• Finland has, depending on the method used, somewhere between 55,000 and 188,000 lakes, and nearly 3000 miles (4830 km) of coastline, of which lie more than 80,000 islands including the Åland archipelago. Cruising opportunities are infinite, either through the many islands or on the lakes, the larger of which are navigable.
• With a reputed 6500 islands, the off lying Åland archipelago is a world in itself and is an autonomous region.
• The Aboland archipelago is the largest archipelago in the Baltic and with its multitude of islands and rocky islets extends towards the sea for 100 km south-west of Turku. There are numerous guest harbours and yachting facilities to match.
• Unfortunately, the sailing season is very short, usually from the beginning of May till the end of September, although the summer days do benefit from almost perpetual daylight.
• With a highly developed and top quality boat building industry, many foreign visitors only sample the cruising delights of Finland when they arrive to take delivery of their new boats and then sail them to warmer waters.
• Most coastal towns have visitors’ harbours and yacht clubs usually have a few berths reserved for visitors. The Archipelago Sea and the Åland Islands have a very extensive harbour network with harbours or other facilities to be found every 10-20 nautical miles. Guest harbours are more infrequent in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. A useful source of guest harbours is www.guestharbours.fi
• The standard of services varies and repair facilities are available only in the largest ports. With a developed boat-building industry, producing some of the best yachts in the world, repair facilities are of a high standard. The most comprehensive range of repair facilities is to be found in and around the capital Helsinki.
• Other yachting centres are at Turku, Hanko, Rauma, Loviisa and Pietarsaari, the latter being the home of the famous Swan yachts. Good facilities are also available in Åland with several marinas, the largest in the capital Mariehamn.
• There is a concerted effort in order to update and standardize the ports along the Gulf of Finland, both in Finland and Estonia. This project is known as the 30Mile Project. Expected improvements include updates to docks, electricity, water, basic facilities, and other sustainable port activities.

Read and Post Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).

---

Offline Access (Downloads)

Select your download option below

This feature is only available to Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access port and formalities downloads.

---

Special Offers for Noonsite Members

This feature is only available to Basic and Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access special offers.