Turku to Falmouth

wizzer

wizzer

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I am planning to bring my Channel Island 32 back from Turku, Finland to Falmouth when the weather picks up, most likely in May.
As you will see from some of my other posts, I bought the boat in October last year and she is being stored ashore, under cover at a small marina near Turku.
I am now looking at a passage plan for the 1300M journey and I have the Imray publication “The Baltic Sea & Approaches” and also the relevant charts on my iPad (Navionics). The plotter aboard the boat is a Raymarine C95 which I understand has all the relevant charts for the journey back to UK, I was also promised a fair raft of Baltic charts with the boat.
Has anyone got the necessary paper charts they would like to exchange for a mutually agreeable amount of beer tokens?
Also, I have read good things about the Cruising Association, would it be advantageous for me to join the CA or is it dedicated to sailing only?
The radar on the boat is rather old hat, Raymarine SL72. I will be changing this for a more modern version but probably not until back in UK as I suspect the kit, and fitting would be more expensive in Finland.
Any tips, tricks or advice welcome.
 
Appreciate that this is a mobo..but I would also ask over on Scuttlebutt..much more likely a sailing boat has gone this way...or at least part of it!
I would allow alot of extra time for poor weather in 32 ft boat and plenty of cash for those extra marina fees etc.
There is a boater down in Falmouth Port Pendennis who has done some MBY stories..I think he went to the Baltics from Falmouth...you could always phone the marina with your details and ask them to pass them on...
 

I pushed Trawemunde-Turku as follows.

1.Trawemunde-Simrishamn Night and diesel refueling - 2-Kalmar diesel refueling and night anchor Östra Eknö is in between (Oskarhamn-Västervik) - 3 - Nynäshamn diesel refueling and night Möja- 4-Turku. About 560nm, 15kn, 3 1/2 day.

You do not, of course, drive to Trawemunde but Kiel.

NBs
 

Hi

Some links make it easy to plan your trip, Consider early spring marinas are not open(But in general, it is ok to sleep overnight, no charge or any services), some fuel stations can be closed, as well as drinking water may be a problem getting a tanked boat in the tank....

Turku-Sweden VHF is TURKU MRCC mmsi 002301000 or chanel 16

Sweden costal VHF chart https://stockholmradio.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/VHF-kartan-Norden-2017.pdf

Here's the fuel stations in Sweden = local language in sjömacen.
https://www.sjomackar.se/omradesindelat

And Swedis marinas http://www.batsidan.com/hamn/

In this Danish Marinas, you can apply for separate fuel stations.
https://havneguide.dk/en

Germay marinas http://www.ostsee-marinas.de/ostsee-haefen/index.php

Germany Baltic sea fuel stations https://www.boote-forum.de/showthread.php?t=26498

Weather
https://www.dwd.de/EN/ourservices/seewetternordostseeen/seewetternordostsee.html

Nbs
 
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NBs said:
Hi

Some links make it easy to plan your trip...

Sweden costal VHF chart https://stockholmradio.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/VHF-kartan-Norden-2017.pdf

Here's the fuel stations in Sweden = local language in sjömacen.
https://www.sjomackar.se/omradesindelat

And Swedis marinas http://www.batsidan.com/hamn/

In this Danish Marinas, you can apply for separate fuel stations.
https://havneguide.dk/en

Germay marinas http://www.ostsee-marinas.de/ostsee-haefen/index.php

Germany Baltic sea fuel stations https://www.boote-forum.de/showthread.php?t=26498

Weather
https://www.dwd.de/EN/ourservices/seewetternordostseeen/seewetternordostsee.html

Nbs
Click to expand...

Very informative, I just need to translate where necessary
 
I can't help with Turku to Kiel but I have transited the Keil Canal five times and hence have done the UK to the Elbe five times. The canal is simple and relatively inexpensive. It can be done in one day with an early start but better IMO to take two days with a stop at Rendsburg or thereabouts. For mu money the trickiest part of the trip is from the Elbe to Borkum or Delfjil. This means getting the wind/tide in the Elbe estuary right. This is not a place to be trifled with especially with any wind over tide. Once out of the estuary you have quite a long passage to the first port of refuge. That is unless you want to take the Erskine Childers route inside the islands. With your air draft I believe there may be an alternative canal route between the Elbe and Eems.

Once at Delfjil (or Lauwersoog) if the weather is against open sea passages you have the option to take the inland route all the way to Vlissingen (Flushing) . If you have the time anyway this is IMO the way to go as the Dutch inland waterways are a real treat. Otherwise it is a fairly boring coast hop with a few possible stopping points. After Vlissingen I would continue along the Belgian coast with a possible stop at Nieuwport (I assume you won't have any red diesel in your tanks at that point) and maybe Dunkirk or Boulogne, crossing to Eastbourne and thence to Falmouth via the many potential stops along the south coast.

If you want to chat about any specifics please PM me.

Have a great trip.
 
I know nothing about your trip but I do know a fair bit about CI32s having owned one for about 10 years. A great boat that will look after you. Have a great trip and please take lots of pics to post here.
 
