Itinerary

Nimué - Baltic plans Spring/Summer 2009

The Baltic calls. It is excitingly different with unique features which will appeal to people wanting a change from the temperate maritime climate of Britain, the oppressive heat of the Med (not to mention the spiralling costs) and the crowds of yachts that abound their shores. With political tensions easing the attractions of the Baltic as a yachting region are increasing rapidly, Those interested in culture will be amply rewarded if they persevere to St Petersburg and visit the Kirov ballet and opera. An annual opera festival takes place at Savonlinna on the Saimaa Lakes. In Sweden the Court Theatre at Drottningholm on Lake Malaren is world famous.

Nature Harbours (often deserted) abound and many small marinas offer evocative cultural experiences incorporating food and the sincere welcome of local people. In June, July and August the weather is stable and warm, often hot.

Our Plan to Date

Leave Poole mid May. Day sail to Dover. Then

Either (1) Cross channel to Calais and sail up French, Belgium and Dutch coasts to Den Helder or
(2) Cross Thames estuary to Harwich or Lowestoft then cross North Sea to Den Helder (longer open sea passage)
Which we decide upon will depend upon crew and weather.

From Den Helder we will sail outside Friesan Islands to Brunsbuttel where we enter the Kiel Canal. Entire trip could take two weeks but hopefully winds will be kind and we can do it in a day or so less. The trip represents a good opportunity for aspiring Yachtmasters to get in some sea time and night passages.

If weather is particularly nasty we might opt for the inland route thru' Dutch inland waterways from Vlissingen which we will sail to from Dover ie not cross the Thames Estuary. If this is the case we could spend 2/3 weeks in the canals.

Once we are in the Baltic our plan is to head NE to Southern Sweden calling possibly at Oland and Gotland before reaching Stockholm around the end of May/early June. Dawdle around the Swedish Archipaelego and Aland for a month or so. Then we’ll cross the Gulf of Bothnia to the thousands of Finnish Islands which will probably occupy the remainder of the summer. We could well be close enough to Helsinki to winter in that area.

The following spring (2010) our plan is to move east towards Russian border and enter the Finnish lakes thru' the Saimaa Canal. By all accounts these are idyllic and offer the real chance of communing with and enjoying nature before concrete cities completely envelop our planet. We'll be putting in a visit to St Petersburg but probably from Finland by road or train. Far less beaurocracy !

Another Crazy Idea

Sitting in the cockpit with our pre-dinner drinks, the Beaulieu River gently lapping against the hull, with magnificent scenery and the warm red sun setting, sending glistening dappled light onto the water; the gentle hum of a small boat in the distance - an idyllic balmy evening - who could possibly wish for more? ...and in that moment our crazy idea was borne.

"But everyone goes to the Med" ventured Lee "why not somewhere different?" "Where had you got in mind?" I queried; a little disappointed as the thought of every warm balmy night disappeared from my dream... "The Arctic?" ventured Lee. "Not b**** likely." Said I, preparing to jump ship there and then! "Well, in that direction; how about the Baltic?" "It's cold up there isn't it?" I worried. "Only in the winter, and I'm not planning being there in the winter. Summers are extremely pleasant; daylight hours long and the scenery is out of this world." Lee smiled. He sensed I was on the hook. I remembered I'd once been invited to sail the fjords and thinking of the spectacular beauty in that part of the world, I warmed to the idea. But Lee didn't exactly have the Norwegian Fjords in mind!!! Friends of his in the Cruising Association had talked at length about their experiences in the Baltic (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia) and he had long harboured a desire to see it for himself. With the promise that the Med could follow as a destination for us in our retiring years, saying we should enjoy these challenges whilst still young (enough) he went on (glossing over the North Sea crossing) to describe Sweden's nature harbours and Finland's magnificent lakes. The idea was becoming rather more appealing and despite my scepticism of this flagrant charmer's assertions, I somehow believed a lot of what he said!

The idea grew over the following weeks and months; before long we were immersed in charts, pilots and accounts of other people's adventures to this inland sea.