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Fjardlang

Fjardlang is one of forty nature reserves the Archipelago Foundation manages in the Stockholm Archipelago. The island has excellent trails throughout and several sheltered anchorages. The weather continued to be clear and calm as we proceeded north from Huvudskar. From near-freezing a few days earlier, the temperature had risen to 53°F (11.7°C) when we reached…

Huvudskar

Huvudskar is a fabulous anchorage on the outer edge of the Stockholm Archipelago. We’d so far seen only one pleasure craft underway since arriving in Sweden, let alone shared an anchorage, and had the place to ourselves for the first two nights. But despite its remoteness, Huvudskar is popular enough that as the weekend arrived,…

Musko

During the Cold War, Sweden invested heavily in defense against a possible Soviet attack. One of the more ambitious projects was the Musko Naval Base, an underground base and shipyards on the island of Musko with docks designed for submarines and destroyers. To reach the island from the mainland, the navy built the 1.9-mile (3…

Nattaro

The island of Nattaro was our first anchorage in the famed Stockholm Archipelago cruising ground after our trip to Visby. The island is full of walking trials and beaches, particularly Storsand, the largest beach in the Stockholm archipelago and one of the nicest places to swim. With raw water freezing on the deck that mid-April…

Match4Jeremy

We went cruising before we were sufficiently financially comfortable to retire because we know that unexpected medical surprises can stop things quickly and we knew we could always go back to work when we’re older. We’d seen close family and friends miss out on goals and dreams due to unexpected medical issues. Jeremy Chow, the…

Visby

Visby, on the island of Gotland, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 for it’s well-preserved medieval structures, include a mostly intact 2.1m (3.4 km) 12th-century wall and a number of church ruins, the majority dating to the 12th century. Walking around the main town, packed on steep, narrow and winding streets within…

Aland Maritime Safety Center

In the 26th edition of our Technology Series, we visit the Maritime Safety Center in Aland to see their facility and to learn more about the STCW (the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) courses they offer. The Maritime Safety Center offers the wide variety of courses required by professional mariners to…

Nynashamn

Nynashamn lies on the Swedish mainland at the southern end of the Stockholm Archipelago and is a gateway to the renowned cruising ground. The huge guest harbour there can accommodate over 300 boats and is packed in the summer, but in early April we shared the dock with only a few other boats. Adjacent to…

Stendorren Nature Reserve

Stendorren Nature Reserve is part of EU’s Natura 2000, the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world comprising over 18% of the EU’s land area. Stendorren includes 185 hectares of land with marked hiking trails throughout and suspension bridges connecting several of the offlying islands to the mainland. It’s a popular place, with…

Gryt Archipelago

A beacon has stood on Gubbo Kupa since medieval times, historians surmise, as part of a warning system of incoming enemy vessels. The cairn there today has been in place as a navigation mark since 1826. Like most hilltop navigation marks, the site offers sweeping views of the area. From the island of Hasselo, we…