It’s only been a week since our last episode, but when we went bi-weekly, I promised an interview every two weeks. Episode 140 is a live seminar I recorded from Toronto on Sailing the Baltic. Not an interview, of course, so sort of a bonus episode this week. I highly recommend going to 59-north.com/baltic to follow along with the slides from this talk. You’ll also find a load of show notes and links that will be useful if you ever plan to sail in the Baltic yourself.
In this episode, Mia and I discuss sailing in the Baltic from our own perspective. We spent three summers in the Baltic on Arcturus, mainly sailing the Swedish coast, but also covering the Baltic islands of Aland and Gotland. This talk is full of practical notes and inspirational stories from our experiences there.
Before we get to it, a few notes from us. Many of you have requested lists of books I talk about, and I finally got around to building a books page on the website. Go to 59-north.com/books to see all my favorites, sorted by category - some technical, some inspirational, and some having nothing at all to do with sailing! There’s also a form there if you have any you want to recommend yourself!
Show notes
Topics covered in the podcast (including links)
- Where is the Baltic?
- Warm weather thanks to the Gulf Stream
- West coast of Sweden (though not part of the Baltic)
- ARC Baltic – A six week cruising rally hosted by World Cruising Club
- When to sail the Baltic?
- The long nights during the summer in Sweden!
- Basically no tides in the Baltic
- Swedish way of anchoring – stern anchor out and bow lines tide ashore
- Naturhamn (nature harbor)
- DIY approach in Sweden
- Operating the mast crane on our own
- Pay marina fees like a parking ticket - Bucket grill – bbq on the rocks
- Sweden's unique Right of Public Access (Allemansrätt)
- Båtsportkort – charts we use in Sweden (link in Swedish)
- Orust and its boat building history - HallbergRassy, Vindö, Malö, Najad.
- Öppet Varv – Boat Show at the HallbergRassy yard in August every year.
- Café culture in Sweden
- Sauna culture in Finland
- Seafaring history in Finland and the square rigger Pommern
- Cape Horner association
- Ålandspannkaka (Åland pancake) – special desert in Åland
- Af Chapman, tall ship rebuilt to a hotel and hostel in Sthlm
- KSSS – Royal Swedish Yacht Club
- Millenium Triologi – book of Stieg Larsson
- Archipelago Foundation (Skärgårdsstiftelsen) and their work in the island
- Göta Canal – canal through Sweden, don't need to take your mast down!
Places mentioned in the podcast:
- Island of Orust
- Island of Marstrand
- Island of Ven
- Island of Gotland and the city of Visby
- Åland Island – Mariehamn / Rödhamn / Länsmansgrund
- Sandhamn
- Biskopsön (link in Swedish)
