Boating Information in Finland, Russia, and Estonia: A Comparison
Boating information comparing Finland, Russia, and Estonia reveals preferences of Russians for Finnish harbors due to various factors such as leisure activities, service availability, and safety. The content details harbor facilities, club memberships, boat registrations, and reasons influencing choices. While Finland attracts with its diverse offerings, Estonia boasts lower prices and Russian-speaking locals. Transport connections and service reliability play key roles in harbor selection preferences.
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Russians in Finnish Harbours Kalevi Westersund
Russians in Finnish Harbours There are none yet. And in Estonian harbours even less
Information of boating - Finnland 170.000 lakes (> 2.000 m2) and 180.000 islands Totally about 39.000 km shoreline The Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation have 330 clubs with 60.000 members. Around 13.000 motorboats and 11.000 sailing boats are registered within clubs About 200.000 vessels are registered at Finnish Transport and Safety Agency (Trafi). Alltogether about 800.000 boats and vessels, including small rowboats Classified guest harbours total about 1.300: 500 coastal marinas, and nearly 800 fresh water marinas, mostly on Lake Saimaa
Information of boating - Russia Baltic part: 20 clubs with 2.000 members. Number of pleasure boats in the Baltic Sea Russia approx. 20.000 148 harbours including 20 marinas. 20 marinas in St Petersburg area. Between Vyborg and St. Petersburg 7 harbours are available for foreign boats. 3 harbours in the Kaliningrad area.
Information of boating - Estonia Approximately 25-30 harbours for cruising yachts. 11 yacht clubs with estimated 800 members. Comments: why Russians prefer Finnish harbours to Estonian harbours Finland is a brand of rest in Russia (cottages, saunas, lakes, fishing, skies, shopping etc) Lot of information about harbors, cities, islands, sailing clubs and services in Finland. The market of used and new small crafts is very large, many Russians bought own vessels from Finland. Very good service for new and old boats including spare parts, motor services and shops (Biltema, Maritim, Motonet etc.) around all Finland.
Comments: why Russians prefer Finnish harbours to Estonian harbours The single disadvantage is level of prices but for usual people it s not big problem due to they try to save money for it during the winter period. Sailing from St Petersburg to Finland is more safe and convenient (the internal fairway) . Commented by Denis Vlasov, representative of Vyborg s Yacht Club Tsvetuschiy myis in Finland
Comments: why Russians prefer Finnish harbours to Estonian harbours Estonia Pros: Prices are lower, Locals speak Russian Cons: Customs post is less convenient and at longer distance, shallow and less interesting waters, services and conveniences are less reliable than in Finland. The more regular and diverse transport connection the better for the estonian harbours; High quality services are of high importance, this is one of the key reasons well to do russians prefer sailing in european waters; The fewer documents and easier regulations for membership the better
Comments: why Russians prefer Finnish harbours to Estonian harbours Finland Pros: sailing through archipelago is more entertaining, services are more stable and reliable, closer to the Russian border, older Europe than Estonia . Cons: High prices, Possible language problems. Commented by Mr. Vladimir Ivankiv, Chairman of the Foreign Committee of the St. Petersburg Sailing Union, Honorary Representative of the 8 European Cruising Associations in Russia
Comments: why Russians prefer Finnish harbours to Estonian harbours Wealthy Russians tend more to motor yachts In Kotkawe have a steady flow of Russian boats, and they tend to be either expensive motor cruisers, sometimes very large, or quite small, old, and often home-built sailboats. Normal cruising sailboat is still pretty rare in Russia, compared to the size of the population, because St. Petersburg is not a convenient place for keeping a cruising boat, but at the same time the popularity of chartering a boat is increasing, especially in Greece and Croatia. In Kotka, we will have a charter fleet specially to get Russians acquainted with the cruising possibilities in the area I want to compile a cruising guide for the Eastern Gulf of Finland, from Helsinki/Tallinn to the Russian border, on both sides Commented by Mr. Cameron Sawyer, Chairman of Board of Directors. GVA Sawyer have a new urban development project Kotka Old Port
Improvements for boaters Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation cooperated 2014 with Russia to improve sailing to St. Petersburg and vice versa. Custom clearance now also in Vyborg and then 6 harbours before Kronstadt. www.spv.fi Russian boaters can also get only one Schengenvisa to sail around the Baltic Sea New 30 Miles -project have already 2016 improved 6 harbours from Tallinn to Narva and is ongoing with 6 harbours from Helsinki to Klamila. The development speed of Estonian harbours have been enormous during latest 5-10 years! In many places also good and friendly personnel and excellent harbour masters. Estonian harboursare seldom full (except on Muhu V in), Finnish SW archipelago crowded 6 weeks Visiting boats are over 50 % from Finland, 20 % Estonia, 10 % Sweden, 10 % Germany and 10 % others. Estonian harbours are ready to welcome more foreign visitors!
Kalevi Westersund Honorary member and ex. Vise Commodor of Helsingfors Segelklubb, HSK Council member of International Council of Cruising Yachts, ICCY (latest ICCY 2016 Rostock) Member of Baltic Sea Cruising Network (Useful Information of all 9 Baltic Sea countries + UK and Norway) Contact person to Cruising Association (Harbours of the Baltic States and Cruising Guide to Baltic Russia) Member of Finnish Boating Journalist Association 2009-2012 Cruising manager at Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation, still member of Boating committee Active sailing since 1970 in Finnish and Swedish archipelago and since 1992 more to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, St. Petersburg (1993 and 2003), Kaliningrad (2002 and 2007) and Poland Several articles on Finnish boating magazines, presentations on Helsinki Boat Show and seminars, etc. Mission: encourage Finnish sailors and boater to find re opened Estonian waters, fine harbours and beautiful nature! (leading escaders to Estonia and Bay of Riga and to opening of Old City Marina and K rdla Marina)
