Boats for Scandinavian cruising

Phil Clandillon looks at the best second-hand yachts for sailing the Stockholm Archipelago

- PHIL CLANDILLON

Estimates put the number of islands, islets and skerries in the Stockholm Archipelago at around 30,000. The fact that this isn't totally agreed upon shows just how rich this cruising area is. It's said Stockholm sailors rarely venture outside home waters - and with this on their doorstep, who can blame them?

The inner and central archipelagos extend outward from the city and are surrounded by the Furusund Fairway and the outer and southern Archipelagos. These 650 square miles offer something for everyone, from buzzing nightspots and bourgeois villages to beautiful inlets and natural harbours.

Sandhamn is home to the Royal Swedish Yacht Club and the finishing point for the Gotland Runt race. There are cultured hotspots like Furusund in the north and Utö in the south, and a magnificent art nouveau villa on the island of Mörtö-Bunsö. The remote island of Hallskär has a large area of flat rocks where Swedes dance on Midsummer’s Eve, and the outer archipelago has an almost infinite number of beautiful fine-weather spots. When the wind gets up, yachts flee to the shelter of superb natural harbours like Rödlöga Island or Grönskärsfladen.

Suitability

Unsurprisingly, local designs tend to suit the area well; going aground is common, so many of the boats I've chosen have simple construction, making them easier to repair. It is common to be away from marinas for days at a time, and it's useful to have room to carry a small inflatable.

When mooring in a natural harbour, it is usual to anchor by the stern and bring the bow close to the shore with lines secured to rocks. Locals usually have a ladder on the bow to climb ashore. Most boats can be modified to accept one, but it is simpler if the design already has an open or semi-open pulpit.

Hallberg-Rassy 36