Sailing in Sweden
September 24, 2024 · 7 min · 1K views · Sweden
What this video covers
Sailing Sweden's skärgård (skerries) requires constant navigation vigilance because the most dangerous rocks sit half a metre below the surface and show no breaking water.0:54 Leon Schulz and a Swedish-local guest cover the key techniques and hazards for both the west and east coasts. Bow-in mooring is the standard approach at the skerries — never stern-in, to protect the rudder — using a stern anchor (a small Bruce works well in the soft clay bottom) dropped first, then motoring slowly forward to the rock face.3:01 A bowsprit helps close the gap to shore; a bow ladder lets crew descend to the ledge.1:58 Swedish harbours use rings rather than bollards, making single-handed line-handling awkward.7:17 East-coast anchorages near Stockholm offer free anchoring among trees for stern lines, but mosquitoes are a serious problem ashore; anchoring well off reduces exposure.6:42 The west coast has fewer mosquitoes but shallower, more exposed skerries.6:37 Leon raises the specific problem of always needing to moor stern-to because of a 34-kg dog, and the guest confirms Mediterranean-style stern-to mooring works in harbours but is inadvisable at open skerries.4:55 Pilotbooks from Delius-Klausing are recommended for identifying mooring spots.2:34 Singlehanders must never leave the helm unattended, even briefly, when threading rock-strewn channels.0:56
Boats in this video
More from Leon Schulz, Reginasailing
From Leon Schulz, Reginasailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.