Baltic Layup

[pkershaw]

I'm planning a two summer cruise to Norway and the Baltic and propose to layup for the winter somewhere half way round the Baltic, preferably ashore undercover. Does anyone know of anywhere reasonably priced. I was thinking the former USSR States may be a good bet.

 

[Guest]

Hi, I've laid my boat up in Riga this winter. It isn't at all a normal thing for foreign yachts to do - we're one of the very first to do it (apart from foreigners who live there). Prices are very reasonable indeed.

Another possibility is Gdansk, where there are suitable places, I have heard (but not seen). In both Riga and Gdansk arranging a cradle may be an issue, unless you can bring your own.

St. Petersburg is not possible, mainly 'cos the Customs officials are likely to make life difficult. Riga and Gdansk on the other hand are of course EU. Tallinn should also be a decent possibility, though I haven't enquired about lay-up specifically.

 

[pkershaw]

Thanks for the help. Is undercover available or have you made other arrangements to protect your boat from the harsh winter weather?

 

[ponapay]

There are lots of good places in Sweden and mostly reasonable. Also in Denmark.

I have overwintered at Bullando (Varmdo 30 miles E of Stockholm) where they are very helpful. There is no under cover storage but you can hire a cover from them. Cost for 38 foot ketch for 6 months £565 including lift out and back. Its an easy bus ride from Stockholm and is a delightful kicking off place for a cruise E to St P or Helsinki.

Friends have overwintered in Mariehamn with great success, no under cover storage. Also in Helsinki.

We have spent 5 winters at Ega in Denmark. £450 for the winter including cradle hire and lifts in and out. Excellent assistance fom the HM and his staff. Good rates for berthing too. Easy access to the airport at Aarhus (30 mins by bus - 500 metres from marina), Ryan Air from Stansted.

You can buy a berth at Ega for about £2,000 and use it and then re-sell (the re-sell might take some time). Annual service charge is about £200.

PM me if you want more, but will be away sailing in the S Atlantic from early March.

 

[Guest]

Undercover is available, but the issue can be the availability of a trolley to manouevre yachts inside. In Riga this may only be available for yachts that are not very heavy/without particularly deep keels. Local yachts with deep keels that store inside tend to have cradles made up with wheels: ie. their own trolleys.

On the other hand, if visiting yachts start to enquire, then they'll probably start to invest in spare trolleys.

In Gdansk I understand that inside storage is also available, but I'm not sure about the trolley manoeuvring aspects. Obviously, for outside storage, a trolley is not necessary. The place that we spoke to in Gdansk said that inside storage is available, but local yachtmen supply their own cradles - I didn't get on to asking them whether they can manouevre the boat inside if the cradle doesn't have wheels. The place in Gdansk was somewhere that was recommended by a Polish yachtman, but no doubt there are other places, perhaps some may supply cradles.

 

[Guest]

Liepaja, Ventspils, Riga, Mersrags, Roja, Salaspils, Parnu, Tallinn ..... to name the most common.... in the Former Soviet States of Latvia and Estonia.

You will find very good rates in all and as long as you have a local to translate !! very friendly. I have a reace boat in Tallinn and have no complaints. (My Ventspils boat is hauled up now - but thats in my canal of the river ....)

The Baltic States on the East side are well worth the visit and I'm always willing to help anyone .... just PM me ..... (I might be a brit - but lived out for near 13 years ....)

 

[joe17]

Helsinki City council winter storage places are €7.50 a square metre for people not resident in the city (its 5€ for the locals). Of course that just gives you a plot of land, but with access to electricity and water depending on the location.

You would need to get a cradle and the necessary kit to put a tarpauling over the top. Not sure where you could rent a cradle from.

I know of only a few indoor places and they are in strong demand, with waiting lists I believe.

If you found yourself in Finland towards the end of the season then most of this would be possible to arrange by asking around, but I'm not sure if its possible to arrange it in advance from abroad.

Joe.

 

[pandroid]

You probably know this already but the CA publish a good layup guide listing most places, but its not heavy on the Baltic states.

There are plenty of places, but its best to book early (i.e before June), as the better ones get full. There's more inside storage than there used to be, with heated being the latest fad (usualy double inside prices). Denmark and Sweden are about £1K+ for inside in a professional yard, you can do it a lot cheaper if you want to go outside and 'cooperative', but it then depends on what you want for security.

 

[roger]

You can lay up in Mariehamn under cover at Zetterstroms - or could when I checked in 2003. The owner willl make up a suitable cradle. The shed is unheated.
There are many places to enquire about round Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Its best to enquire and take a look when you are there early in the season. Decide on a place and make a firm booking. Just like in te UK good places fill up.
The cheapset is probably to join a local yacht club and accept their haul out timings. You will probably be expected to do a day or so's work in addition to their modest fees.

 

[Jacket]

I left my boat at Roomassare Saddam near Kuressaare on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. Its a small harbour with excellent facilities, and two very helpful harbourmasters who speak excellent English.

The harbour staff carried out the whole laying up process for me, and the boat was in excellent condition when I returned the next year - including some repairs to the masthead that they carried out free of charge. And the cost? £86 for the whole winter!

Kuressaare's a lovely town in which to spend time, and I can't reccomend the harbour highly enough.