1/18
4 Dates
From £570 GBP today (£1,900 GBP total)
Can you imagine a place with hundreds if not thousands of islands? A place still unspoilt and unexploited by tourism? A place with a fantastic and completely unique nature? We have been sailing around experiencing many beautiful places in this world and it’s useless to put them in any order but the uniqueness of the Finnish Archipelago is undeniable, there just isn’t any other place in the world that offers such a rich cruising ground. Shaped by masses of moving ice and water during the Ice Age it presents a myriad of small islands, channels, skerries and hide-outs for yachties looking for something out of the ordinary. Far away from mainland Europe and up in the Northern Baltic this place has presented it’s beauty to those brave few that have dared the long miles to reach this remote destination. It only reveals its sunny and gentle side for a few months in the summer and then retrieves back to its long winter sleep. It’s all about timing. Our summer cruise is ticking all the boxes for sailing the Archipelago. As our Swan 51 has a draft that excludes a great number of channels, anchorages, and sweet spots we are using our shallow draft Bavaria 50. She is also designed with 5 cabins, a large cockpit and saloon for cosy evening gatherings and other comfort features. As this is not a race but rather a chill summer cruise she is perfect for the purpose. We have a long solid knowledge of the area and our skippers can fill you in with the natural, cultural or historical context of the landscape passing by. We will explore the rugged nature, small coastal villages and remote islands with their anchorages completely subject to your preferences. The Archipelago also offers lots of sweet spots with fantastic local cuisine that shouldn’t be ignored. The level of service out there has gone miles during last years. We could easily find a local restaurant for evening dining in most places. That said a solitary anchorage with a self prepared dinner also has it’s charm. In general July is the best time to go concerning weather. During that period of time it’s good to make reservations, something we can do in advance for maximum comfort and experience. We are also happy to organise transport from the airport in Helsinki and advice you in every way to make your holiday as smooth as possible.
A chance to explore the Finnish Archipelago, one of the largest island networks in the world and still largely off the radar for non-Nordic sailors. It’s quiet, wild cruising among thousands of skerries and islands that most international yachts never reach.
A beautiful, secluded anchorage. Picture by Henry Schneider
A 50 miles sail to the coastal summer town of Hanko, a place where sailors hang out in the summer. Hanko offers lot’s of things to see and a fantastic line up of sea-side restaurants. It’s also a gate to the Archipelago Sea and after this stop there is plenty of options.
A 35 miles sail to the wonderful island of Högsåra which is almost a must. This island paradise offers fantastic local cuisine that has been a big hit for most of people sailing with us. For comfort and convenience mooring needs to be reserved in advance.
Next stop could be Kökar or Sottunga. These islands are located at the Åland Islands that are an autonomous part of Finland with their own flag. Kökar has remains of an old Dominican monastery that reveal its long historical past all the way to the Middle Ages.
Next day could be a visit to Nauvo, a larger island in the inner archipelago also with lot’s to offer. Maybe have a dinner at restaurant L’Escale? Nauvo is a 3 – 4 hours sail away from Turku. This stop-over could also be changed into a anchorage and a cosy evening on the boat.
A sail to the coastal city of Turku. It’s a reasonable sized city with lot’s to offer. The marina park up is along the river in the immediate closeness to the city center.
Southern Ocean Company Southern Ocean Company has been taking people sailing, racing and across oceans since 2009. Our idea has always been simple: offer genuine sailing experiences on proper yachts, with small crews, active participation and the freedom to enjoy sailing for what it really is. We are not a conventional charter company or sailing school. Our programme ranges from offshore races and international regattas to ocean crossings and relaxed cruising in some of Europe's most beautiful sailing areas. Depending on the adventure, we sail aboard our Swan 51 Eira or our Bavaria 50, choosing the yacht that best suits the character of the trip. At the heart of our offshore and racing programme is Eira, a German Frers-designed Nautor Swan 51. Built in Finland and designed for serious offshore sailing, she combines the craftsmanship and character of a classic Swan with the performance, strength and seaworthiness for which these yachts have become known around the world. Eira has been part of Southern Ocean Company since 2009 and has accumulated an extensive sailing history ranging from ocean crossings to some of Europe's and the Caribbean's best-known regattas. Rather than moving her from event to event by other means, we sail her whenever practical. The passages, changing coastlines and people joining along the way are as much a part of her story as the races themselves. Our cruising programme has a different rhythm. Aboard our Bavaria 50, including our Finnish Archipelago adventures, the emphasis is on discovering places that are best experienced from the water. With a small number of guests, we can remain flexible, explore islands and anchorages away from the usual routes and let weather, curiosity and the crew help shape the journey. Whatever the yacht or destination, life aboard is hands-on. Guests are welcome to helm, trim sails, navigate and take part in the everyday running of the boat. On an ocean passage this can mean watchkeeping, night sailing and learning to live as a crew far from land. During a regatta the focus shifts towards teamwork, boat handling and getting the best possible performance from the yacht. On a summer cruise it may simply mean taking the helm for a few hours before finding a quiet anchorage for the evening. You don't need to be an expert sailor to join many of our adventures. What matters more is curiosity, a willingness to participate and an understanding that sailing is a shared experience. For our more demanding offshore races and ocean passages, previous experience may be required. We deliberately keep the atmosphere informal. Seamanship and safety are taken seriously, and when we race, we race to do well. But sailing is also about the people you meet, dinners after a long day at sea, quiet anchorages, conversations during night watches and the friendships that have a habit of developing when a small group shares a boat. Some people join us for their first real sailing adventure. Others come to race, build offshore miles or cross an ocean. Many return for another chapter. We're going somewhere. Come aboard for part of the journey.
Seb and his Swan 51, Eira, have been part of the charter racing scene since 2009. On board you’ll find the right balance of competitive racing and a friendly, welcoming crew. Between regattas, Eira runs some excellent sailing itineraries as she moves between race venues.
Your specific vessel is assigned based on your selected dates. All vessels meet our high standards for comfort and safety.
Bavaria - Cruiser 50
LOA: 49ft (14.99m)
Beginner
No sailing experience required. Perfect for newcomers.
Intermediate
Some sailing experience helpful. Comfortable on the water.
Advanced
Significant sailing experience required. Challenging conditions.
Active Crew Member
Full participation in all sailing activities.
Optional Involvement
Participate as much or as little as you like.
Passenger
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
No
All meals and cleaning are taken care of
12
This is a relaxed sailing trip with stop-overs in scenic places, a laid back holiday cruise around one of the most beautiful places in Northern Europe. Expect long white nights, swimming, trying some local produce in cosy eateries along the way.
No optional extras
Tried and tested sailing experiences, from our pick of the world's best operators
All our trips are led by qualified skippers and sailing instructors
We only work with the most reputable sailing operators and yacht providers
Perfect for solo sailors looking to join a crew or groups wanting to charter
Our team is on-hand 24/7 to help you before, during and after your adventure
From £1,900 GBP per person
Secure your place today from £570 GBP
Prices shown in USD are approximate conversions, using today's conversion rate. This trip is priced by the operator in GBP and payment will be taken in GBP.