Proper Baltic Cruising Guides?

[Dockhead]

I'm in Finland for the summer, still awe-struck by the many-splendoured beauty of the Baltic, in which I am sailing for the first time.

But I am hard-pressed for decent reference material. I have fresh Navionics charts in plotters and IPlod, and am eagerly awaiting a full set of recently retired full-sized Admiralty charts from a friend who is the captain of an oil-field servicing vessel. But I have not been able to find any local equivalent to Reed's. The only reference materials I have are the RCC cruising guide, and a local directory of marinas -- in the wholly incomprehensible Finnish language. The RCC guide has helped me -- especially in Sweden -- but it deals exclusively with marinas, mentioning anchorages only to say, consistently, that you can't anchor here or there for whatever (usually bogus) reason. The data is all out of date; the telephone numbers mostly don't work; the port chartlets are hopelessly overtaken by events. There is mention of perhaps one port out of ten which actually exist. And the coverage gets very thin by Finland, where one suspects the authors didn't spend much time.

What to do??? Has no one written about cruising in these gorgeous places? Is there no almanac of any kind? What do people use up here?

I can't read Finnish, but German, Swedish, or even Russian would be fine, if there isn't anything in English.

 

[Joker]

Join the CA. Lots of information available from the Baltic Section, including cruising guides for most of the Baltic.

 

[BabaYaga]

For the Swedish coastline from south of Stockholm and southwards, this one in English:

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789189564...pilot-to-the-archipelagos-of-southern-sweden/

A similar book covering the Stockholm archipelago seems to be out of print, but might still be available from some retailers:

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789189564...o-the-harbours-in-the-stockholms-archipelago/

However, if you read Swedish there is plenty available. Suggest you start at the charts/books section at some of the online chandleries:

http://www.seasea.se/Start.aspx

http://www.hjertmans.se/articlegroup/hamnbeskrivningar

 

[Dockhead]

For the Swedish coastline from south of Stockholm and southwards, this one in English:

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789189564...pilot-to-the-archipelagos-of-southern-sweden/

A similar book covering the Stockholm archipelago seems to be out of print, but might still be available from some retailers:

http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789189564...o-the-harbours-in-the-stockholms-archipelago/

However, if you read Swedish there is plenty available. Suggest you start at the charts/books section at some of the online chandleries:

http://www.seasea.se/Start.aspx

http://www.hjertmans.se/articlegroup/hamnbeskrivningar

Thank you! But how about Finnish waters?

And is there not any kind of almanac, with current information?

 

[Dockhead]

Join the CA. Lots of information available from the Baltic Section, including cruising guides for most of the Baltic.

Thanks -- good advice. I've done so. Or at least attempted to do so. They've accepted payment, but have referred my application to a committee!! Now that's funny.

 

[oldvarnish]

The only reference materials I have are the RCC cruising guide, and a local directory of marinas -- in the wholly incomprehensible Finnish language. The RCC guide has helped me -- especially in Sweden -- but it deals exclusively with marinas, mentioning anchorages only to say, consistently, that you can't anchor here or there for whatever (usually bogus) reason. The data is all out of date; the telephone numbers mostly don't work; the port chartlets are hopelessly overtaken by events. There is mention of perhaps one port out of ten which actually exist. And the coverage gets very thin by Finland, where one suspects the authors didn't spend much time.

I assume you've downloaded the latest supplement http://www.imray.com/files/book_supplements/IB0148-S.pdf?id=1402225838

 

[Dockhead]

I had not! Thank you! I was not aware of these supplements.

Does not solve my problem, but it's very good to have the updates. I have a fairly big collection of RCC pilotage guides, so will keep this in mind. Thanks very much!

 

[pandroid]

Baltic Guides

Thanks -- good advice. I've done so. Or at least attempted to do so. They've accepted payment, but have referred my application to a committee!! Now that's funny.

They don't really refer you to a committee, they just need to check you are the 'right sort or chap' or chapess! (Actually, they just check you are applying for the right category of membership).

In terms of a guide, what you need is the Finnish Sea Scouts Guide: Finnish Sea Scouts Guide available from John Murinen. This has English text.

The Finns dont like to publish too much in English. The Finnish Archipelago is the nicest bit of the whole Baltic, and if they did, everyone would go there. If you want an overview of where to go have a look at my site http://www.kissen.co.uk/finland.asp

 

[BabaYaga]

Thank you! But how about Finnish waters?

