CAROLA SAILING

Welcome!

Welcome to follow the adventures of s/y Carola and it’s crew in Baltic Sea and it’s beautiful archipelago! We are a blended family, a couple with four kids and a dog, searching for new adventures on the Finnish archipelago and beyond. They say there is over 40.000 islands here to explore and even more places to visit. In this lifetime we only have the opportunity to visit a fraction of it, but we’ll make sure to share these experiences with you. Let’s hope the next generation continues our journey in the same way, as we follow the wake of our parents.

Please enjoy the collection of pictures of our journey on Instagram and below.

Bon vent!
– André, Irja-Marie & Cheri

This is us

André

Skipper and entertainer, jack-of-all-trades

Being born and raised via the most beautiful archipelago in the world, saltwater runs through the veins of this bald sailor. Or at least he thinks so. Probably not, just plain blood and sometimes rum. Handyman whose passion is to personally know every single screw, wire and bolt that is attached to the boat. Loves to sing and play instruments.

Irja-Marie

First and last mate, sunshine in human form

Personification of sunshine itself. Still learning to sail, but already internalized the very essence of sailing: enjoying the diversity of life at sea. Best friend of sunny days and coffee. Loves to mingle with the sunshine and our fluffy sea sausage ’Cheri’. And coffee. Dressmaker by profession so she knows how to sew our drapes and sails too. Did I mention coffee?

Cheri

Fluffy sea sausage and a hole digger

Dachshund who doesn’t row on all oars. World’s kindest and simplest dog who just want to cuddle and sleep. And dig holes. Unfortunately that’s pretty hard when we’re sailing. Has never actually been swimming on water, so we need to try this sometime. Still learning her short and fluffy sea legs, but already dares to move around the boat. Loves to bite skippers nose when he’s asleep.

The Boat - s/y Carola

Sailing yacht Carola is a Finnflyer 31 CR (cruiser) built in 1993 in Finland. The boat model was first designed in 1978 by a boat designer and maths teacher, Eivind Still, for IOR and IMS -racing. This cruiser was designed more for family cruising although it still has very good features for racing too. Carola has 45 cm’s shorter Scheel-keel than the ordinary one which makes it a perfect cruiser for the archipelago (with 1,35 m draft). Carola has also a helm steering which was optional at that time. Carola is equipped with good off-shore equipment so it’s safe to sail even in gusty and rougher weather.

Carola is our second sailboat and we named her after Irja-Maries late mother who was an adverturess herself. So her journeys continue to live in ours through this boat. Hopefully very long!

Specifications

Lenght overall (LOA) 9,40 m / 31 ft
Waterline lenght (LWL) 7,50 m / 24.6 ft
Beam 3,20 m / 10.5 ft
Draft 1,35 m / 4.5 ft
Displacement 3.300 kg
Ballast (keel) 1.150 kg
Mainsail 25 m2
Headsail 25 m2
Jib 18 m2
Spinnaker 55 m2
Mast height 14,2 m
Fuel tank 90 l
Water tanks 190 l
18 hp diesel engine

Carola on Instagram

Lost count of days. Really starting to feel like a vaction. Some 150 miles sailed across the Turku archipelago. Still almost three weeks to go. We have so beautiful archipelago and nature here. With old traditions, friendly people, music and the food as good as the chef on board makes of it. So pretty good food too. Now it’s time to relax on a quiet place at anchor. ⛵️⚜️

#carolasailing #sailing #sailingarchipelago #sailingworld #sailingfinland #sailinglife #sailinglovers #sailboat #finnishsummer #turkuarchipelago #finnflyer #finnflyer31 #atanchor #anchor #sailingadventure