburg. I had checked the weather and researched several possible spots where I could spend the night. Unfortunately, charts don’t work when the depth goes beyond 2 meters, but I found areal photos online where it was easy to see which beaches were accessible and possible routes between the rocks. Before deciding where to stay, I planned to sail in and out of the small coves and explore the beaches. I wanted to find one facing west so I could see the sun go down over Kattegat. It was a fantastic experience. Just taking the day as it came and not worrying about getting to a crowded harbor at a specific time. I was in the moment. Focusing on here and now. I managed to find a perfect little beach and got to sail straight onto it. It was just as fun, scary and rewarding as I had imagined. And I found it just 3 nm from my hope port. I have never seen it. Never even been to Galterö, which turned out to be a fantastic island. The guidebook stated: “the nature reserve Galterö seems a bit remote and gives the impression of wilderness… The beach meadows of the almost untouched island are a reservoir for numerous endangered plant species, fungi, and insects as well as breeding grounds for numerous bird species. During the summer months, sheep graze on the meadows to maintain their typical character and to keep them free of scrubs.” This was as exotic as coming to Santorini or Stromboli but in my backyard. I slept like a baby after watching the sun go down.