The Scandinavian and Finnish Cruise route

2007 was our most ambitious cruise, we set out to explore the lesser known watery byways of Scandinavia and search for adventure. We discovered it in spades and started a love affair with these northern waters and peoples. Our enthusiasm was infectious for family and friends all wanted part of the action so that we ended up with multiple rendezvous’ to pick up visitors for a couple of weeks each.
Our route is shown on the following link to Google Earth. You will have to zoom in and out quite a bit as there is a great deal of  detail and make sure that the boxes in 'Temporary Places" are ticked. The 2007 Cruising Route

We first did a circuit around, Sjælland Denmark to our first rendezvous in København.

2007 Season Part 1

The Great Belt Bridge - Now to find the right span.

Kerteminde

Kalvehave - Fishing Nets Drying

Nyord

Nyord - Famous General Store

Fossil Hunting on Mon Klint

Nyord - The Locals

Just Married, Mon Style

Kobenhavn - A lively berth

Changing of the Guard

Then up the west coast of Sweden to Oslo, Norway where we looked up old friends that we had not seen for 52 years!

2007 Season Part 2

Marstrand's Narrow Passage

Fjallbacka

Fjallbacka - Path to the Clifftop

Hanko - Navigational Challenges

A Tradition of Polar Explorers

Then back down the coast and across the centre of Sweden via Lake Vänern and the Göta Canal to the east coast to make our next rendezvous on the canal. Into the Baltic and up the east coast through the archipelago to Stockholm where the Tall Ships Regatta was just arriving.

2007 Season Part 3

Buvika Anchorage

Idyllic anchorage on Lake Vannern

Buvika

The Gota Canal - Godhogens Locks

Waiting to Pass at Nassjon

Sjobacka on the Gota Canal

At the Highest Point of the Canal

Gathering Flowers Along the Route

All Downhill Now

Ramon Island - too good to Leave.

Through the Baggens Staket - Back Door to Stockholm

Stockholm

Typical Swedish Architecture, Stockholm

Then on northwards and across the Gulf of Bothnia to the little known Åland Islands where a Viking gathering complete battle was occurring. Then through the Finnish islands and across the Gulf of Finland to Tallin in Estonia, mooring next to the Olympic Flame from the 1980 Games. Our next rendezvous was in Helsinki, Finland. We had contemplated sailing to St. Petersburg, Russia but the paperwork was so horrendous compared with catching the train that we left the boat behind and took the train for an unforgettable few days. Back then to exploring the islands around Helsinki before our next rendezvous in Tallin.

 

2007 Season Part 4

Feeling Small in the Yxlan Passage

A Viking Fair in the Aland Islands

In the Hold of a Cape Horner - the Pommern

A Finnish Summer Home on One of the Thousands of Islands

Tallin, Estonia - World Heritage City

Helsinki Yacht Club

The Deepest Metro in the World - St. Petersberg

Potemkin - St. Petersberg

We had planned to return by way of Riga, Latvia to Sweden but strong westerly gales were forecast for the next two weeks which would have meant that we were navigating shallow, shelving lee shores. So we decided that it was wiser to return the way that we had come. However ,the Göta Canal was now closed for the winter and we had therefore to circumnavigate southern Sweden. This turned out to be a wise decision as even the coastal route had its challenges with the weather that late in the season.

2007 Season Part 5

Moja Kyrkviken - Swedish Archipelago

A tricky Passage to Arkosund

Kalmar Castle

Saying hello to Hans Christian Andersen - Kobenhavn

Kristianshavn

We closed the loop at København, which was our next rendezvous. Then we sailed around the north coast of Sjaelland in very stormy weather to complete the cruise back in Århus almost exactly 6 months from when we started.
 

2007 Season Part 6

Kronborg (Hamlet's Elsinor) Castle

Rodvig

Storm Bound at Nyrup

Sunrise. Looking for the passage off Klintebgjerg

Wind Turbine Blades - One of Many Unusual Cargos

Approaching Aarhus and the End of the Season

Putting Enterprise to Bed for the Winter

And so to Bed....

Every day was an experience and many were very exciting. The route took us to places that felt isolated and unspoiled, for we were often the only boat there. The sailing season in these northern latitudes tends to centre on mid-summer (21 June) and by the end of August many facilities are shut for the winter; not that that prevents use of the docks. Apart from the weather deteriorating in September, we experienced the sudden fogs that are typical of the early October period.
It was a fabulous year and every leg deserves a chapter on its own.

For other Cruising blogs see the Archive links in the sidebar at the top of this page.
Other blogs of interest are The Retirement Dream and How to Live Your Dream

Technical Blogs are Nail Biting Experiences #1 Crossing the Bar , The Changing Nature of Sailing and Cruising and Yacht Docking Skills for Northern Europe