Real life sailing stories: a journey from Germany to Finland
Mikael Lönnroth is a passionate Finnish sailor who, back in 2019 at the Southampton Boat Show, found his maritime match in the elegant lines of a Hanse 388. It wasn't long before he made the vessel his own; indeed, just a few months later, he embarked on the remarkable voyage of navigating his new sailing boat ‘Charlotte’ from our Greifswald shipyard across the Baltic Sea.
Mikael’s choice: the Hanse 388
The Hanse 388 is a remarkable sailing yacht that epitomises both dynamic sailing and comfortable living without any compromise. Its striking exterior design merges excellent nautical capabilities with easy handling, all wrapped in an eye-catching aesthetic. Inside, the yacht's interior offers ingenious solutions for ultimate comfort, storage, and a homely yet stylish ambience, adaptable to personal preferences with various layout options.
Sailing for the first time: May 2019
The maiden voyage commenced in May 2019, bound for Turku, Finland – a 500-nautical-mile journey, strategically divided into three legs:
Greifswald to Rønne, Bornholm
Rønne, Bornholm to Visby, Gotland
Visby, Gotland to Turku
"Picking up our yacht from Greifswald was a special adventure for us all. Thankfully, three colleagues eagerly joined me for my maiden voyage. Casting off for the 500 nautical mile trip to Turku in Finland was exhilarating. As I steered down the River Ryck, a single thought kept circling in my mind: This boat is truly mine now!"
From Germany to Finland by boat
A blend of anticipation and strategic navigation marked the first leg of the journey for Mikael and his crew. Their aim was to sail from Greifswald to Rønne on the island of Bornholm in Denmark, a challenging endeavour that started with the meticulous timing of their departure to coincide with the opening of the Wiecker Drawbridge.
Once through, they were truly on their way.
"Our schedule was tight. The five-day trip to Finland included stops in Rønne on Bornholm and Visby on Gotland. We utilised the initial light-wind leg to Rønne to test our new Code Zero sail. The cold caught up with us en route to Visby. Temperatures plummeted below two degrees, turning our three-hour night watch into a true challenge. Nonetheless, our spirits stayed uplifted thanks to the onboard heating and copious amounts of warm tea."
A Code Zero is a sail designed explicitly for light to moderate wind conditions at angles too close for spinnakers yet too open for genoas. It is constructed from advanced laminate materials, featuring a large surface area and a flatter profile to optimise lift while minimising drag (ideal for close-reaching courses!).
"One of the most beautiful passages was from Visby to Turku, passing northeast of the Swedish Gotska Sandön. In the serene calm, we simply let the yacht drift, savoured our dinner, and enjoyed a magnificent sunset as our backdrop."
A close call in the final leg to Turku
Mikael and his team had motored through the night, pushing the engine to high RPMs for the new-engine break-in cycle. They were aware of the increased fuel consumption but believed they had sufficient reserves.
At one point, Mikael shouted, "We're down to 35% diesel, and we still have a long way ahead!" to Ben, the crew member at the helm. Their fuel estimates were not as accurate as they thought. And with no wind in sight, diesel, though not their preferred choice, had become an essential ally.
"It's down to 29% now. We definitely won't reach Turku. Are there any islands near our route where we can refuel?"
After a few brief phone calls — "Are you open?" "Yes, we are!" — and some hours later, s/y Charlotte docked for her first time in Finland at Nötö, an island amid the Archipelago Sea.
"While we were attempting to dock the yacht in the shallow waters near the small refuelling jetty, the lady managing the facility greeted us with, 'Oh! We've never had such a beautiful boat here!' That felt nice!"
Sailing for the first time home
As narrated by Mikael:
“The winds were extremely light, yet the final hour of our trip, gliding gently and quietly through the stunning archipelago was undoubtedly the most beautiful part of our journey. And I do think our sailing yacht Charlotte cherished it deeply as well.”
We connected with Mikael shortly after his arrival in Finland, and these were his reflections on the maiden voyage:
“I particularly enjoy reminiscing about the final hours of the trip. Sailing through the archipelago into Turku in the warm evening light was magical. It was a magnificent arrival in our home port. Our children were eager to see their berths on Charlotte. They began exploring immediately, and my youngest daughter, Mimmi, exclaimed, “Our floating home,” which made me incredibly proud.”
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Special thanks to Mikael and his family for sharing their story. Follow the latest adventures of this Finnish family on their blog: https://nakedsailor.blog/
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