Gothenberg to Stockholm route

A

All_at_Sea

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Aug 2005
Messages
1,417
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
Anyone done this recently, We plan to do this next summer, any thoughts on west to east or east to west? Are there good places to stop with a young crew?
 
Via the Kanal or the coast?

There are a vast range of places to see on either route.
If serious, join the CA and their Baltic Section, who have the best information for the area. We did, and found it really valuable.
Went round the bottom and back through the centre,
 
Depending on how much time you have, the Bohuslan coast north of Gothenberg gets more attractive the further you go, and a diversion to, say, Marstrand would make a pleasant trip. I don’t know the canal or eastern Sweden but Bornholm’s east coast is worth visiting and there are pleasant places along the Swedish south coast such as Ystad.
 
Prevailing winds are mostly from west and south west, from that perspective going counter clockwise will likely give more relaxed sailing through the east coast archipelago.
As mentioned above, try to squeeze in some days in the area between Gothenburg and the Norwegian border.
 
Stockholm itself has plenty for the younger crew, and if you stay at the popular Wasahamn, the zoo, the Wasa museum (an early 17th century warship raised in remarkable condition) and the Gröna Lund amusement park are all right next door.

Stockholm archipelago has many beautiful anchorages where you can explore and swim from your boat, if your kids would enjoy that.

Next to the yacht harbour in Visby, Gotland there's an ice cream parlour with over 100 flavours :). And Visby is a fascinating medieval town to explore. The usual way to get to Visby is by following the ferries from Nynäshamn, but it's a long sail; if too long for your kids, the archipelago south from Nynäshamn to Västervik is beautiful and less busy than the Stockholm archipelago, then it's a shorter hop from Västervik to Visby. Then perhaps return to the mainland shore at Figeholm via Byxelkrok on the north tip of Öland.

We're based in Helsinki and haven't been farther than Byxelkrok, so I can't help with the rest, except to repeat the advice to join the CA. Their CAptain's Mate app (& web version) has sailors' reports about almost every harbour.
 
We sailed to Stockholm and back last year along the coast and there is so much choice you needn’t visit any harbour twice if you don’t want to. We found the detour via Gotland worthwhile.
Unlike your plans we didn’t include Gothenburg but came through the Kiel Canal, sailed north via the German coast and the Danish island of Mön which is highly recommended and on the way south went via Copenhagen and the Danish islands, Great Belt, Little Belt back to the Kiel Canal.
Friends we met en route returned via the Gotha Canal and found it beautiful but a hell of a lot of motoring and waiting for locks.
Whichever way you go, take your time and enjoy!
 
Just one summer?!! We planned on three and we're on our fifth!
The canals (there are two) are easier west to east. From Gothenburg the Trollhatten is basically a river with the magnificent four ocks to lift you smoothly up tens of metres nearish to the end. Then the lakes: astles of all sorts to moor in their moats. There are also lots of channels you can get the kids to practice steering if appropriate.
The Göta canal starts with a bit of up, but then is all down. Going down is relatively smooth compared with the roller coaster ride of the boiling water of a lock filling 😄.

There is a fascinating and child friendly industrial museum showcasing the adaptation of business/industry in harnessing the power of a three metre water drop between two lakes. Allow most of a day.

There is a motor museum at another lake. Allow a morning.

Allow a month for the canals, minimum.

But, as mentioned above, you will then have the prevailing SW wind to work against going south to Bornholm, a must. A castle and a day tripper bus pass.

Kalmar, another castle and an excellent chandlers; give them a couple of days notice and they'll get you anything.

Timing: the whole of Scandinavia goes on holiday July so everything is crazy then. Especially the beautiful islands north of Gothenburg.

Yes, the CA, Baltic section is worth every penny.

Apart from a few passages, it's all pilotage.

Enjoy
 
Great, thanks everyone. We have sailed to the Baltic before but have never done the canal through Sweden. We will be sailing from Portsmouth so will go through Holland and the canal to Delfzijl, then out and around to Brunsbuttel. We aim to spend about 90 days in total!
 
All_at_Sea said:
Great, thanks everyone. We have sailed to the Baltic before but have never done the canal through Sweden. We will be sailing from Portsmouth so will go through Holland and the canal to Delfzijl, then out and around to Brunsbuttel. We aim to spend about 90 days in total!
Click to expand...
Other things being equal, you are more likely to meet westerly winds later in the summer and if your luck is anything like ours, you may be forced to do the Dutch route on your return. For that reason, I would aim to get there via the outside route and save time. From the East Coast we could get to Brunsbuttel in a little over two days, though later we broke this up by going through Frisland, such as via Den Helder, Harlingen and Lauwersoog. Delfzijl-Norderney is better than via Borkum if your draft allows and in any case Norderney is a nicer place if weather holds you up. Our preference was to aim for Cuxhaven and then go to Rendsberg for the night to break the canal trip in two, and the YC at Rendsberg has a good bistro.
 
The Stockholm archipelago is huge. A must is Sandhamn, the Coves of the Baltic. On the west coast, there is nothing between Torekov ( where Hugh Grant spends summer) and Varberg. A true gem, with a slight detour, is Anholt. Is is a danish island in the middle of Kattagat, always full but always space for one more.
 
I am reading 'sailing in southern Scandinavia' by Martin Edge and one comment that took me by surprise was the cost of doing the canal route - c£800! Is this still the case and what do you get for your money? Do you get charged when you stop or is it free?
 
The canal fee varies with boat size and season, but the figure mentioned is about right for a boat of 9–12 metres length during peak season (July). Use of marinas and facilities, also electricity, along the canal is included in the fee.
Price & booking
 
All_at_Sea said:
I am reading 'sailing in southern Scandinavia' by Martin Edge and one comment that took me by surprise was the cost of doing the canal route - c£800! Is this still the case and what do you get for your money? Do you get charged when you stop or is it free?
Click to expand...
About right. But big discount if you join the Swedish sailing club. You get up to 5 nights in each marina free. For us it worked out at about £20 a night. The Trollhätten part is cheaper. All facilities are included.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top