Conference unifix::sailing

	The Baltic is located in northern Europe between appr. 10�E-30�E and 
	54�N-66�N. It covers some 370 000 sq. km (145 000 sq. miles).
	It consists of four parts : Kattegat and the Danish straights leading 
	into the Baltic from the North Sea, the Baltic proper extending
	from Germany up to the �land islands and two long gulfs, the Gulf of
	Botnia between Sweden and Finland and the Gulf of Finland between Fin-
	land and the USSR (Estonia).

	The Baltic is the biggest mixed-water basin in the world with a sali-
	nity ranging from a little more than 1 % between Sweden and Denmark
	to less than 0.5 % at the bottom of the gulfs. The low salinity is
	due to the numerous (fresh water) rives flowing into the Baltic and
	the very narrow passage (only some 18 m max depth and an few miles
	in width) at the narrowest place.

	Today the Baltic is shared between 7 countries (clockwise) : the USSR, 
	Poland, East Germany, West Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Three 
	capitals are located on it's shores : Copenhagen - capital of Denmark, 
	Stockholm - capital of Sweden and Helsinki - capital of Finland. 
	Before WW2 two more capital where also located on the Baltic shores - 
	Tallinn (Estonia) and Riga (Latvia). Today these are capital of their
	respective Socialist Soviet Republics.

	The Baltic has been a major area of sailing for a long time. Between
	the years 800-1000 the vikings ruled the waves. Later in the middle
	ages the Hanseatic league established itself as a major force in the
	Baltic sometimes even contesting ownership of the Baltic with the
	kingdoms bordering on it. During the days of major Swedish influence 
	in Europe the Baltic was almost a Swedish lake, with the swedes ruling 
	most of the shores. They heydays of the Swedish rule were about the
	17th century. After the swedish rule ended, Peter the Great built the 
	new capital of Russia (St. Petersburg, Leningrad today) on the Baltic 
	to ensure russian influence in the Baltic.

	During the 20th century the Baltic has seen a lot of strife in both
	world wars and later as a place for showing the strengths of the
	navies on both sides of the "iron curtain".

	Lately the Baltic has gotten a slightly new role. Heavy industries in
	all countries bordering on the Baltic have created a major environ-
	mental problem. Many parts of the Baltic are today so badly polluted
	that swimming is prohibited and the sea is close to biological death.
	Raised awareness of these problems in the western countries and lately
	also in the eastern ones, has lead to a common understanding that
	something has to be done. The seven bordering countries have all signed
	a treaty (the first to be signed between eastern and western ones in
	the area of environmental protection) containing actions to be taken 
	to alleviate the problems. The countries have also agreed on fishing
	quotas and other actions to help save the frail ecological system
	of the Baltic. All in all a good example on how political biggotry
	has been overridden by the true problems faced by most of mankind today.

	Sailing in the Baltic offers some experiences that cannot be found
	in other waters. The main attractions are the archipelagos.
	Finland alone has some 73000 islands (of more than 50 sq m or 500
	sq feet) along its Baltic shores and the archipelago of Stockholm 
	offers the choice of some 10000 more islands. 

	Sailing in the archipelagos is something that has to be experienced,
	it cannot be described. The waterways range from narrow places (per-
	haps only some 20-30 m wide to long winding stretches where you pass
	from island upon island in almost neverending sequences.

	In Finland (with the exception of the �land islands) and Sweden there
	is something that's called "every-mans right". This allows you to 
	also visit most of these islands. You can anchor or go ashore anywhere 
	where you do not disturb peoples houses or where the islands are not 
	protected (marked on the charts). So when sailing inshore people 
	normally cover some 20-40 nm each day and then anchor up for the night 
	in some protected bay. Normally you can have the bay for yourself.

	There is also a well developed network of guest harbours that offer a
	wide range of services. Normally people go into these harbours for
	shopping or to get water. Most harbours also have toilets and showers.
	Others have restaurants etc. Most major cities along the shores have
	guest harbours, so you can also sail from city to city if you want to.

