Contributions by Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The arrival is simple for people to manage. Most moor with the bow in and use mooring lines or stern buoys. Slightly larger boats moor alongside either on the regular docks or at the 'ice factory' directly ahead upon arrival.

It is a very nice harbor for refueling as there is plenty of space and many pumps.

The harbor overall is quite average with one restaurant, SeaSide, with a good menu, otherwise there is a pizzeria and a couple of smaller cafes.

Big plus for very nice hiking trails that are well marked once you find the starting area (search for 'Björkö Hiking start point').

2 x helpful | written on 28. Jul 2024 | updated_on 28. Jul 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The description by Stig Ulfsby is very good, but I would like to add a couple of points.

If you choose to moor on the outside along the main channel, you will likely experience some traffic waves, especially during peak season. If you stay on the outside by the wooden docks, there are shallow areas that particularly larger sailboats need to watch out for. It is tempting to moor alongside there, but there are some rocky and shallow parts.

For those who like to sail off-season, Gullholmen Hamnkrog is open every weekend throughout the year for simple and good food and drinks.

2 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Open and easy access. Clay bottom provides 'infinite' good holding with the anchor on the clay bottom. Beautiful hiking areas on Kalvön, and Havstenssund is only a short dinghy ride away for shopping and a pleasant quay restaurant.

2 x helpful | written on 6. Jul 2024 | updated_on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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A favorite anchorage that provides very good holding, both in the southern and northern basins. SXK buoys are located in the southern basin and make the anchorage somewhat smaller but still with ample space.

There is a clay bottom and very good holding here. Have anchored here in 25 knots of wind with shifting directions and it holds very well for all winds except the northern ones.

1 x helpful | written on 15. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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We have stayed at anchor. 7-10 meters deep with mud bottom and very protected for all types of wind

1 x helpful | written on 18. Feb 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The approach is completely unproblematic, but be cautious as you go further into shallow areas. We anchored north of the SXK buoys at about 5m depth in 20-25 knot winds, had very good holding and slept well on our own anchor.

The bay is nice, but quite open so it doesn't feel as 'exotic' as many other anchorage spots that are more like lagoons. But definitely a very good alternative if you do not wish to stay at the guest harbor in Björkö or similar nearby. Well protected from SW to NW winds.

Just south of the anchorage, there is a fixed concrete pier where you can go ashore on Björkö, and you come directly onto a loop trail that is very nice for exercise or, for that matter, to walk to Björkö guest harbor for a bite to eat.

1 x helpful | written on 2. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Vesterø Havn on Læsø is a very pleasant and quiet harbour. Good capacity and the attitude that there is always room for one more boat. Larger boats over 16 meters can moor alongside on the starboard side when arriving at the harbour, others moor in the harbour mainly with mooring lines and bow in.

Right by the harbour, there are a number of different dining and serving places. 200 meters up the street, there is a grocery store that has most things.

For those who wish to cook their own food, there are a number of grill huts along the harbour with grills on site, so you just need to buy charcoal and you're all set.

For golf enthusiasts, it is advisable to rent a car, which is very convenient and affordable. There is information about who to contact where you pay the harbour fee. You can then also drive around the island to other places to experience Læsø, and to a larger grocery store in the "center" of the island.

In strong W/NW winds, you need to prepare to be a "submarine" if you are going out from the harbour, the shallow water creates steep waves that hit well on the way out. It can also be good to time your departure/arrival so you do not come into conflict with the ferry to Frederikshavn.

1 x helpful | written on 2. Aug 2024 | updated_on 2. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The channel is open and simple, and well-suited for late arrivals after sunset.

It is idyllic and beautiful inside the lagoon, and you are well protected from almost all wind directions except winds coming directly from the S/SE. A small 'notch' in the mountain allows you to feel winds from due west, but the bottom is clay, providing an excellent hold if you just lay out a few extra meters of chain.

You have very good holding at depths of 5-10 meters.

There are also some SXK buoys here for those with boats that are sized for the buoys.

