Guests

Suomalainen Pursiseura [SPS]
The Finnish Yacht Club

Location        60º 9' 7'' N 24º 56' 46'' E

Merisatama


Sirpalesaari as a Guest Marina

The Finnish Yacht Club, founded in 1913, is the oldest Finnish-speaking yacht club in Helsinki. Apart from providing services for cruisers, the club is active in racing as well. Several members have had highly successful international racing careers. The most prominent among them is Thomas Johanson, Olympic champion of the 49er class in Sydney in 2000.

mantereen_puolelta.jpgThe island of Sirpalesaari, the home base of The Finnish Yacht Club, is also a guest marina for visiting boats. It is easily approachable using the official channel running between the island and the mainland. The channel is intended for vessels with a maximum draught of 1.8 meters (6 feet), but even larger ones can safely use it, especially when arriving from the west.


Sirpalesaari from the mainland
(Photo: Antti Voutilainen)

Yachts arriving directly from outside the Schengen area (in the Baltic Sea area Russia) should go through passport and customs inspection at Suomenlinna Coast Guard station before mooring at Sirpalesaari. Suomenlinna is situated about 1.5 NM ESE of Sirpalesaari.

Berths available for visitors are not especially marked, except for four at the southern end of pier no. 7 (see map). After landing there, you can inquire the coaxman (also harbour master) of the connection boat (no. 1) for other alternatives. The harbour master Mr Mikko Lanki can also be reached by phone: +358 400 844 172 or by e-mail: mikko.lanki@blueshipline.fi, web site: http://www.blueshipline.fi/. Berths occupied by club members' yachts are available for visitors when members are away for longer periods.

The guest fee per day is EUR10, payable to the harbour master. For longer stays (one week or more), more favourable rates are available. The fee includes drinking water and electricity on the piers, as well as the use of lavatory and shower facilities (no. 3 on the map). Garbage disposal is on the mainland near the pier of the connection boat (no. 5). Sauna is available at extra charge, please consult the harbour master.

The marina is guarded by the club members at night, but due care should be taken, e.g. by locking the boat when leaving it unattended. SPS assumes no responsibility for items lost or stolen while at Sirpalesaari.

Sirpalesaari is also home to restaurant Saari that specialises in the Finnish cuisine (no. 4 on the map). The restaurant also has an outside serving area with a wonderful seascape.

The connection boat to the mainland runs every hour on the hour from Monday to Friday, and every half-hour from 3 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. It is conducted by the harbour master. Connection boat timetable.

During the Midsummer weekend (the weekend closest to June 24th), however, traffic ceases on Friday afternoon and recommences on Sunday afternoon.

ss_yli7.jpg

It is possible to dock the visiting boat temporarily for inspection (max. displacement 8 tonnes) and use the self-service mast crane (no. 10 on the map). Should these services be required, please consult the harbour master.

Sirpalesaari is located near the centre of Helsinki, and thus most points of interest as well as shops and other services are within walking distance. There are, however, several bus and tram stops in the vicinity as well (no. 11 on the map).

Most shops are open from 9 am to 9 pm Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and from 12 noon to 9 pm on Sundays. Major international credit cards (e.g. Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard and Diner's) are accepted in most shops and restaurants. Banks are open from 9.30 am to 4.15 pm, Monday through Friday, and post offices 9 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday. During weekends currency can be changed at the Helsinki main railway station and at some exchange points in the city centre.

The nearest cash machine (signed Otto, also useable by credit card) is located at the intersection of Kapteeninkatu and Tehtaankatu, about 0.6 miles from the connection boat's mainland stop. Helsinki City maps are available from the harbour master.(- KT -)