The Baltic and Scandanavia

West Coast of Sweden & The Kattegat

A long 10 day voyage during the summer holidays ideal for individuals or families looking for something a bit different. Live aboard the historic sailing ship Bessie Ellen as working guest crew enjoying some open sea sailing and new destinations on Sweden’s West Coast. June to September temperatures are typically 60-80F / 16-27C with many sandy beaches on the Swedish Coast, and fresh seafood ashore. The voyage begins in Arhus, Denmark’s second city and the cultural centre of Jutland. An important trade centre, Arhus can trace its origins to Viking times. It’s importance is reflected in its transport links with all major roads and rail links running in and a major international airport, so it is easy to get to for the start of your voyage.

Find your sealegs sailing the hundred or so miles crossing the Kattergat to the Swedish West coast well south of Gothenburg. A possible anchorage half way across is the isolated island of Anholt famous for the decimation of its vegetation to feed the solid fuel lighthouse and its delicious fresh lobsters. Alternatively you may approach Halmstad from the South by hopping from island to island and a much narrower gap between Denmark and Sweden. Twenty miles south and east of Arhus lies Samso, a convenient island halfway towards the Danish capital island of Zealand. Here the north coast provides many and varied anchorages but top on the list of possible destinations is a sail up the narrow fjord to Roskilde—home of the Viking Ship Museum. Five original Viking Ships have been salvaged from the bottom of the fjord and re constructed. There is also a thriving waterside workshop area where new Viking replicas are being constructed. Continuing along the coast will bring you close to Helsingor, better known to the British as Elsinore, home of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Before crossing the mouth of the narrow sea between Denmark and Sweden and on into Swedish waters.

Historic Trading Ships - Island Race around Fyn

This 6 day voyage races around the island of Fyn. The third largest of Denmark’s island, Fyn is sometimes written Funen and has Odense as its capital. The entrance to the Baltic is jammed with islands like Fyn so there has always been a lot of water borne trade in the area. Many wooden sailing ships that once carried cargoes (Baltic Traders) have been restored so the annual Fyn Runt event has over 30 vessels attending, all of them similar to Bessie Ellen which will provide some close and exciting racing. The craic post racing is second to none. The voyage begins in Korsor on the west coast of Zealand and concludes in Svendborg on the island of Fyn itself
During the 19th Century Svendborg was a busy harbour town with over 20 shipyards producing almost half the wooden hulled ships built in Denmark. Whilst Bessie Ellen was built in Plymouth, she spent many years trading in the Baltic and underwent a major restoration in Svendborg so this is almost her second home. Race a British built ship against the Danes !

Sail to Poland and Germany for Tall Ships Festival

For the more adventurous and those of you keen to explore deeper into the Baltic then this is the voyage for you. From Svendborg in Denmark, this 10 day voyage forays deep into Polish waters with a stop at historic Gdynia before sailing westwards again to conclude in Rostock in Germany. Ships from literally all over the world are gathering in Rostock for the annual Hanse Sail Tall Ships Festival with over 100 entrants.
Limfjord Regatta – Close Quarters Sailing and Local Hospitality
The Limfjord is a vast inland sea linking the Baltic with the North Sea, effectively cutting the tip of Denmark in half. There are narrow sections, shallows, bridges and islands to negotiate in this little known sailing area which forms the race venue for the annual “Limfjord Runt” - a festival for traditional boats and tall ships.
In 2006 Bessie Ellen won the Trophy, so this British built historic sailing ship has a reputation to defend ! There will be two days race training, some local sightseeing, 4 days full on racing and socialising with other crews and a bit of folk music thrown in. A sailing holiday for those who love lots of sail handling and close quarters sailing. There are many surviving wooden sailing ships in Scandinavia and Northern Europe so this Regatta can be quite a gathering of up to 50 small tall ships and Baltic Traders so there are plenty of similar size racing companions for Bessie Ellen.