Baltic Cruising Guides

The Baltic Cruising Guides

Only booklets are presently available for the Baltic. Cruising Guide Booklets for each Baltic region may be downloaded (members only) through the blue page links (headings) below. Further information on the Baltic, including layup sites, is available for members from the Baltic Section, reached through the "Section" tab at the top of this page. 

The Baltic. This is widely regarded as one of the finest sailing areas, covering ten countries with all their diversity of language, customs and geology. Of these ten countries (Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) only Russia and Norway are outside the EU and, as the old borders disappear, cruising between most countries in the Baltic has become easier.

Norway From the Lofoten Islands to Nordkapp and, for the adventurous, beyond to the Russian border and the island of Spitsbergen to the north, this area of the Arctic Circle offers a variety of sailing amongst snow capped mountains and fjords. The west coast offers opportunities to visit the many fjords which penetrate this coast and protected passages inside the various archipelagos.  However careful passage planning is required when negotiating headlands exposed to the open sea. The coast to Oslo and the Swedish border provides mainly sheltered sailing inside the coastal island chains.. 

Sweden offers a wide variety, from the bare rocks of the archipelago between Gothenburg and the Norwegian border, the low undulating coastline of the south, to the vast and beautiful archipelago north of Kalmar on the east coast extending to Stockholm and beyond, the High Coast in the Gulf of Bothnia and the two large islands off the east coast, Öland and Gotland. To the west of Stockholm, Lake Mälaren offers sheltered sailing and much of interest, including royal palaces and Viking remains. If all this wasn’t enough the large inland Lakes Vänern and Vättern (each with their own archipelagos) reached via the Trollhätte and Göta Canals, provide a popular route for transiting Sweden. 

Finland From the independent Åland Islands just some 22 miles to the east of the Stockholm archipelago almost to the Russian border there is a continuous beautiful archipelago of thousands of islands providing sheltered sailing and numerous natural harbours, guest harbours and marinas. However, good pilotage is essential to avoid contact with the many “stones” and up-to-date local charts are essential.The Saimaa Lakes in the east of the country offer a separate cruising ground and can be reached via the Saimaa Canal passing through Russian territory from Russian waters.  This passage can be made without the need of a Russian visa. 

Russia The main attraction of Baltic Russia is St Petersburg with its many fabulous palaces, museums, galleries, churches and theatres.  Beyond the city the vast inland waterways provide access to the White Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south.  (Current - 2009 - Russian regulations deny access to these waterways for foreign vessels). There is also the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania. Whilst access for foreign vessels is permitted to both parts of Baltic Russia with the appropriate documentation, from time to time, restrictions are imposed by the local authorities and it is important to check current regulations in advance.  

The Baltic States Following independence from the Soviets in 1991, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have opened up to foreign vessels and facilities for leisure craft have been substantially improved, particularly in Estonia where modern marinas can be found in many locations.  

Poland The Polish coast is low-lying and sandy with harbours every 30 to 40 miles providing convenient stops for day sailing. However, care should be taken in strong onshore winds as access across shallow bars is dangerous and many of the harbours become untenable in such conditions. Inland waterways entered from Swinoujscie or from Germany provide sheltered sailing to the town of Szczecin and, with the mast down, to Berlin.  

Germany From Holtenau at the north east entrance to the Kiel Canal to the Danish border there are many modern marinas and if heading north The Schlei and Flensburg fjords offer sheltered sailing. To the east of Kiel the coast is low-lying with sandy beaches and plenty of marinas. The many Hanseatic towns along this coast make for interesting detours. To the east, the islands of Hiddensee, Rugen and Usedom are attractive and the waterways (boddens) between the islands and the mainland provide a vast area of sheltered sailing and a route to Poland   

Denmark  offers a variety of cruising grounds. The inland waters of the Limfjord in the north of Jutland provide access to the Baltic from the North Sea, in suitable conditions. The east coast of Jutland has many fjords and bays providing sheltered sailing and anchorages. The two main islands of Fyn and Sjælland with their off-lying islands are popular with the locals who circumnavigate them during the summer holidays. The island of Bornholm lies some 10 miles south east of the south coast of Sweden and makes an interesting detour when sailing the German or Swedish coasts