Finland

Guest blog – July

July 21, 2019February 17, 2020adminLeave a Comment

This month’s guest blog is from the visiting crew of Mazu, currently in Sicily, via a transatlantic crossing last year. We’ve had so many super sailing adventures with these two, and it is such a pleasure to invite them on board in return. They say they wanted to cool off from the Med, and we […]

Rodhamn

July 20, 2019February 17, 2020adminLeave a Comment

Just outside Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland Islands, is a little treasure of a harbour, another of our racing Finn’s top tips. We managed to squeeze our bow into the pontoon and pick up a stern buoy, then set off for the harbour master’s office to pay our fee. The aroma of freshly baked […]

Island Odyssey

July 19, 2019February 17, 2020admin1 Comment

There are two marinas in Hanko, the port at the tip of mainland Finland, and an essential stop before heading out to the Åland Island archipelago. We chose the island marina, set on rolling granite rock, with wild flowers growing in the cracks, and wooden walkways to the sauna. It was very nice indeed. A […]

Heading West

July 18, 2019February 17, 2020admin2 Comments

It was pouring with rain as we met Hope and Howard off the evening train in Helsinki, and not the best welcome for two sailors coming from the climate in Sicily. But by morning, the skies had cleared, and our destination of the small harbour of Lahteela to the west made for a good sail, […]

St Petersburg or bust

July 8, 2019February 17, 2020admin2 Comments

The plan had included a visit to St Petersburg ever since Karen found out it wasn’t easy….. But all up the coast from Denmark through Sweden and Estonia to Helsinki, various sailors we met shared their stories of all the ways it could all go horribly wrong. So we wimped out and bought train tickets […]

A wash and brush up

July 2, 2019July 13, 2020admin2 Comments

After four days island-hopping along the Finnish coast reacquainting ourselves with the joys of ‘love hut’ dry toilets, we were all in serious need of a long hot shower as we reached Helsinki. These huts on Kaunissaari are actually quite upmarket. The previous days heading west had provided some exhilarating sailing, beating in 20-25 knots, […]

Guest blogger!

June 29, 2019February 17, 2020admin3 Comments

Well ahoy there sailors!! I am your guest blogger for today… Ian and I joined Karen and William on their Baltic adventure last Sunday and we’ve been having fun in the sun… and rain..😱 Finland is an awesome place and exploring the islands has been lovely. The sunsets have been incredible – and it never […]

June 28, 2019February 17, 2020admin1 Comment

We’ve been in Finland for about a week, and we have crew! Ian and Mary joined us in Porvoo, Finland’s second oldest town, and at one time an important port. It is full of pretty painted wooden houses, lined along a peaceful river. Lots of tourists visit on day trips from Helsinki, some by bus […]