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Why
did I name my boat "My Dream"? Growing up on the peninsula of HURUM, causes one
to develop an interest and fascination of the sea and forest, which was often
passed on from generation to generation. This was more or less the only pastime
available for the youth in those days.
We 'always' used to have a boat, in which my family and I would use as soon as
an opportunity was there, whether it was on holidays, for fishing, gathering of
fire-wood, or just for the pleasure of being at sea.
At 15 years of age, in the divine year of 1963, I bought my first boat. This was
an old rowing-boat with a 3 horsepower engine on it. It lasted for many years,
and I recall many found memories of using it both summer and winter time, but
for any long journeys I was required to use my parents larger boat. In 1973 I
finally bought my first "real" boat. It was a "Skaarkrysser", and was named "Marianne"
after my first daughter. The boat was originally equipped with a sail, however,
it could not be classed as a sailboat. But with good wind conditions, I could
occasionally sail it on broad reach or wind from behind. I had this boat until
1977 when it was sold on. 
Marianne. This
was followed by a long period of not having any boat at all. Until I bought a
motorboat built of pine tree called "Barkebilla" ("The Beetlebug"), which to me
and my family's joy were kept for a few years. All this time, the DREAM of owning
a proper sailboat and exploring the world never let go. 
Barkebilla.
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Then,
a summer a few years back, I borrowed a boat that a mate and I were going to use
for a weekend. In good company one evening in Son (a small village in Norway),
I accidentally mentioned this DREAM for a friend. She would then tell me that
a couple she knew had a boat in Bahamas, as was planning to sail the Caribbean
Ocean for a few months, and she would happily get me in touch with them. This
resulted in a meeting in Oslo with this couple, Kristian (Kris) Kjoelner and Elisabeth
(Bettan)Vonstett, and a deal was made. I was to meet up with them, and sail S/Y
Fruitcake around the Bahamian waters.
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Bettan | I
flew to Marsh Harbour in The Bahamas in January 2000, and was welcomed with flowers
and like by Bettan and Chris. We sailed from the islands of Abaco south towards
Georgetown on Exumas, where I returned back to winter-Norway. This to me was an
amazing experience, and of course nurtured the DREAM further. During
the summer of 2000, I attended a 1-2-3 sail course at Norsk Seil og Navigasjons
Skole (which receives my highest recommendations). And the next step was naturally
to hire a boat in Greece, and put these newly developed skills to a test. There
were 3 of us, my girlfriend, Solveig, my oldest daughter, Marianne, and myself,
hiring an Atlantic 32, that we spent 14 days sailing between the islands of the
Greek Cyklads. During the summer of 2001 I finished another, more extensive course.
This was classed as Step 4, and involved sailing from Lysekil to Skagen-Anholt-Grenaa
and to return to the Swedish coast and Lysekil again. Again this was with Norsk
Seil og Navigasjons Skole on a Overseas 42 with Aksel from Moss as skipper, which
I found to be a very nice and proper guy. Again we hired a boat in Greece the
following autumn. We hired a Bavaria 42 and sailed the Cyklades for two wonderful
weeks. During the first week I was accompanied by a few colleagues from Statfjord
B, and in the last week I had Solveig and Marianne as company. This was followed
by a Coast Navigation Course and the DREAM was now visible in the horizon. I sold
my house in Filtvet, and an order of a Bavaria 44 was put in. It was to be delivered
in Koper, Slovenia, in February 2002. Terje Lindhagen from Noetteroey and I flew
down to sail her to Athens. The DREAM was now materialised and the name was obvious,
"S/Y MY DREAM". Pictures and a travel-diary Koper-Athens is supplied on this website.
Eventually
I also finished the remaining courses and exams to qualify as yachtmaster
offshore, which allows me to use leasureboats over 15 m, and up to
50 000 kg, and in sailboat terms that would be approx. 75 feet. All
the courses where at Norsk Seil og Navigasjons Skole (Norwegian
Sail and Navigation School), which I have been very pleased with..
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