The Baltic

[cnh]

I'm intending to buy a Polish boat in July 2006, and collecting it in Gdansk. I was thinking of basing myself in Gdansk and spending some months cruising the Baltic. Anyone any comments/suggestions/recommendations?

Nicholas Hill

www.channelpilot.info

 

[Guest]

Hello Nicholas. Coming out of Gdansk you have the choice of turning left and heading to Sczeczin, or right and heading to Latvia. There is not much in between. Both options involve a longish sea trip, so on a new boat you may need some decent sea trials first.

My inclination would be to head East to somewhere like Liepaja ot Ventspils (if I remember correctly). In theory there is also Kaliningrad, which would be interesting, but you will need a Russian visa to go there, and from what I've heard it's not really geared up for foreign yachts.

The advantage of heading East are various: first you'll most likely have the wind behind you for the shake down cruise rather than beating along the exposed and harbour free Polish coast. Second, you can then go into the Gulf of Riga and visit some interesting places there (Riga itself, Ruhnu, which is fantastic, and Haapsaalu are great), and then cross over to say Hanko in Finland, and have the wonderful experience of heading west through the Aland islands and down the West coast of Sweden perhaps taking the 'inside route' through the islands. I did this this summer, then crossing the Baltic via Bornholm (definitely visit Christianso island!).

Also, if you have more time, St Petersburg is a fascinating place, but quite a long way out of your route. Note if you visit Kalinigrad and St Petersburg you'll need a double-entry visa.

If you need any information about Gdansk, then I may be able to help, but guess you've got that bit sown up!

Good luck!

Simon

 

[Guest]

Sorry, just noticed that you were talking about basing yourself in Gdansk for a bit. Be aware that, if you want to lay your boat up there at all, you will almost certainly need to source your own cradle - all the local yachtsmen own their own and there isn't a pool that can be hired out.

Both Ryanair and Wizzair (wizzair.com) are budget airlines that fly to Gdansk from the UK.

 

[trouville]

What boat are you buying?? ive seen many many super boats with Gdansk crossed out and Stokholm etc in its place. All super seaworthy and next year im looking out of interest!!
Why dont you go inland? the rivers and canals are great? lots and lots of empty moorings in the town centers try the kanal notecki or the wisla to Warszaw

Eat well in Gdansk!! stock up as the towns/cities in Poland,at least the few ive visited were great--no resurants but lots of macdonallds and pizzahut!!!!
Im sure i will be corrected!!!!!

You can eat very well and economicaly. The woman are stuning and freindly!! quite a few speak English and after a while very well indeed!

If you take the canal you will see Poland as it should be seen. In the mean time enjoy Gdansk its very spred out very freindly and very safe very good food very busy! and woman wowwwww!!! Forget the rest of the Baltic!!!!

 

[Guest]

If it's high concentrations of absolutely stunning girls you're after, and more delicious restaurants than I think you'll find anywhere, then forget Gdansk, come further up the Wisla to Krakow!

 

[trouville]

Ill ask now-- any idea where to get charts of the rivers canals? All the rivers "look" "tame" but looks can be deceptive?
I will be in Krakow next May? cant wait!!Before the EEC ruins the true Polish traditions and life.Its a pity the comunists were so dominent for so long as it is,
I hope by then i can get a pay as you go card with the 1giga for i forget tarrif!

At first ill stay in Gdansk and use the exellent railway with a half price card? once i find some one that can help me with the translation (ask for it at the station info) shouldent be a problem! But where to stay when off the boat????

 

[Guest]

On the Wisla it's probably more a case of following the buoys - there are certainly red and green ones in Krakow. There must be loads of charts of the Mazurian Lake area available.

Here's one resource for charts: http://j.neostrada.pl/mapy/ not sure how they square it with copyright issues...

When you get to Krakow, drop me an e-mail, we could meet for a coffee!

 

[cnh]

The boat is a Huzar 30:

http://www.huzar.co.uk/

I had thought of doing some day sailing or going over to Gydnia for a shakedown cruise. Given the price of airfares, bringing some crew over from the UK and doing some more general Baltic cruises. Legs of 100/200 miles no problem with a crew.

What are the prevailing winds and weather in July/August/Septembeer, and when does it start getting really cold? [I'm ordering a Webasto heater!]

 

[Guest]

Nice boats! I saw the reviews and liked very much what (I read of) the philosophy behind them.

From memory of the chart (I didn't visit Gdansk by sea), it's about 120Nm from Gdynia to Latvia, quite do-able. I don't have the weather statistics or a pilot guide to hand, but think that the general trend is Westerly-ish then. Heading back against the prevailing winds through the Finnish Swedish islands is not a problem, as the wind is always off some kind of land, and you'll be zigzagging so much anyway and have such lovely scenery that you'll barely notice the tacking!

