In the early summer Sebastian came to me and told me about a race which could be quite easy and cool. In the beginning there was the idea to go from Helsinki to Tallinn, but cause of I don´t know the race course changed and we went into the skerry landscape in the western part of Finnland. The Idea was to go on the boat which is the only way to come to SCOLA, that wonderful restaurant in Barösund. Good idea, I will be part was my first reaction. Particularly I´ve never been in the archipelago of Helsinki. Sounds like a cool trip and for me another chance to get back on Nautor´s Swan 51 EIRA after our Atlantic Crossing in 2012.
Together with my fiancé I traveled to Helsinki and we landed there in a horrible rain shower, which gave us direct the feeling for the next days.
At the next day we had luck, the sun was shining and we had a good time in Helsinnki, which is an amazing town. Good mood, perfect style and cool guys there. EIRA herself lis lying at the dockyard of the Royal Yacht Club in Helsinki, which is on a wonderful little Island in the bay of Helsinki. It´s really a great and very historic place there. Unfortunately there was not really time to enjoy, the briefing for the race is going to take place nearby. The aligner of the regatta is the local petrol station, named SEAPOINT. Therefore the regatta is called SEAPOINT RACE. The crew around that race is pretty cool. This was to be expected cause the logo and the colours of SEAPOINT are stylish. That means the people who created it must be cool. OK, this was a little outbreak, cause I´m in marketing and tend to realize those kind of detais.
Anyway the start in the rain was, what should I say . . . wet and windy, but the mood was good on the boat within our mixed crew and we had good food from the market hall in the harbour which we picked up direct with the boat at the market hall.
The line-up of the boats was impressive, incl. the crews. Regulation that it was intended as humor was then very seriously, regarding the crews and the boats. E.g. Sebastian´s SWAN was not the only one.
The landscape between the little islands is awesome. We have to come back when the sun is shining. That must be very nice there. The Race itself was really fun. You are well adviced if you have one sailor aboard who knows that area. Don’t try it it as a charter crew with a nautical chart. Do it with a pro. Trust me ist will be easier and you will see the landscape, not just the nautical chart.
In the late afternoon we docked the boat in Barösund and yeah there was – surprise, surprise – another SEAPOINT Petrol Station, which looks even better on that cosy island between the red cottages. After that „Disney Moment“ we entered the SCOLA Restaurant. The awards ceremony was in Finnish and therefore I had difficulties to follow, but overall I got the point. Unfortunately we were none of the winners but we had a great time.
At that time I had now clue about the Finnish Sauna Culture. But before we went to the Sauna, we had a phantasic dinner. That was really outstanding. My motivation to go to the sauna was limited, but there was no way to keep up that mentality. Perhaps the alcohol did its job to change that. Nevertheless a few minutes later I saw myself walking through the Finnish wood, paddling in a boat and find myself with parts of the crew in a cosy cottage with undefined drinks in my hands. We don´t talk about the rest of that evening, but we say thank you to my fiancé and the crew, who got me back on the boat.
The way to the boat was quite long and that was good for my condition. Back in the saloon of EIRA the music was still on and yeah, funny again. The next morning was similarly hard. Good that there was a cute cafe behind the SEAPOINT Petrol Station where all the yachties got their breakfast and there was another funny story, but we don´t talk about it.
That´s it, back to Helsinki on an easy downwind course with not so much rain. The rolling sea was fine and the fresh air of the baltic sea gave us the energy back. When we came back to the Yacht Club, Nyländska Jaktklubben, I made a mistake and slipped from the dock into the harbour. The funny thing, I just got wet till the knees and my arms. The rest of the body was quite dry. OK on the other hand I was just a few seconds in the water; Sebastian lifted me up me up very quickly. Thanks at that point to you Sebastian!, cause it wasn´t so easy to get back on the dock.
All in all it was a perfect trip nearby Helsinki. If you ever have the chance for a cruise in that area, do it. It is unique and FinGuys are good guys. There is just one littel rule: don´t drink with them. You will loose.
Where to stay in Helsinki.
If I´m in any town my first look for a hotel is always the homepage of Design Hotels. That was also a good choice in Helsinki. We had there our first night, befor we get on the yacht. The hotel KLAUS K is a promise and really a good hotel. You can read my review direct HERE on Tripadvisor.