Bornholm, Gotland and Stockholm archipelago

Scandinavian Summer Cruise from Ystad to Visby

Please note the following about the itinerary described: The cruise described consists of two one-week segments, each of which can be booked individually. Contact us – we'll be glad to help you set up your arrival and departure. This route is optional and can be changed without notice due to the wind and weather conditions. The captain often decides the course of each day's sailing on that day and will, whenever possible, of course try to take into account your wishes. This ensures that your cruise will be a pleasant mix of adventure and comfort, from joining in and simple enjoyment. The length of the cruise is designed to give sufficient time for visits to ports or quiet moments anchored at sea. This is not a cruise full of hustle and bustle. In harmony with the wind and the sea, we will unwind ourselves and discover the power of taking it slow. This cruise guarantees and strives for deep relaxation.

Recreation and Adventure at Full Sail

"Cathedrals of the seas", as the tall windjammers were once called as their billowing, mountainous sails would appear over the horizon. Replace your everyday life for a week with life on board such a traditional tall ship. Our two-mast brig will take you on an unforgettable summer voyage through the archipelago off the southern Swedish coast. After a safety briefing and instruction in sailing, you'll soon be able to participate in the active operation of the ship, if you want. Our professional crew is glad to explain how every detail of the historic brig operates. All sailing manoeuvres are performed by the experienced crew completely by hand. Setting and trimming the sails is always a fascinating show of skill going back to ancient seafaring days which you can relax and enjoy from the deck.

Embarkation in Ystad – worth seeing for more than just fans of Wallander

Our crew will welcome you on board in the port of Ystad in the historic province of Skåne. Embarkation is at 8 pm. You'll quickly feel right at home in the cosy lounges and on the deck of the 'Eye of the Wind'. After a welcome drink and dinner in the deck lounge, you'll have the opportunity to explore the historic, former fishing village with its many well-preserved half-timbered houses from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Sweden's southernmost city is also a place of pilgrimage for fans of author Henning Mankell, whose famous detective Kurt Wallander lives in the city. Our advice: Use the time before checking in to visit the seventeenth-century  Marsvinsholm Castle, just seven miles from Ystad.

Sailing for Bornholm

Soon you'll hear "Leinen los!" and we'll be setting sail for our first stop, the Danish island of Bornholm, about 40 nautical miles ahead on the horizon. From the sea, the 85-mile coastline presents itself as a mixture of unique, bizarre rock formations, endless white sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages with the characteristic chimneys of the fish smokehouses. As a starting point for a leisurely trip ashore, we will choose between the ports of Rønne on the west side of the island or Nexø on the east side, known for being Denmark's sunniest town. Bornholm can be easily explored by hiring a bicycle or by bus and offers numerous attractions for visitors of all ages: you can visit Hammershus, Europe's largest fortress ruin, on the north side of the island. From there, you can enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view across to the Swedish coast. Stone Age rock paintings and the small Hammerodde lighthouse can be found near the village of Allinge. Also worth seeing are the four round churches in Nylars near Rønne, estimated to be more than 900 years old. From the port of Nexø, a worthwhile trip would be to the dunes of Dueodde which invite you to take a long walk on the beach. In rainy weather, you may want to check out the new Nature Bornholm museum, which tells visitors the 1.7 billion years of history on Bornholm.  

   
Typical Bornholm impressions from Rønne (image courtesy of Thomas Nykrog) Hammershus (Jørgen Schytte)
and Nylars with its round churches (Lennard Nielsen).

Side trip to Ertholmene, Denmark's easternmost point

As we move north-easterly, we will soon pass the small Ertholmene archipelago. Christiansø and Frederiksø form the easternmost point of Denmark. Offering a place for ships to berth, the rocky island of Christiansø looks like a former hideout for pirates. It now has fewer than 100 inhabitants and has no cars. After the day-trippers have left the island, there is an indescribable silence here that you'll want to preserve and take home with you.

Aerial view of the Ertholmene archipelago (image courtesy of Jan Winther); the idyllic harbor of Christiansø (Denmark Media Center).

Sailing adventures on the Baltic Sea

Our journey takes us across the waves of the Baltic. Driven by the wind, we will set sail for Gotland, Sweden's largest island and the destination of our summer cruise through Scandinavia. We will be on the water for a longer period now. We will sail from early morning until late at night or maybe even overnight without stopping – another highlight of the trip and at the same time a genuine seafaring adventure just like in ancient times! The gentle, steady rocking of the ship's hull in the waves, the vastness of the sea and the faint creaking of the rigging are the best ingredients for a relaxing holiday experience. The soothing uniformity of the sea takes root in your soul and the stress of everyday life drains away. The fresh sea air will also stimulate your appetite—you can look forward to dining in our excellent galley which consistently gets top marks in our customer surveys. Be surprised by what you discover!

