The Hitis archipelago, 15-18 July 2018

Leaving Hanko, we have entered the "Archipelago sea", the largest archipelago in the world, with its more than 50,000 islands and islets. 

Sunset at Öjen, from the drone

As we are experiencing a highly anticyclonic weather, we take advantage of the solar winds for moving around at the time of favourable winds. The alternance of sea breeze and land breeze allows us to move in the morning around 10, and anchor in natural harbour by mid afternoon. Very quiet evenings and nights, the land breeze only starting early morning because of the very short nights at this time of the year.

Visit to Bengtskär lighthouse - 13 July 2018

Bengtskär is a myth in Finland. It is the southern most constructed place in Finland, and remains the highest lighthouse in the Baltic. It has always been a strong symbol of Finland as it was the last "picture" of Finland that the emigrants to the Americas would see in the XIX century. It remains an iconic representation of Finland, which was used in the Parisian subway couple of years ago for an advertisement campaign to promote tourism in Finland.

Suomenlinna, 10-11 July 2018

On the way back from Porvoo, we stopped in Suomenlinna for a couple of days in order to meet friends and experience the Suomenlinna site, in the UNESCO world heritage.

Helsinki skyline, from Suomenlinna

Just Porvoo, 7-9 July 2018

After a rapid stopover in Helsinki to get crew members on board, we cruised to Porvoo with a Finnish friend couple. Porvoo is one of the most famous touristic place in Finland. We appreciated it a lot.

The Porvoo tourist office says that this is the most photographed landscape in Finland.

Quiet time in Helsinki - 4 to 7 July 2018

We found a berth in the centre of the city, at walking distance from the cathedral and the railway station. This was a rapid stopover to fetch new crew members. The Helsinki marina where we are is quite expensive for a boat of our size, and did not provide with a decent WIFI signal. Quite a disappointment, but so well located!

Nynäshamn - Hanko, Finland, 29 & 30 June 2018

Friday afternoon, after work, we depart from Nynäshamn for the first segment of the vacation, from Nynäshamn to Hanko at the southwest tip of Finland. A 165 mile ride directly through the Baltic. Weather 4D was clear that leaving Friday evening with significant northern winds was the best way to get through this. The routage from the app indicated a 24 hour cruise. It took us 25. Not bad app!

Hanko marina, the largest in Finland!

Am I a Viking? Bayeux, 6-12 June 2018

This weekend was the wedding of my nephew Josquin, with Violaine. The ceremonies were taking place around Bayeux, Normandy, and we flew from Stockholm to attend to the celebrations.

The tapestry of Bayeux, 1066

As the Swedish national day is the 6th of June, we came to Bayeux on the 6th, and stop on the way to Giverny, the home port for Monnet.