Archipelago, a Finnish haven of peace and nature in the Baltic Sea
A haven of beauty and peace, the Finnish archipelago is a popular summer sailing destination. The Baltic Sea winds its way between tens of thousands of islands, large and small, inhabited and uninhabited, all of which are worth discovering as you sail. Discover the Archipelago in pictures.
The Finnish archipelago, or "Archipelago" as the locals call it, is a popular destination for lovers of nature and peace. Located in the Baltic Sea in south-western Finland, around three hours by car from Helsinki, it can be reached by ferry or directly from the sea. Made up of 40,000 islands, some of them just outcrops of rock, the archipelago has the most islands in the world!
Over the course of a week, we sailed from island to island, past rocky, yet densely vegetated islands. All along the way, red or yellow wooden houses with private pontoons, marinas where you can eat, breathtaking landscapes in a maze of rocks. Beware, however, as navigation can be a real slalom in certain areas, and there are many beacons to be seen. Although the tide is low here, navigation must be meticulously prepared to avoid shoals.
On our Finnish trip, the sea looked more like a huge, ripple-free lake, but beware: this isn't always the case. As in the Mediterranean, the sea rises in short, closely-spaced waves. Finally, the month of June in these latitudes gives us the opportunity to discover Finnish nights, where daylight is finally constant, a sort of uninterrupted twilight until sunrise.
After a 3-hour bus (or car) ride, a ferry at the southeastern tip of Lillmalo Island provides a shuttle service to the Nagu archipelago Ferry crossing on the Baltic Sea for visitors arriving by road The Nagu archipelago is made up of two main islands, Storlandet and Lillandet, and 3,000 other islands, islets and reefs. It has a year-round population of 1,500, but becomes a popular destination in summer. Its marina is one of the liveliest in Finland, and some even compare it to Saint-Tropez for its many stores, restaurants, beaches and events. A ladder to bring your boat from your home hidden deep in the trees to the sea
On the Archipelago, it's important to plan your route carefully and to follow the many beacons on the water. Finland is the country with the largest number of maritime buoys in the world. To protect islanders, certain areas are "wave-free". Speed is limited to a maximum of 5 knots. In Finnish marinas, boats are moored butt-to-butt. Just as in the Mediterranean, where mooring is done on a pendulum, each boat is fitted with a mooring line with a hook that can be tapped onto the buoy to tie up. A really practical solution! In Finland, sailing is mainly by motor. In 2022, only 16 new sailboats were sold in the country. However, in the Archipelago, there are a few sailboats, mainly docked. Each island on which you can moor has its own strict regulations. Gullkrona is a semi-private island, where smoking, fires and exploring private areas are prohibited The island of Gullkrona is a haven of peace and nature. Its waters are rich in fish and the land is teeming with insects. Nature is omnipresent here, and the mix of rock and lush flora is a complete change of scenery.
In the heart of the archipelago, there are several shipyards for boat maintenance. Some islands also boast service stations. Navigating the Finnish archipelago is sometimes (often) a real slalom between islands and different markers. It could be mistaken... The Baltic like a lake. But don't be fooled! The waves are there, short and choppy. Some Finns buy a second home in the Archipelago and leave their boat there to enjoy the summer season. Concealed behind the trees, this dwelling has its own pontoon for exploring the archipelago. Although some of the islands are habitable, buying a property here is very expensive.
Finland, land of the midnight sun. In June and July, the sun can be seen almost 24 hours a day in Finland. Here in the archipelago, it's 3am. Although the sun has set, there's still plenty of light on the water at Nagu.