I’m very much looking forward to the CI32. I’ve owned many boats over the years including a Mitchell 31 I had built new in 2002.
My (other) current boat, a Seaward 25 has served me very well and is a superb boat in all respects. She is going to a new owner in Ireland as I just fancied the CI32 for a bit more room in the accommodation and an increased cruising range.
I am now considering my options for getting the CI32 back from Finland to Falmouth, including the option of transport on the back of a truck, the advantage of which would be that the boat would be here in the UK sooner and then I could do my usual trick of spending a fortune and a great amount of time on refitting and improving.
As the Spring gets closer, the option of motoring her home becomes more & more attractive. I’d love to get my wife & my dog over to Turku and we could then take our time on the way home. The logistics of getting a Jack Russel to Finland could be the stumbling block. I’ve not looked in to the practicalities of getting home over there but I would not subject him to the hold of an aeroplane.
 
wizzer said:
I’m very much looking forward to the CI32. I’ve owned many boats over the years including a Mitchell 31 I had built new in 2002.
My (other) current boat, a Seaward 25 has served me very well and is a superb boat in all respects. She is going to a new owner in Ireland as I just fancied the CI32 for a bit more room in the accommodation and an increased cruising range.
I am now considering my options for getting the CI32 back from Finland to Falmouth, including the option of transport on the back of a truck, the advantage of which would be that the boat would be here in the UK sooner and then I could do my usual trick of spending a fortune and a great amount of time on refitting and improving.
As the Spring gets closer, the option of motoring her home becomes more & more attractive. I’d love to get my wife & my dog over to Turku and we could then take our time on the way home. The logistics of getting a Jack Russel to Finland could be the stumbling block. I’ve not looked in to the practicalities of getting home over there but I would not subject him to the hold of an aeroplane.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Hi, remembering Turku there is a ship connection with Harwich once a week, it could be the best way to get a boat from the UK.

http://www.mannlines.com/ro-ro-ports-harwich.html

NBs
 
wizzer said:
I’m very much looking forward to the CI32. I’ve owned many boats over the years including a Mitchell 31 I had built new in 2002.
My (other) current boat, a Seaward 25 has served me very well and is a superb boat in all respects. She is going to a new owner in Ireland as I just fancied the CI32 for a bit more room in the accommodation and an increased cruising range.
I am now considering my options for getting the CI32 back from Finland to Falmouth, including the option of transport on the back of a truck, the advantage of which would be that the boat would be here in the UK sooner and then I could do my usual trick of spending a fortune and a great amount of time on refitting and improving.
As the Spring gets closer, the option of motoring her home becomes more & more attractive. I’d love to get my wife & my dog over to Turku and we could then take our time on the way home. The logistics of getting a Jack Russel to Finland could be the stumbling block. I’ve not looked in to the practicalities of getting home over there but I would not subject him to the hold of an aeroplane.
Click to expand...

It's the logistics of getting your JR back that's the problem. He is not permitted to return on your boat, more's the pity. We have 2 JRs and the limitationsof the pet passport scheme have prevented us from going back to France for the past 9 years. We did take them with us 9 years ago on a 4 month cruise, but getting them back was a nightmare involving family members driving and catching a x channel ferry and then almost being refused boarding on the return trip because the vet who was paid to ensure everything in the passports was correct neglected to put a date in one section. Never again!
 
Thanks to Longjohnsilver for the information regarding the feasibility of doing this trip with our Jack Russel, which it turns out is definitely not doable. What a shame. Having taken Jack out of the equation, that effectively rules out the wife too, as to leave Jack on his own, or in kennels, for 3+ weeks is not an option.
 

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Don't give up completely, it might be possible for your wife to travel back with him on the channel tunnel. I have been told this is possible, but have never checked it out. Also I believe that there might be one ferry company that permits dogs aboard in a kennel when traveling as a foot passenger. It's worth checking it out, especially if you plan to cross the channel in your CI32 somewhere near Calais, where you could drop off your wife and pooch and maybe meet up again on the other side.
 
It is a beautiful part of the world to explore by boat. If unable to make the journey home, why not take the opportunity to have a holiday while the boat is out there? You could then supervise the loading at the end of your holiday, have the boat shipped to the U.K. and fly home. It does seem like a great chance to explore some new cruising grounds and possibly leave your boat at a convenient port for shipping e.g. Helsinki, Stockholm etc.
 
We’re back.
Satava (near Turku, Finland) to Falmouth.
1482 nautical miles in 9 days
I was lucky enough to have the company of my old friend and ex colleague, Neil Brockman (retired Coxswain, Penlee RNLI).
As two retired lifeboat Coxswains together we made a great crew.
Night entrance to unfamiliar marinas in the Baltic was seamless.
Daily mileage was between 81 (last leg Brixham to Falmouth) & 254 (Ramsgate to Brixham).
We enjoyed the trip so much that we will be seeking some bespoke delivery trips to do together, motor or sail, wherever to wherever.
We posted on Facebook each day with a summary of the day’s trip, photos included, if you are interested in the details, look me up on FB; Paul Whiston.
“Perla”, my “new” Channel Island 32 performed faultlessly and kept an average speed of around 15 knots, using 2.5 litres per nautical mile. I am very impressed with her.
Got back to Falmouth on 25th May and on 27th my wife, my dog Jack and I set off for a short cruise on the South Coast for a few days.
 
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