	But the Baltic has also other things to offer. If you want to sail
	in open waters, you might have a try at the Swedish cost between the
	cities of G�vle and Ume�. This strectch is called H�ga Kusten (The
	High Coast) and consists of steep cliffs and islands and easy navi-
	gation. Or you can go to the Gotland island where sandy beaches mix 
	with lime cliffs that can well be compared with Dover. The southern 
	tip of Gotland is even called Cap Horn of the Baltic! 

	If you want long overnight cruises, going from Finland to Denmark 
	takes you at the best three days of non-stop sailing and if you plot 
	your course optimally you are never within sight of shore.

	On the other hand crossing from Sweden to Finland at the narrowest 
	spot in the Baltic is only some 30 nm of sailing from one lot of
	islands to the next.

	Lately new opportunities have opened in the Baltic. The USSR is slowly
	opening up to sailors and today you can visit Leningrad, Tallinn and
	Riga by boat. A nice way of doing your bit to increase understanding
	between people of different political systems!

	Poland is also open for foreigners with the historic cities of Gdansk
	and Gdynia being popular goals. East Germany is still a very closed
	country and therefore not on the list of places to see.

	Germany of Denmark offer coastal sailing for those who want to enjoy
	the security of a NATO fleet and the good beer. Denmark especially is
	dotted with picturesque small fishing harbours, that can also be used
	by cruisers, some 500 all in all.

	The largest sailing fleets in the Baltic are to be found in Denmark,
	Sweden and Finland. The majority of the boats in these coutries are
	made in Scandinavia - you might have heard the names of Swan,
	Baltic, Fingulf, Guyline, Najad, Arcona, the X-yacths, Bianca etc...
	Gernamy (Dehler and Bavaria) and France (Jeanneau and Beneteau) are
	also important suppliers. 

	As the Baltic (on the average) is fairly sheltered and gales are rare,
	boats tend to be fairly light and carrying quite substantial sail-
	areas (mine for instance : 9.5 meters (31 feet), 4 tons (8500 lbs)
	and 50 sqm (520 sq feet) of sail, masttop at 15 m (48 feet)).
	Most boats are built with fairly deep fin keels (5-6 feet) and with 
	hulls that are oriented towards good (but not extreme) performance.
	Designwise they could be described as being fairly modern, but the
	really new winds in yacth-design blow in France. Long-keeled, 
	classical designs are not really made nor bought in these countries.
	Average size of new boats isa in the range of 32-36 feet in my estimate.

	Fractional rigs are the main type of rigs used in boats upto about 
	35 feet, bigger boats tend to be top-rigged. Self-tackers are very
	popular with the fracs (as can be understood when you consider that
	you might have to tack once every 100-200 feet in narrow places!).
	Also roller-reef gennies are becoming popular - especially in the
	bigger boats. Last year was the year of the thru-batten mainsail
	and the experiences had so far have been so overwhelmingly good that
	it seems that most new boats go for that.
	
	Some differences in boat design as compared to the US :
	- very solid construction - major bulkheads etc used more than in
	  comparable designs I've seen in the US. Also, with the shallow
	  waters, hitting the bottom is something that every sailor does in
	  the end and boats are designed with this in mind.
	- less "gadgetry", things like shore-power is not usual, boats rely
	  on batteries; consequently not a lot of electrical gear (other than
	  navigational) is used
	- diesel engines and folding props - these are a must
	- interior decoration follows somewhat stricter and simpler lines than
	  in the US.

	Except for the mainstream sailing boats a few other lines persist. One
	is the big motorsailers. Names like Nauticat or Hallberg-Rassy might
	ring a bell?? These are heavy, long/medium-keeled boats that sail well
	but are also meant for motoring. They sacrifice some of the speed for
	weight and are extremely comfortable for their sizes.