If you want to visit St Petersubrg, you have to go non-stop from whicheverFinnish passport control you choose. The nearest is Haapasaari, about 90Nm to St Pete's. Personally I'd definitely divert down to Riga, which is a bit out of the beaten track, but interesting for that, and a lovely place in itself.

Of course, the fastest way to Blighty is to beat your way to Sczeczin, but that rather misses out on most of the best bits of the Baltic.

It's getting cold about now, there are not many boats left in the water, and the weather could start to freeze at any time. At the moment though it's about 13 degrees. But the weather can change fast. I have left it a bit late getting my own boat out of the water, will do so next week, and I have a nagging concern that the river where she is could freeze up before that if a cold spell came.

Of course, Sweden and Finland get colder earlier, and Swedish harbours empty magically and inexplicably (and most yacht harbours close down) on 21 August.

 

[trouville]

True!!This year some freinds have sailed untill the end september and another untill last week! Swedish harbours are empty almost always except july when a motorboats come out!

Looks a nice boat!I would leave it in Poland at first and sail to Finland then around the baltic states back to poland.

The baltic has lots of pyramids at sea at least thats what the wave look like they come from one direction in gereral but every direction as well!!better just clipon even in the cockpit as a sudden lurch and you could fall out!!!

The other thing is that for some reason my bow meets the sea in a way that spray and sea is sent aboard!! I wear a sowester hat and wet weather gear for any passage more than 3/4 hours

Gdansk is a fantastic bay both inside and out with long white sand beaches full of wonderful girls sunbathing or swiming and lots of cafes you should plan when you arrive.

How do i say in Polish;

I would like a halfprice card please

How much dose it cost?

Would you write the price for me please

Is this photgraph alright?

Where can i get an identety photograph

Thank you

how do i configer gprs?


If this can be interpreted to polish i will copy it on to cards!! Very useful

The links wonderful!! thank you all copied

I will come to krakow wether by boat or train im not sure but visit i most certainly will!! And when i get there i will PM you via idea gprs!!!

 

[Guest]

Here's some totty I spotted sunbathing in Gdansk (well, Sopot actually, but it's a sort of Gdansk suburb) this July:

The discount cards on the Polish railways are generally only available to Polish students, unless you've found some special offer I haven't heard about, but here's the translations of your phrases in the order you asked:

Ja chcialbym kupic karte ze znizka (Pronounce like: "Ya hcheeawbim koopeech karte se znizhkon")

Ile kosztuje ("Eele koshtooye")

Prosze napisac cene ("Proshe napeesach tsene")

Czy to zdjecie jest OK? ("Chee to zdenchiye yest OK")

Gdzie moge sobie zrobic zdjecie legitymacyjne? ("Gdzyie moge sobiye zrobeech zdyencheeye legeeteematseeyne")

Dziekuje ("Chinkooye")

Jak moge urochomic GPRS? ("Yak moge urokhomeech GPRS")

Put the stress on the second last syllable of each word, and where there's an "e" on the end, pronounce it distinctly as in "red".

Yes, do drop me a line when you get here, I'll most likely be around then /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[trouville]

Thanks!It was my son that told me about the half price card but ive been told that there is such a card for everyone no matter weather student or pendler old (under 50 not pensoned or even Italians that retire at 36!)Now i will print ir and present it to the rail info office!!
The train stations i might add are fantastic! really works of art but im amazed at the cafes which have signs saying open 24h and then close from 11pm untill 11am!!!!

If you want to see woman just wander along the white sand bay the strong baltic breez cooling the bathers who still take the sun just as we did before the EEC told us not to!!!umm Polish woman will rule the world one day!

One i metone: 5foot 7, female shape, 53killos, size 38!! in a short dress, i say all that as she had studied bridge building and was incharge of a project!!and wanted to improve her almost perfect English to work with English speaking project teams in other countrys!!Polish woman will go far!and be succesful-in fact the modern Polish army---and they were the best there was!!

 

[Guest]

Well, yes, all you say about the female of the Polish species is without doubt the truth, but don't tell anyone else or they'll all want one. I'm especially lucky as my g/f is probably about the most stunning specimen of the species in Krakow - and that pretty much means in Europe - both visually and in terms of charming character, very talented etc. And on top of all that she's the best cook I ever met... I think I must have done something very good in a previous life.

 

[Spacewaist]

If you'd prefer some company, happen the Ocean Crusing Club plan a rally in the Baltic next summer. Nice poeple and an easy paced cruise round the E Baltic States.

Contact via the Following link: OCC