Stockholm Archipelago

[pecan]

Looking forward to a charter week around the Stockholm Archipelago in July 2016. We would like a mix of islands with some facilities but mainly away from the crowds. Various sites say it will be busy - any tips on routes or special islands? Anybody with copies of the English version of Arholma-Landsort and Gotland pilot book by Lars Hassler that they would be prepared to sell much appreciated. Thanks

 

[johnalison]

Sorry, no direct experience, but my friends who ahave done it tell me that the way to avoid crowds at their worst is to use the weekend to visit Stockholm, while every man and his family are out in the islands.

 

[VO5]

Pilotage note:~

Be mindful the sea bottom in the Baltic is peppered with iron ore, so keep a careful eye on your compass.
Also, all the islands in the Archipelago are rocks, usually very flat, some submerged. But there is no significant tide, so that's a plus.

 

[johnalison]

I've crossed places with alleged magnetic anomalies in the Baltic but never noticed any changes. Maybe it's more of a problem in shallower water.

The Swedish charts are very clear. Although my experience is only the western archipelago, I developed a technique which you may find useful. There are three kinds of rock, all of them rather hard. There are those which you can see, and therefore easy to avoid. Of those which you can't see, most are too deep to be of concern, say 2 or 2.5m+. The remaining ones, from 0.1 to 2m or so usually amount to no more than three or four within likely striking range of an average short passage, so I was in the habit of highlighting these on the chart and memorising them. After that, all you need to do is not hit anything you can see, or these few objects, leaving time to enjoy the trip.

 

[dslittle]

The Swedish charts are very clear. Although my experience is only the western archipelago, I developed a technique which you may find useful. There are three kinds of rock, all of them rather hard. There are those which you can see, and therefore easy to avoid. Of those which you can't see, most are too deep to be of concern, say 2 or 2.5m+. The remaining ones, from 0.1 to 2m or so usually amount to no more than three or four within likely striking range of an average short passage, so I was in the habit of highlighting these on the chart and memorising them. After that, all you need to do is not hit anything you can see, or these few objects, leaving time to enjoy the trip.

That is very good advice. We chartered there and THE ONLY bit of equipment on board was a compass. It was a good brush up on going back to basics...
That being said, pilotage was straightforward and there are some lovely places to visit. One thing it might be an idea to read up on is mooring up over there. Many places we visited had a pole for the stern line that you took as you went in so a boat hook/duck thing came in very handy. I can't remember the time of year that we went but it was not too busy but basic if you are used to South Coast sailing.

 

[NealB]

Sorry, can't help with pilotage books, but we went kayaking and wild camping there a couple of years ago.

Difficult to avoid cliches: it was stunningly beautiful, peaceful, deserted .... just wonderful.

 

[snooks]

Don't forget bug spray. I got eaten alive taking the onshore shots...

You'll be alright with a breeze, but when it's still, the mosquitos are quite determined when you go ashore.

 

[Resolution]

Looking forward to a charter week around the Stockholm Archipelago in July 2016. We would like a mix of islands with some facilities but mainly away from the crowds. Various sites say it will be busy - any tips on routes or special islands? Anybody with copies of the English version of Arholma-Landsort and Gotland pilot book by Lars Hassler that they would be prepared to sell much appreciated. Thanks

Pecan
If the weather is fine it is the most super place for sailing in the world.
Q1 Where are you collecting your charter boat? In a week this will influence which parts to aim for.
Q2 What sort of boat? Ideal size seems to be about 35 ft, fractional rig best as you will be doing a lot of short tacking.
Q3Check what navigation kit is in the inventory very closely. You will need to be navigating carefully so you know exactly where you are 100% of the time. The system of red and green posts on regularly-used channels is excellent but gets confusing at times.
Q5 Does the boat have BBQ kit on board, as everyone else will be perched up on a rock having a beer and a BBQ!
Do read up how to moor up nose first onto the rocks, and make sure your crew has done likewise. Or sit out at anchor and study how the locals do it.
Peter

 

[Neil_Y]

Too many to choose from, you can always find quiet spots it's just they are the challenging ones, just explore. Go in slowly with someone on the front end, you can get an idea of the shape of the rocks under water as they generally follow the shape of the rocks on the shore, but you will touch the bottom or it's not unusual to, just go slowly. If you are having a BBQ ashore best to build a fire in the woods, bbq's on the rocks are frowned upon as they crack the rocks, so they need to be on legs. This was a short trip last year, I'll be back again in July and August.

 

[Neil_Y]

The stepping on and off can be interesting with the boat we sail, narrow, no guard wires and a deck covered in sail! but she sails well. We did touch the bottom here.

 

[Neil_Y]

This picture shows how you can find the steep/deep bits close to shore, the broken rocks in the foreground are not good, and beyond the rocks are kind of flat but where we're parked there's a steep big lump, then all you need to find is a convenient step. Not sure if the charter company will give you these but if you know any rock climbers old nuts and hexes can be useful if you can't find a tree.