Gotland's secret: a unique blend of light, air and water

As sailors, you'll be greeted as you approach Gotland by the Raukar, rock columns that thrust up to 20 metres out of the sea as remnants of the ice age millions of years ago and which seem to wear bizarre faces (image courtesy of Tuukka Ervasti / imagebank sweden se). Numerous offshore islets that lie not far off the coast, are often uninhabited or have a lighthouse as the single structure, are part of what make Gotland so fascinating. This part of the sea is known as Sweden's fair-weather sailing area as there's often little or no wind and daytime temperatures exceed 20°C in July. The Gotland secret lies in the unique combination of light, air and water.

Visby: World Heritage Site with a lively Hanseatic past

We'll then head into the port of Visby – with 20,000 residents, the largest town on the island and protected as a World Heritage Site. The town is marked by the fully preserved two-mile long fortifications which form a semi-circular defensive wall around the historic town centre down to the beach. Once the most important port in the Baltic region, the town was often the subject of many hard-fought battles. Even today, the townspeople live among the four-storey timber-framed façades within the city limits of 1250. The old cobblestone streets, the massive ruins of a burned-down church and low archways will inspire you as you imagine life here five hundred years ago when Visby was the capital of the Hanseatic League and horse-drawn wagons rattled their way down to the lively marketplace. You might even imagine the clamour of sabres rattling among wild pirate hordes.

After we circle halfway around the island, we will look for a sheltered spot to drop anchor for the night. The Bay of Herrvik offers good conditions. Monstrous cliffs are right next to the beach of this formerly large fishing village with its own shipyard. It's worthwhile taking an evening stroll around the headland after we take the excursion boat ashore. Or enjoy the evening on deck, watching the sunset and the tranquil sea with a glass of wine from the bar on board.

Trip to Fårö – the wildest scenery of the whole of Sweden

The smaller neighbouring island Fårö is separated from Gotland by a narrow strait and was made famous by the great director Ingmar Bergman. He chose the island as his preferred location because "the barren, rocky landscape of the wide Baltic Sea in the background" was ideal for his film projects. The semi-circular Ekeviken Bay on the north side of the island provides shelter for the night, surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery. Anchoring here is also no problem.

The Stockholm archipelago in sunset light - a truly perfect moment during your sailing vacation
(image courtesy of Ola Ericson / imagebank sweden se).

The wind sets the course for the Stockholm archipelago

Depending on the wind and weather, we will then set course for the island of Öland on the Kalmarsund or head to the Stockholm archipelago in the north-west. These picturesque, rocky archipelagos lying off the coast of the mainland offer a variety of alternatives for planning our journey. Vibrant ports or secluded bays, open seas or forested seashores: diverse landscapes are guaranteed and the next idyllic anchorage is never far away.

Farewell in Visby and stopover in Stockholm

After two weeks of adventure, relaxation and impressions of nature, you will take your leave of our crew and your fellow sailors in Visby. You'll disembark with a duffel bag full of memories You'll be departing with some relaxing summer days on the Baltic Sea behind you. The trip offers plenty of variety with a balance between time sailing and relaxing shore excursions. From here you can easily head back home with a stopover in Stockholm on your way to the international airport. To explore the riches of Sweden's capital, we recommend spending an additional night in the city – we'll be glad to help you plan your stay.  Use your stay in Scandinavia's largest city for a visit to the Vasa Museum, where a completely preserved warship from 1628 is on display (image courtesy of Ola Ericson, imagebank sweden se). The royal palace and the parliament building are other architectural highlights of the cityscape. In summer evenings, it's worth strolling through Stockholm's Gröna Lund amusement park, located right on the water.    

Highlights of this trip:

• Sailing in western Baltic
• Bornholm: Unique nature and the most sunshine hours in Denmark
• Spectacular natural impressions on the islands of Gotland and Fårö
• Balance between time spent at sea and generous shore excursions
• Pleasant sailing in an area without extreme weather and sea conditions
• Active sailing operation on a more than 100 year-old Windjammer Excellent galley with culinary highlights from morning to night

Services included:

• 14 nights' accommodation on the 100 year-old historic 'Eye of the Wind'
• Accommodation in exclusive double cabin with hot and cold running water, shower, toilet and air conditioning
• Full board (including all meals, soft drinks, coffee & tea)
• Lounge with TV/video and extensive on-board library, some limited WiFi access available

Not included:
Travel to Ystad and from Visby, shore excursions and alcoholic beverages. We will be glad to help you make individual plans for your arrival and departure. Please contact us.