 Sweden : Profile
Up in the north-west corner of Europe, Sweden forms half of the Scandinavian peninsula. The tongue of Sweden divides the Baltic from the North Sea and the country's two coasts offer an infinite variety of cruising. On the west coast the most attractive cruising area is from the Norwegian border to Göteborg, while on the east coast the most picturesque region is the Stockholm archipelago and the area to the south of it. To these should be added the various inland waterways, the best known being the Göta Canal, a scenic route which allows a yacht to sail from one side of Sweden to the other without the necessity to drop its mast. There are secluded anchorages and pretty villages throughout southern Sweden, making it one of the most attractive cruising destinations in Europe. Provisioning is easy everywhere with the exception of the remoter areas and in many places it is possible to come alongside a dock close to a grocery store. Fuel is not so widely available away from the larger centres. LPG containers can only be filled with the proper adaptor and this can only be done in some of the major towns. There are only a few marinas, although mooring facilities are available everywhere. Most moorings belong to the Swedish Cruising Club, are painted red or blue and can also be used by foreign visitors either for short stays in daytime or for the night. Private moorings may also be used, either with permission, or if the absent owner has left a prominent green card indicating the berth is free. The biggest marinas are in Stockholm (Vasahamn) and Göteborg, and this is also where most repair facilities are located. The standard of repair work is good throughout Sweden, but it may be difficult finding repair facilities in the more remote areas. For any major repair it is best to head for one of the larger yachting centres where almost everything is available.
The climate is temperate due to the Gulf Stream, and the summers are pleasant. Winters are cold, the temperatures around freezing. Summer arrives only in June and the sailing season rarely lasts beyond the end of September, but has the advantage of long summer nights. The winds in summer are variable and mostly light.
Stockholm Radio English language VHF weather forecasts are at 0600 and 1800 UTC
i.e. 0800 adn 2000 local time in the summer
Customs Places
P = passport control points by which foreigners may enter and leave Sweden.
F = frontier crossing points by which foreigners may enter and leave Sweden when travelling to and from Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
North Coast Haparanda F, Luleå P, Piteå F, Skellefteå F, Umeå P, Örnsköldsvik P, Härnösand P (no customs facilities), Sundsvall P, Hudiksvall F, Söderhamn, Gävle P.
Stockholm Archipelago Norrtälje F (no customs), Kapellskär F, Stockholm P, Sandhamn P (no customs), Södertälje P, Nynäshamn P.
East Coast Oxelösund P, Norrköping P, Söderköping P (no customs), Västervik P, Oskarshamn F, Kalmar P.
Gotland Slite P, Visby P.
South Coast Karlskrona (and Dragsö) P, Ronneby P, Karlshamn P, Sölvesborg F, Åhus F, Simrishamn P (report to nearest communication centre), Ystad P, Trelleborg P, Malmö (and Limhamn) P, Landskrona P, Helsingborg (and Råå) P, Höganäs F, Mölle P (no customs).
West Coast Halmstad P, Falkenberg F, Varberg F, Göteborg P, Marstrand P (no customs), Skärhamn F (report to nearest communications centre), Stenungsund, Lysekil P, Uddevalla P, Kungshamn and Smögen F (report to nearest communications centre), Strömstad P.
Communications Centres
North Coast Haparanda Tel. 0922-129-49, Umeå 090-241-60, Härnösand 0611-790-82.
Stockholm Archipelago Furusund 0176-8000-01/800-17, Stockholm 08-789-76-39/789-76-40.
East Coast Gryt 0123-401-14/401-15.
Gotland Visby 0498-102-45.
South Coast Karlskrona 0455-110-63, Malmö 040-731-30/731-38/12-43-30,
Heesingborg 042-17-08-02.
West Coast Göteborg 031-63 71 50, Kungshamn 0523-307-55.
One can also contact the centres direct on VHF Channel 16 (except Haparanda).
East Coast: Arkosund
, Kalmar
, Stockholm
*
, Vastervik
Gotland: Visby(Gotland)
Gulf of Bothnia: Ornskoldsvik
*
South Coast: Simrishamn
*
, Varberg Getteron
*
, Ystad
West Coast: Goteborg
*
, Helsingborg
, Malmo
*
, Marstrand
*Indicates a port of entry.
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