Finland : Profile

Facts

• Finland has, depending on the method used, somewhere between 55,000 and 188,000 lakes, and nearly 3000 miles (4830 km) of coastline, off which lie more than 80,000 islands including the Åland archipelago. Cruising opportunities are infinite, either through the many islands or on the lakes, the larger of which are navigable.

• With a reputed 6500 islands, the offlying Åland archipelago is a world in itself and is an autonomous region.

• The Aboland archipelago is the largest archipelago in the Baltic and with its multitude of islands and rocky islets extends towards the sea for 100 km south-west of Turku. There are numerous guest harbours and yachting facilities to match.

• Unfortunately the sailing season is very short, usually from the beginning of May till the end of September, although the summer days do benefit from almost perpetual daylight.

• With a highly developed and top quality boat building industry, many foreign visitors only sample the cruising delights of Finland when they arrive to take delivery of their new boats and then sail them to warmer waters.

• Most coastal towns have visitors' harbours and yacht clubs usually have a few berths reserved for visitors. The Archipelago Sea and the Åland Islands have a very extensive harbour network with harbours or other facilities to be found every 10-20 nautical miles. Guest harbours are more infrequent in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia.

• The standard of services varies and repair facilities are available only in the largest ports. With a developed boat-building industry, producing some of the best yachts in the world, repair facilities are of a high standard. The most comprehensive range of repair facilities are to be found in and around the capital Helsinki.

• Other yachting centres are at Turku, Hanko, Rauma, Loviisa and Pietarsaari, the latter being the home of the famous Swan yachts. Good facilities are also available in Åland with several marinas, the largest in the capital Mariehamn.

Weather

Part of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle, however the influence of the Baltic Sea keeps the climate milder than other countries on the same latitude. The sailing season is limited to the summer when the winds are variable. The surrounding landmass affects the winds which can be light in summer.

The sea is frozen from December to March or early April (in the northern part of Gulf of Bothnia to May). In southern Finland the sailing season tends to be from April to October.

Turku Radio station broadcasts marine forecasts and navigational warnings in English on the free VHF working channels and MF working channel frequencies. The current weather report can be seen on the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website

Main Ports

Coastguard stations which perform passport and customs clearance for yachts (from north to south to east)

Röyttä, Virpiniemi, Raahe, Kalajoki, Kokkola, Vallgrund, Kummelgrund, Pori, Susiluoto, Enskär, Maarianhamina (Mariehamn), Storklubb, Kökar, Nauvo-Pärnäinen (or Üto passport control point), Hiittinen, Hanko, Jussarö, Bågaskär, Porkkala, Suomenlinna, Pirttisaari, Glosholmen, Orrengrund, Kotka, Haapasaari, Santio, Hurppu Frontier guard station, Nuijamaa border station (on Saimaa Canal).

Ports for passport and customs clearance (where there are no coastguard stations along the channel

Kemi, Pietarsaari, Kaskinen, Pori, Rauma, Uusikaupunki, Marienhamn's West Harbour and Nuijamaa.

Customs clearance is also obtainable from these commercial ports

Tornio, Haukipudas, Oulu, Vaasa, Kristiinankaupunki (Kristinestad), Eckerö, Långnäs, Orrengrund, Merikarvia, Naantali, Turku, Tammisaari, Inkoo, Helsinki, Porvoo, Loviisa, Lappeenranta.

Passport control points: Coastguard stations Telephone, Telefax

Santio passport control point 020 410 2130, 020 410 2139 Coastal fairway past Santio

Haapasaari 020 410 6050, 020 410 6059 Fairway past Haapasaari island

Kotka 020 410 6000, 020 410 6009 Fairway past the Kotka lighthouse

Orrengrund 020 410 6060, 020 410 6069 The fairway from the Tainio lighthouse past Orrengrund

Glosholmen 020 410 6960, 020 410 6969 Fairway past the Porvoo lighthouse

Pirttisaari 020 410 6970, 020 410 6979 Fairway past the Porvoo lighthouse or the Söderskär beacon

Suomenlinna 020 410 6900, 020 410 6909 Fairway from the Helsinki lighthouse past Harmaja

Porkkala 020 410 6980, 020 410 6989 Fairways past the Porkkala lighthouse or past Sommarö

Bågaskär 020 410 6470, 020 410 6479 Fairway past Sommarö

Jussarö 020 410 6450, 020 410 6469 Fairway past the Jussarö lighthouse

Hanko 020 410 6400, 020 410 6409 Fairways past Russarö or the fairway past Morgonlandet

Hiittinen 020 410 7110, 020 410 7119 Fairway from Utö to Hanko

Nauvo 020 410 7120, 020 410 7129 Fairway from Utö north-west of Nauvo

Kökar 020 410 7210, 020 410 7219 Fairway past Kökarsören or from Utö to Kökar

Storklubb 020 410 7220, 020 410 7229 Fairway past Nyhamn

Mariehamn 020 410 7230, 020 410 7239 Fairways past Korsö or Nyhamn

Enskär 020 410 7240, 020 410 7249 Fairway past Signilskär or past Sälskär west of Eckerö

Susiluoto 020 410 7360, 020 410 7369 Fairway past Isokari

Rauma 020 410 7350, 020410 7309 Fairways past Rauma lighthouse or south or north of Kylmäpihlaja

Pori 020 410 7370, 020 410 7379 Fairway to Mäntyluoto

Kummelgrund 020 410 7710, 020 410 7719 Fairways past Härkmere or Norra Storbådan

Vallgrund 020 410 7740, 020 410 7749 Fairways past Rönnskär, Norrskär or Ritgrund

Valassaaret 020 410 7770, 020 410 7779 Fairway from the west to the coastguard station of the Valassaari islands

Kokkola 020 410 7790, 020 410 7799 Fairways past the Kokkola lighthouse or past Tankari

Kalajoki 020 410 7870, 020 410 7879 Fairways past Ulkokalla or Ykskivi

Raahe 020 410 7910, 020 410 7919 Fairway past the Raahe lighthouse or past Tasku

Virpiniemi 020 410 7930, 020 410 7949 Fairway from the Oulu 1 lighthouse to Oulu or to Haukipudas

Ports Telephone, Telefax

Nuijamaa 020 410 2370, 020 410 2379

Uusikaupunki 02- 841 2356, 02- 841 5045

Kaskinen 06- 222 7243, 06- 222 7243

Pietarsaari 06- 723 1611, 06- 723 4611

Kemi 020 410 7960, 020 410 7979

Aland Islands:  Mariehamn *

Gulf of Bothnia:  Pietarsaari * , Rauma *

Gulf of Finland:  Hanko * , Helsinki * , Kotka * , Loviisa * , Turku *

Saimaa Canal and Lakes:  Lappeenranta

*Indicates a port of entry.

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