 

[pecan]

Pecan
If the weather is fine it is the most super place for sailing in the world.
Q1 Where are you collecting your charter boat? In a week this will influence which parts to aim for.
Q2 What sort of boat? Ideal size seems to be about 35 ft, fractional rig best as you will be doing a lot of short tacking.
Q3Check what navigation kit is in the inventory very closely. You will need to be navigating carefully so you know exactly where you are 100% of the time. The system of red and green posts on regularly-used channels is excellent but gets confusing at times.
Q5 Does the boat have BBQ kit on board, as everyone else will be perched up on a rock having a beer and a BBQ!
Do read up how to moor up nose first onto the rocks, and make sure your crew has done likewise. Or sit out at anchor and study how the locals do it.
Peter

Hi Peter,
We are picking the boat up in Stockholm, Morningside marina. It is a bavaria 33 2015. I am pretty sure includes chart plotter but will check equipment levels. Thanks for the tip ref bow to mooring.
Our rough plan is to visit a mix of islands, some with facilities, others more remote but wanting to know what part of archipelago to aim for as opposed to random option hence plea for pilot book. Have booked bbq kit and ordered mossie repellant! Thanks for your help.

 

[Latitude52°N]

Rented from Stockholm area the last three years, lovely sailing area. Most people spend the night in natural harbours using the stern anchor and bow to the rocks. In settled weather the outer skerries are perfect, low islands with little or no vegetation. The middle skerries are more sheltered. We had no trouble in finding safe spots for the night, most of the time we were spoilt for choice. Coming from Stockholm, you might like the route Vaxholm - Finnhamn - Rödlöga - Stora Nassa - Möja -Lådna ön - Stockholm, a mix of middle and outer skerries. Most rental boats have 'berg killar' - metal pins to hammer in a crevice to attach your front lines if there are no trees available.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[pecan]

Thank you Neil fro some great pics, cant wait to test how close we can get to rocks!

 

[pecan]

Useful info on shelter available in the outer and middle skerries and your suggested route much appreciated. We will focus our research on this route. Many thanks Latitude 52 N (where is the key for the degree !)

 

[bendyone]

Nice area

Watch out for these

and these

They come from nowhere

 

[VO5]

Nice area

Watch out for these

and these

They come from nowhere

There are lots of nooks and crannies in the Baltic for you to anchor or moor with shore lines.
However, be mindful of the tracks of nearby ships, as their wakes cause sudden unexpected swells that can be very disconcerting. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Boat441]

We spent three weeks cruising there. Amazing and would love to go back.

Loads and loads and loads of nice anchorages. Stockholm is amazing itself and the Vassa museum a must! We found direct flights on BA or KLM (cant remember which) from Heathrow to the main airport the best and overall cheapest; with a taxi into Stockholm. Raynair land somewhere near Norway, and Easy jet land no where near Stockholm!!

The further out you go the less inhabited and the quieter the islands are. Also the further out you go the higher the prices for provisions; so stock up well in Stockholm. Prices when we went were reasonable, provided you stayed away from anything that had more than 10% alcohol in it! Beer and wine were fine. Take bug spray!

Most mooring in bows too, with a kedge out astern. This will take a bit of practice. We weren't really set up for this; the kedge bit, so anchored "traditionally" a lot of the time and used the dinghy to get ashore. If you are mooring in marinas/docks, this is bows too, using a shepherds crook on a buoy for the stern line; easy once you have practised a few times. (Crew stand amidships, hook the bouy as you go past, and walk the shepards crook and stern line aft until you need to pay it out; try not to hit the dock with the bow!!!)

We had the cruising folios; but found a chart plotter a huge help due to the shear number of bays/inlets etc. After a day or two we hardly used the folios.

If you go walking around the islands, remember that "bears pooh in the woods", and so to does it seem the Swedish!! Lots of saunas on the islands that are kind of diy; great fun!

Swedish people were fantastic. Very friendly; but will leave you completely alone if you don't initiate conversation with them first. (Perfect!!!)

When we were there, south of Stockholm they had just opened up a military area and you could sail right past the submarine pens that are dug into the cliffs; very cool. Cant recal the name of the are; but some googling will probably bring it up.

If there is anything specific you want to know; don't hesitate to PM me and I'll try and find out for you.

Have a fantastic time; its an amazing place!

PS they say everybody hits a rock at some stage out there; just remember, they are rocks and not mud/sand like most of UK. You do tend to stop suddenly!!!!

 

[pecan]

There are lots of nooks and crannies in the Baltic for you to anchor or moor with shore lines.
However, be mindful of the tracks of nearby ships, as their wakes cause sudden unexpected swells that can be very disconcerting. Don't ask me how I know.

So now we need to know, why we're swells disconcerting?l

 

[pecan]

Mmmmm, should we take out the insurance rather than risk the deposit on hitting the hard stuff!