Planning for the Baltic

[mattonthesea]

We are planning to cruise around the Baltic next year. As it will take us at least a month to get there, we are thinking of over-wintering there and coming back the year after. We are well versed in cruising (North Atlantic Circuit, Spanish Rias, Brittany, Scotland) but, as you can see, have never been East of Ramsgate. We have done some research but wondered if the forumites could give advice on issues particular to this area. Obviously, the B thing will have some bearing. We will have a Campa Potty

Cooking Gas?

Advice on getting a long keel into/out of one of those box mooring things?

Places to over winter for the more budget conscious?

Visas or other permissions?

Anything else?

Thanks in advance

 

[dunedin]

For heading to the Baltic for the first time I would strongly recommend joining the Cruising Association and attending their Baltic Forum in early 2020. That’s what we did and very worthwhile.
Huge bank of knowledge available online and through speaking to people.
Two specifics you asked:
- gas cylinders vary by country. Camping Gas very scarce in northern waters, more available in Denmark and Germany but very expensive. We took three full cylinders, and once paid £60 for a refill when we found one. Using electric kettle to make a thermos before departing shore power helps.
- excellent CA guide to where to leave a boat over winter. I asked everybody I could at the Baltic Forum and settled on Fehmarn, but lots of other options
Definitely worth the fees for a Baltic trip

PS I think you can get a discount on CA membership if referred by somebody, or via some boat owner associations - PM me if I can help. (No connection with CA other than recent member)

 

[johnalison]

Leaving the boat for the winter is obviously your best option. The are numerous places to overwinter, and storage under cover can be quite affordable. I know people who have overwintered at Burgstaaken on Fehmann a few times and been very happy with it. I have also been there myself and met the proprietor who was friendly.

No formalities are needed for the western nations but I am not familiar with the eastern lot.

Box mooring should not be a problem with a long keel, in fact they may be easier than a finger berth (though there are quite a lot of these too). I could go on for ages about it, but basically there is no single technique and some flexibility is needed. The first thing to say is that it is not necessary to aim for style marks by charging in and doing it in one go. I have often parked the boat between the posts in order to ensure the stern lines are attached before advancing to the pontoon, where there is very often a helper waiting. It is important to have one's lines ready fore and aft, and fenders deployed, though it may be necessary to have them on the side decks if the gate is narrow. Boxes are often longer than they appear, so long stern lines are needed. A single line with a generous bowline is best, and it is normal to place one's loop over another boat's if it is already there. Double lines use twice the ropes and are harder to control. A loop with a slip knot is the work of the devil, being both hard to undo and making it impossible for another boat to free from. In some conditions crossed stern lines help to locate the boat better.

Some means of disembarking or boarding from the bow is needed. Many pontoons are at deck level, but some are low.

Sailing in the Baltic is delightful, and the sun can be surprisingly hot and piercing to those sensitive to UV.

 

[stuarta]

From experience in the Stockholm Archipelago I’d recommend a reliable stern anchor. Not necessarily huge ground tackle but something that is easy to deploy when nosing into natural harbour ‘moorings’. The Scandinavians often use tape on reelable drums attached to the pushpit for this - simple and effective.

Similarly some iron/steel ‘pitons’ to use as ground anchors ashore and a short ladder to facilitate bow (dis)embarkation.