If you have a small RIB or similar, it is a short trip to Bovallstrand, which has a few select restaurants, a marina, and not least an ICA supermarket with a wide selection if you walk a few hundred meters from the harbor.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024 | updated_on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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TanumStrand is a very good alternative to staying in Grebbestad. A much calmer and more pleasant harbor unless you want to have the whole 'dock party' onboard the boat as you can quickly get in Grebbestad.

Grebbestad is a 15-minute walk from TanumStrand and if you plan to do major shopping, it might be wise to take the dinghy to the innermost part of the harbor basin in Grebbestad where you will find 2 grocery stores, a Systembolaget, and fishmongers.

At TanumStrand, you can eat indoors at the hotel or at their own pizzeria on the dock.

During the peak season, there are Beach Parties at TanumStrand daily or on weekends, so it can be lively here too, but it usually takes place between 16-19.


There are very nice bathing spots on and around TanumStrand, a mini-golf course, a diving center, SUP rental, and more. There is also a small shop that sells fresh baked goods every day, as well as some of the most essential items if something is forgotten.

Mooring is primarily done with the bow/stern to the dock and mooring to buoys. If you have boats 45 feet+ the buoys start to struggle to hold the boat well so you can lie alongside the outermost floating dock, but there will be some traffic waves, as well as some disturbance from the sea when there is an onshore wind.

Outside of the season, they allow more alongside berths inside the harbor.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Bovallstrand is a small and very pleasant harbour with a couple of alternative dining places on or right by the dock. You will also find a great ice cream bar and some other shopping opportunities.

They have a very good ICA grocery store which is about a 4-500 meter walk to get to, but they have a rich selection if you need to stock up the refrigerator.

There is a very open and easy access into Bovallstrand. Mooring on the outside of the outer floating dock is done either alongside or using a mooring line. Here you should expect both some traffic waves from the outside, as well as some swell in NW/N winds as the waves come straight into the harbour.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Smögen is well-known to many, not just for being a pleasant place, but also a lot for the good parties the place offers in high season and partly on weekends outside of the season.

This is not the place to stay if you want peace and quiet for the family, at least not in the outer part where there is usually disco or piano music late into the night. It is quieter further into the cove. You can go far in even with large boats and there is room to turn around even if there is some wind.

In season, there are a few alongside berths, while otherwise, mooring lines are used. Outside of the season, you can mostly just lie alongside the whole pier. Good depths far into the cove.

Although in theory, you are sheltered from the wind inside Smögen, you will experience some turbulence in the harbour during strong winds, almost regardless of the direction. There are other harbours I would have chosen if storm protection was what you sought.

There are many nice and cozy eateries in Smögen, and a couple of places even serve breakfast from early morning in the season. One restaurant is open all year round, so you can enjoy a pleasant meal no matter what time of year you visit. The hotel a bit further up in town is also a very good alternative with delicious food and a good wine list.

Although you will find candy shops, ice cream stands, restaurants, and other shopping along the piers, it's quite a walk to the regular grocery store in Smögen.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Malmön is a very pleasant marina with a couple of good restaurants and a very good fishmonger who offers the finest products for sale. There is a small grocery store in the harbor where you can get the most necessary items.

There is a smaller boat that goes between Smögen and Malmön, which you can use if you want something different than what Malmön has to offer.

Malmön has some fantastic swimming spots and beautiful beaches, as well as great hiking areas.

The approach is easy, and you are well protected from most winds as long as you are on the inside of the floating docks. You can dock either between Y-booms, stern mooring to a buoy, or alongside.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The approach to Lysekil Marina is straightforward, and although the 'wind rose' here does not show it, you are very well protected from all winds as long as you get inside the breakwater. It is a fairly new facility with good amenities on the docks and a very nice service building of high standard.

In the harbor, you will find a surprisingly good restaurant that is open on weekends from April to September, and every day from mid-June to mid-August. You will also find a very nice mini-golf course outside the restaurant and a small ice cream kiosk with essential small items if you should run out of something.

