Having visited the premier yacht club in Helsinki harbour in Finland, it was obvious we were going to have to spend a night at the Royal Swedish Yacht Club base at Sandhamn. This is after all, Cowes of Sweden. And while we were able to afford the berth, none of us could bring ourselves to pay an extra tenner for an electricity connection – seriously!
So no toast and marmalade in the morning ☹️
It was all a bit posh, and very commercial. The clubhouse has been turned into a hotel, and the pool, tennis and spa facilities are not available to mere itinerant sailors. Instead there was a bit of a walk to a shower and toilet block that was locked overnight – seriously again!
A ferry brings tourists to the island during the day, and there are some nick nack shops, pub grub and ice cream for sale, and some outlets selling sailing clothing at eye watering prices – well over 100 quid for a pair of shorts – seriously yet again!
Still, the well-heeled Stockholm yachtie-come-country-club set were all there for us to people watch, and it was interesting to observe, and I’m sure that in the Gotland Cup Week it’s all fabulous. I don’t expect itinerant sailors will find berths that week.
If we come back we will not be seeking membership here!
Mixing with royalty doesn’t sound like your cup of tea at all…cf the idyllic Vikingarnas Sailing Club; what a difference!