Stockholm Archipelago: The 50 Best Ports – book review

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Available in English, Stockholm Archipelago: The 50 Best Ports is an essential guide for those planning to explore Sweden’s islands and reefs

Stockholm Archipelago: Top 50 Ports
Anders Hellberg, Kerstin Benckert, Gustaf Hannar
Brixham Books, 399 kr (about £32.50)

This recently published guide to the 50 best ports in the Stockholm archipelago is the only one available in English.

Two of its authors – Anders Hellberg and Kerstin Benckert – are the co-skippers of the trawler Brixham Tibnor which provides the logo of their publishing house.

They are specialist publishers of pilot books and travel guides, but this is their first volume to be translated into English.

It seems likely to become indispensable, at least for the less experienced visitor.

The Stockholm archipelago is the second largest in the Baltic and contains around 30,000 islands, rocks and reefs.

The authors admit that their selection of the 50 “best” ports is necessarily subjective.

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They include well-established harbors such as Wasahamnen in central Stockholm, sheltered natural harbors and areas such as the Storra Nassa group of islands where you are advised to choose your own cove.

Sweden is a country with a universal right of access although there are certain areas with special protection for wildlife.

Flipping through the guide, I was intrigued by the number of islands with a military past, such as Siarofortet where massive cannons defend the approach to Stockholm and which the authors describe as “a museum of short-sighted defense planning in dark times”.

There are “hotspot” islands filled with summer vacation activities and quiet, magical places in the outer archipelago “where there’s not much to do but admit the beauty of the islands”.

The authors provide a clear introduction to the Nordic style of shore mooring and indicate where conventional anchoring would be a better choice.

The cruising ground is divided into six areas: Inner and Central Archipelago, Farusund Fairway, Outer Archipelago (north), Outer Archipelago (south), South Archipelago (interior), South Archipelago (outdoor).

The layout is very clear with very good shelter diagrams in each entrance as well as illustrated ratings of child friendliness and bathing possibilities.

Maps, distances, plus and minus factors and the availability of basic port services are included for each entry along with photographs that may inspire the reader to set sail immediately.

A very useful and well presented book.

Archipelago of Stockholm: the 50 best ports are available in the Swedish online bookstore Bokus – bokus.com – and the Stockholm Kartbutiken bookstore – kartbutiken.se – for delivery in most European countries.

For any other questions regarding the purchase, please email Brixham Books at [email protected]


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