Sailing in Finland

[dar]

Where is the nicest sailing area in the Finland coast ?
What is the best quiet mounth to sail during the summer ?
Suggested itinerary for sailing one way ?
Names of charter company or brokers to contact with ?
Any more marine tips about sailing in Finland will be most welcome

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[roger]

I've only visited the Aland Islands. You can charter there in Mariehamn. Sorry I've no more details but it is possible.
Tips based on limited experience.
Take time to become familiar with Finnish charts. They use different colours and conventions. The rocks are hard and present in large amounts so mistakes in pilotage could be costly.
Take particular note of Finnish conventions with cardianl buoys. They are coloured black, white, blue and yellow! The black and white have the same significance as our black and yellow. The blue and yellow are reflective tapes indicating black and yellow by torch light.
There are no topmarks as they would get wiped off by the ice.
It's probably good practice to interest the crew in navigation. This could help to spot mistakes in pilotage.
Much of the archipelago has no depth markings. Keep to the marked channels.
In the Aland islands at least there are good shallow places to anchor with MUD. These are rarely used by the Swedes your main competitors for moorings in July (this is Swedens Holiday month).
In crowded areas leave marinas early and arrive early. That way you will find places available in marinas.

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[ponapay]

I have sailed there for the last two year and also in Sweden.

Quietest time is May and June, and there i often good weather then too.

Lots of lovely places to sail, start in the Aland Islands and go east into the Finnish archipelago. Don't miss Kallskar (in Aland Is).

It gets busy in July and Augut but is still great and the weather is hot enough to generate water spouts and mini tornadoes (had one in Estonia - luckily bows to wind, those on other side of harbour suffered, wind up to 75 knots for 25 mins).

The sea warms up quickly and bathing is very welcome.

Berthing is mostly bows to, either a rock with anchor astern, or in harbours to either a buoy or in boxes (posts astern).

The E Swedish archipelago is also lovely.

If you want more send pm and I will let you have phone number. Don't know anything about charter, but am told its is readily available.

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[Jacket]

Lovely sailing area. Just makwe sure you take a very good pair of binoculars. While the Swedes mark their channels with bouys, the Finns seem to rely on leading marks. The problem is, some of the straight bits of channel are over 5 miles long, making the marks at the end rather hard to see!

Its a lovely place to visit. I was there late August/early september. It was quiet, but the weather was rather changeable. I sailed from tha Aland islands (hire a bike in Mariehamn and tour the island- theres a very good outdoor museum next to the castle on the north island) and sailed east, before crossing to Estonia.

I can't wait to do it again (once I've got a boat slightly better suited to the trip!)

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