Surrounded by the North Sea on its West Coast and the Baltic Sea on its east Sweden forms half of the Scandinavian Peninsula. With its carefully maintained pristine beauty and stunning natural environment the waters of Stockholm remain clean, clear and very beautiful to sail. Sweden offers a variety of sailing options the main centres of which are concentrated in Gothenburg on the west coast and Stockholm on the east.

Through the summer months (June – September) Sweden offers the yachtsman an incredible opportunity to explore some of the most interesting cruising areas in the world. Whether you prefer calmer protected waters or the challenge and exhilaration of offshore sailing Sweden will exceed all expectations.

Stockholm Archipelago

Situated on the Swedish East Coast near to the capital city of Stockholm is the Stockholm Archipelago.

Consisting of approximately 24,000 islands and islets, many of which are completely uninhabited this fabulous cruising area is a popular Swedish holiday destination and has many well equipped harbours and ports. Restaurants, bars, and hotels sit amongst picturesque natural harbours. Small communities and fishing villages make interesting stop-offs and the area plays host to an abundance of wildlife.

Stretching all the way from the coast of Finland, the Stockholm archipelago is part of a larger archipelago, by far the largest in the world, comprised of over 100,000 islands. Some of these islands are mere rocks managing to peek above the surface of the waves, yet together, they form one of the Earth’s most amazing environments. Formed from one of the oldest known mountain ranges in the world, the archipelago is what remains after billions of years of exposure to the harsh elements.

Gotland

Further south from Stockholm in a completely different cruising area is Gotland. Reachable on a longer charter duration (at least a week is recommended) this exceptionally beautiful area is less commercialised and home to many kilometres of beaches, wondrous natural landscapes and is one of the sunniest places in Sweden for those who just want to relax and enjoy the warm weather.

Gotland, the island of churches, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and compelling reasons to visit Sweden. And to sail there is simply magical. After an adventurous sail southeast from the Stockholm Archipelago, you arrive in Gotland, a medieval island teeming with history.

Historic Visby could have been taken straight from a fairy-tale. A 13th-century wall surrounds the city, complete with over 40 lookout towers, a reminder of Medieval times, and several churches from the era still grace the cobbled streets.

Marstrand / Gothenburg

Known as the sailing Capital of Scandinavia, Marstrand, just north of Gothenburg is situated on the spectacular Swedish West Coast and provides some of the most incredible sailing in Europe. Thousands of islands lie scattered along the coast from Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, all the way up to Oslo the Norwegian capital.

Marstrand is home to many annual sailing regattas and the Swedish Match Cup. Exclusive boutiques, an impressive 17th century fortress, fashionable bars and restaurants, and excellent facilities bring sailing enthusiasts from across Europe to experience this fantastic charter destination.

Small picturesque fishing villages adorn the smooth rocky coastline with restaurants serving freshly caught local seafood. Archipelago culture has changed little over the years and has created small communities each with their own personality and character.

The summer sailing season lasts from June to September with temperatures ranging from 20-25C. Wind conditions are fairly light but care is needed when navigating between the islands. In the summer the sea is normally warm enough for swimming.

Åland Islands

The Åland Island landscape consists of more than 6500 islands and islets. Mariehamn, with its 11 000 inhabitants, is a very popular summer town to visit for both Finnish and Swedish as wells as for foreign tourists.

The city centre offers many services; hotels, restaurants, shopping centre, all within walking distance of the base in East Harbour. Starting your charter in Mariehamn gives you a variety of possibilities to experience characteristics of the different areas: enjoy the beautiful Åland archipelago or sail one-way to Taalintehdas or Stockholm.