Beyond the harbor, the area is not very exciting, and it is about a 15-minute drive to Lysekil city center.

Although it doesn't matter for boating life, there is perhaps 'Europe’s' best motorhome parking here with a sea view and terraces with glass railings.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024 | updated_on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Henån is not the harbor you go to unless you are arriving or departing from winter storage. At Orust Yacht Service. But if you have been or are going to winter storage, or need something fixed, there is very good service to be had at OYS.

If you are in Henån anyway, there is an incredibly good ICA store right by the harbor and not least a Systembolag. If you wish to spend the day and evening here, there are a couple of good Thai restaurants in town that are worth dining at.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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A somewhat narrow, but quite manageable entrance that we have also navigated at night. The boat anchors very well in clay here at a depth of 6-10 meters. Provides good protection against most winds.

There are also some SXK buoys here for those who have boats suited for the load they can withstand.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Marstrand is one of our absolute favorites. Marstrand is like a small world apart from everything else you find along the coast. The architecture and style are unique, it is well-kept, and there are many beautiful buildings to see.

There are several very good restaurants on the island, such as Mama's with its Asian Fusion, Lasse Maja with its exquisite meat and fish dishes, and you can't miss oysters and bubbles at Johan's Tavern.

If you're looking for some quick and good food, it's nice to have 'fish and chips' at the Arvidson Brothers on the pier.

The hiking opportunities around the island are superb, with several good swimming spots. You can also take the ferry to the mainland to hike on Koön.

There you can also take the bus for 10-15 minutes past a very nice golf course, Lycke Golf & Country Club.

We have mostly stayed at the 'Quay' which uses mooring lines extending into the strait. They are not always directly in front of the spot they belong to, so it can quickly cause some confusion and problems. In strong winds, there can quickly be some swell from the sea into the strait.

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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A favorite anchorage spot. Provides especially good protection when it blows from NW to SW. If the harbor at Gullholmen is full, this place also quickly fills up.

Grass in shallow areas, 'nail-hold' in slightly deeper areas.

Short dinghy ride to shore with excellent roads and trails for hiking and training.

Some traffic waves should be expected during the daytime in peak season, especially from the ferries.

1 x helpful | written on 7. Jul 2024 | updated_on 7. Jul 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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Fiskebäckskil is an idyllic little harbour where you will find protection from almost all winds. During the high season, there is a very helpful harbourmaster who meets you with a dinghy and guides you to your spot. Call ahead if you are over 50 feet!

On the pier, there is a restaurant and bar, Brygghuset, which serves fantastic food and has an impressively large whisky collection with many thousand varieties adorning the walls of the bar. The restaurant is also open on weekends outside of the season, so check their website for information.

A few hundred meters away, there is a small grocery store (Tempo) which, during the season, has impressively fine and fresh ingredients for making a meal on the boat.

1 x helpful | written on 27. Oct 2024

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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The quay in Tønsberg is a fun and entertaining harbor. Very lively on weekends and not suitable for families with children. But for those who enjoy a bit of excitement, it is very nice with a short distance to restaurants of good quality, dancing, and drinks. A short walk to the city for shops and everything you need (and don't need).

Mooring no longer requires the use of an anchor. You dock at one of the 3 concrete quays or tie up to high, blue buoys. Larger boats often need two of these buoys (> 50-55 feet). To get the moorings tight enough, they often need to be tied midship.

We recommend overuse of fenders as there is a lot of in/out traffic from the quays in all classes of seamanship.

1 x helpful | written on 16. Apr 2025

Cato Kaasa @ Sailing ZERO says:

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One of the southern coast's best standards regarding pier facilities. Good capacity, high standard, good facilities on land.

Swimming pool on the pier for those who do not wish to swim in the sea and a short distance to the city's facilities.

Larger boats must moor side-to at the outer part, but they are still often well sheltered. There are also a couple of large side-to berths on the inside, but these are popular...

1 x helpful | written on 16. Apr 2025