	Also, old wooden constructions have had a revival. Besides the Int.
	5, 5.5, 6 and 8 M yacths, a lot of local designs have been built over
	the years. Typical "archipelago-cruisers" (Sk�rg�rdskryssare) are
	long, extremely narrow designs (my friends just bought one : 12 meters
	long, 2.5 wide!!!) with high frac rigs. Beautiful!! Some of the boats
	are about 50 years or more old, but look like gems right out of the
	boatbuilders.

	Visiting sailors are not very frequent in the Baltic. One reason might
	be that you have to cross the North Sea somewhere to get here and this
	might scare of quite a few potential sailors. This should not discourage
	anybody, you can do away with most of the crossing by using the Kiel
	Canal and shelted waters along Holland. The ICCY rally here in Finland
	was visited by three cats from England that were so badly made and 
	looked so frail I wouldn't like to use them for inshore sailing. And
	they crossed the North Sea!

	But you don't have to arrive on your own keel, renting a boat is easy.
	Normally a boat is rented without a skipper (labourcost in Scandinavia
	are amongst the highest in the world!), some sort of proof of your
	skills as a skipper are recommended.

	When sailing in the Baltic, especially the archipelagos, the most 
	important skill is navigation. Electronic gear can help, but navigators
	like Decca etc. are useless inshore, as their errors are far bigger
	than the width of the usable waterways. So you have to sail with your
	finger on the charts all the time. Fortunately the charts are very
	good and after a little while you get to thrust them.

	The second most important skill is mooring. Normally you go to a har-
	bour or land at an island every evening, so you have to know your
	anchoring. Because islands are used so much, boats go stern-first also
	when they moor at docks. Some harbours offer bouys, in others you
	must use the anchor when coming to the dock. Harbours can be very full
	so you have to know how to handle the boat!

	Besides the above skills, sailing is easy. Winds are normally in the
	5-10 m/s (10-20 knots) range with winds over 15 m/s being very rare.
	And again the archipelagos are fantastic, they offer good shelter for
	reefing etc or a protected place to moor! The prevailing wind-direction
	is SW.

	As a foreigner, you are obliged to follow official waterways marked on
	the charts. This is no problem as in Finland alone there are some 7000
	nm of such waterways, more than half of them being in the Baltic (the
	rest are on inland lakes). There are also a number of restricted areas
	where foreign ships cannot go. You can pass thru them along the water-
	ways but you cannot go ashore anywhere.

	Scandinavian ships with nobody from outside Scandinavia onboard can
	freely pass between the Scandinavian countries. This might give you
	an illusion that no passport control etc is necessary. Remember that
	this does not apply to people from outside Scandinavia. These have to
	enter the Scandinavian countries via official ports of entry. They also
	have to pass customs etc at the same time. Regulations on liquor etc
	are strict and you cannot bring more that a certain amount with you,
	even for your own consumption.

	Most coutries are exempt from visas when entering Scandinavia. The US
	is lifting the requirement for visas for Finns and Swedes and at the
	same time the reciprocal requirement for US citicens will also be
	lifted. This will happen some time next year. Stays for more that 
	3 months require special visitos visas. (Scandinavian countries :
	Denmark, Sweden, Finland)

	To bring your own boat with you, you don't need any special documents
	as long as you have proof of ownership. Germany and the eastern block
	countries have stricter requirements.

	If you want to visit the USSR, you can obtain visitors visas in Finland
	even if you are a foreigner. Normally the procedure in Finland is 
	quicker and needs less red tape than in other countries.

    Having some Finnish blood in me I was interested in your note. You have
    opened up many "day-dreams" of sailing over there. Some day I will.
    
    Great reading!

	Somebody in the European sailing notes pointed out that I had mixed
	up bow and stern in reference to how we "park". As we go into shallow
	shores mostly, we go bow-first and not stern first as I had written.

	Sorry 'bout that, H�akn