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 !