The West Swedish archipelago – the water landscape around Marstrand

This is where you board:
Gothenburg in the summer province of Bohuslän: The archipelago of western Sweden is considered perhaps the most beautiful sea area in the Baltic Sea. The city center of Sweden's second-largest city is easily explored on foot; numerous cafés invite visitors to linger and people-watch. For those interested in maritime history, a visit to the four-masted barque Viking, built in 1906, is also worthwhile; this largest windjammer ever built in Scandinavia is now a museum ship moored in the Lilla Bommen harbor.

Incidentally, the hull of our Eye of the Wind lay in a shipyard in Gothenburg for a year starting in 1970; some time later, the conversion work to a passenger ship in its current form began there, thus marking the “second life” of the tall ship.

Travel description:

Our crew will welcome you aboard in the port of Gothenburg. You can reach us either by taking the daily ferry from Kiel or by flying directly from many airports in German-speaking countries. Embarkation is at 7 p.m. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a communal dinner in the cozy lounge, where you'll quickly feel at home on the decks of the Eye of the Wind and get to know your fellow passengers.

Our sailing area: through Kattegat and Skagerrak to Marstrand

In a stream of container ships, ferries, and yachts, our windjammer pushes its way out of Gothenburg through the shipping channel and into the Baltic Sea. Lighthouses, stone beacons, and the typical reddish-brown-gray rock of the archipelago stand out against the horizon. Various granite formations, small islands, and piles of stones lie at random intervals in the water, forcing the smaller motorboats around us into zigzag courses through the wet landscape.

After a varied day of sailing, we look for a sheltered anchorage. The selection of suitable spots is enormous – probably nowhere else in the world are there more islands and bays per square nautical mile.

In the evening hours it is worthwhile to launch the dinghy and head for one of the smaller rocky islands – the granite rock stores the warmth of the day; from here we can enjoy the evening atmosphere over the sea in peace and seclusion.

The view from a raised rock overlooking the barren landscape with its scattered wooden houses in the typical colors of oxblood red and yellow is simply breathtaking.

Surrounded by nature, the view sweeps across waves, islands, arches, bays, mountains, and moss-covered stones. Just a few nautical miles further north, the landscape changes. Green, partly wooded islands line the winding channels. During the summer months, only moderate waves are to be expected in this area, promising a calm passage. The destination for today's leg is the port of Marstrand on the islands of Marstrandsø and Koø in the Skagerrak. The Carlsten Fortress, which towers above the car-free town, can be seen from afar.

Side trip to Gullmaren, Sweden's only fjord

We sail around the islands of Tjörn and Orust to the north and enter the Gullmaren, Sweden's only fjord, at the latitude of Lysekil. The Gullmarsfjorden cuts approximately 30 kilometers into the interior of the country.

Here in the heart of the Bohuslän region, we inevitably feel transported into the world of Astrid Lindgren's Bullerby. Many hours of sunshine and pleasant air and water temperatures make the region a popular holiday destination.

We continue cruising through the idyllic archipelago, enjoying our days at sea. The fresh sea air is known to whet the appetite – so look forward to our excellent onboard cuisine, which will surprise you daily with varied creations from the galley cookbook and local specialties. Enjoy the tranquility of nature or relax on deck with a good book from our extensive onboard library.

Through the archipelago back to Gothenburg

On the way back to Gothenburg, we'll make another stop in the port of Mollösund or find an anchorage on the south side of the island of Klaverön. From the deck, we'll watch – perhaps with a good glass of wine – the lively activity of the late-arriving yachts. You couldn't ask for much more from a perfect day of vacation.
After an eventful week at sea, we reach our port of departure.
A final glance at the small and tiny rocky islands, scattered here too, seemingly within easy reach of our route. You will surely remember our ship, the crew, and the rural-maritime idyll of the historic province of Bohuslän fondly.