And is there not any kind of almanac, with current information?

The Swedish Cruising Association (SXK) has recently published guides for sailing in Finland as yearbooks. Last year's issue (2013) covered the Åland archipelago, this year's (just out) covers the Åbo/Turku archipelago and northwards. You can join (but I don't think you have to in order to buy the books):

http://www.sxk.se/welcome-swedish-cruising-association

 

[Dockhead]

The Swedish Cruising Association (SXK) has recently published guides for sailing in Finland as yearbooks. Last year's issue (2013) covered the Åland archipelago, this year's (just out) covers the Åbo/Turku archipelago and northwards. You can join (but I don't think you have to in order to buy the books):

http://www.sxk.se/welcome-swedish-cruising-association

Tack! Mycket användbart!

 

[Dockhead]

In terms of a guide, what you need is the Finnish Sea Scouts Guide: Finnish Sea Scouts Guide available from John Murinen. This has English text.

The Finns dont like to publish too much in English. The Finnish Archipelago is the nicest bit of the whole Baltic, and if they did, everyone would go there. If you want an overview of where to go have a look at my site http://www.kissen.co.uk/finland.asp

Thanks! Sea Scouts guide in German, Russian, and English -- very good! I'll try to find a copy of it locally.

Cheers.

 

[steve_l]

The Finnish Sea Scouts guide is the one to get. Pandroid's site looks useful too.
You don't need to be in a harbour or marina overnight. Just find an empty piece of shoreline and moor bows to with a kedge off the stern. As long as you're not in front of someone's summer cottage you should be fine.
The stories about uncharted rocks tend to be untrue. Most of them have been found and charted by now.
The north side of the Åland islands is the prettiest side. The south side tends to be a bit bleak and desolate. Marked fairways are swept to the indicated depth. Leading marks are often just a painted white mark on a rock, especially in the inlets.
Finland is a wonderful place to sail and the natives are very friendly. Enjoy!

 

[Dockhead]

The Finnish Sea Scouts guide is the one to get. Pandroid's site looks useful too.
You don't need to be in a harbour or marina overnight. Just find an empty piece of shoreline and moor bows to with a kedge off the stern. As long as you're not in front of someone's summer cottage you should be fine.
The stories about uncharted rocks tend to be untrue. Most of them have been found and charted by now.
The north side of the Åland islands is the prettiest side. The south side tends to be a bit bleak and desolate. Marked fairways are swept to the indicated depth. Leading marks are often just a painted white mark on a rock, especially in the inlets.
Finland is a wonderful place to sail and the natives are very friendly. Enjoy!

Yes, my first night in Finland was spent with the anchor down in a random spot in the islands East of Helsinki. Nora Sandon, or something like that. I'm a little bit afraid of throwing the anchor out in such rocky terrain, but I picked a spot where there were no such dramatic peaks and valleys -- figuring that must be some kind of sedimentary deposit.

I would just like some hints -- I don't have time to explore the whole of this coastline in the couple of months I have. I will look forward to the Sea Scouts guide -- hope I can find it locally somewhere. Thanks.

 

[Dockhead]

Thanks again to whoever suggested joining the Cruising Association. There is a surprising wealth of information on there, and looks like even some events worth going to. Thanks!

And here is some more anchorages info I managed to dig up: http://www.archipelago.nu/SKARGARD/ENGELSKA/GULF OF FINLAND/anchorage.htm

Heading off to one of them in about an hour!

 

[KenMcCulloch]

You should also seek out a copy of Martin Edge's '105 Rocks'. Very entertaing as well as informative. http://www.edge.me.uk/Sailinghome.htm

 

[venntim]

Regarding nautical almanac, you don't really need one as there is no tides or current to speak of. Just keep water under keel, that's the only real issue when sailing our waters. You could also take a look at my blog (link below) as there is some cruising related stuff, for example http://balticsailing.blogspot.fi/2012/08/on-everymans-rights-and-winning-dram-of.html. Another blogs worth mentioning are www.sydolphindance.com and http://sail-in-finland.info. Hope this helps and welcome!

 

[Dockhead]

You should also seek out a copy of Martin Edge's '105 Rocks'. Very entertaing as well as informative. http://www.edge.me.uk/Sailinghome.htm

Fabulous!


I would also like to think the poster above who recommended joining the Cruising Association. I had no idea what a wealth of information there is there! I am really enjoying wading through it all; seems like a great organization.