Sweden

Further North is Sweden, that divides the Baltic from the North Sea. The country's two coasts offer an infinite variety of cruising. There are a few fleets of bareboat sailing yachts on offer and a few crewed charter yachts. Sweden is a very much appreciated cruising destination for passenger ships and for a couple of traditional vessels. Finallly, bareboat motoryachts or a small cruising ship can be offered for navigation on the canals. 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. There are only a few marinas, although mooring facilities are available everywhere. The biggest marinas are in Stockholm (Vasahamn) and Göteborg. Nautor's Swan yachts are chartered from Saltsjöbaden, south to Stockholm. The climate is temperate due to the Gulf Stream, and the summers are pleasant. But they arrive only in June and the sailing season rarely lasts beyond the end of September. The advantage is that summer nights are so long. The winds in summer are variable and mostly light.