ΤΗΕ HIDDEN BALTIC

FROM POPULAR SCANDINAVIAN WATERS, TO OFF-THEBEATEN-TRACK EASTERN GEMS, WIETZE VAN DER LAAN AND JANNEKE KUYSTERS SHARE SIX GREAT BALTIC CRUISES

The Baltic is one of the best cruising grounds in Europe, with a myriad of options to choose from. But how can you make the most of this diverse sailing area – and, for non-Schengen passport holders, what can be done in 90 days?

Between late June and mid August the Scandinavian summer can be seriously warm with temperatures around 25°C-30°C. There’ll be the occasional rainy or (very) windy day, but in general the forecast is very accurate. Sweden, Norway and Finland broadcast good forecasts for the whole Baltic, and we also found the ECMWF model (through the Windy app) very accurate.

STABLE WEATHER

Prevailing winds are from the west or south-west, fuelled by a train of lows coming from the Atlantic. However, in summer a stable high pressure area forms over Scandinavia, bringing beautiful weather and moderate to light easterly winds. Make sure you have enough fuel or a large light-weather sail for these conditions.

Distances between destinations are never very far. For cruisers who don’t fancy sailing through the night, there are 20-22 hours of daylight in midsummer, giving you a wider choice of destinations to sail to. The lack of tide adds to this flexibility.

Midsummer is celebrated everywhere with food, drink, festivities and a well-decorated maypole. In the shoulder seasons it is a bit chillier, especially in the evenings. Before midsummer and after 1 August restaurants, tourist offices and attractions decrease their opening hours. The upside is that it gets quieter and easier to find a space in the popular harbours and anchorages.