SPS Guest Harbour Services
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.
Sirpalesaari island, 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. 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.
MARINA
Berths available for visitors are not marked, except for four at the southern end of pier (see map no. 15). After landing there, you can inquire the coxswain (also harbour master) of the connection boat (no. 14) for other alternatives. The harbour master Mr Lauri Snellman can also be reached by phone: +358 40 827 9264, or by e-mail: lauri.snellman(at)ferra.fi (web site pending).
The guest fee per day is EUR 20, per week EUR 100 and per month EUR 350 payable to the harbour master. The fee includes drinking water and electricity on the piers, as well as the use of lavatory and shower facilities (no. 11 on the map). Garbage disposal is on the mainland near the pier of the connection boat (no. 20). Sauna is available at extra charge (EUR 12 per hour), 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 Finnish cuisine (no. 13 on the map). The restaurant also has an outside serving area with a wonderful seascape.
It is possible to dock the visiting boat temporarily for inspection (max. displacement 8 tonnes) and use the self-service mast crane (no. 7 on the map). Should these services be required, please consult the harbour master.
connection boat to mainland helsinki
The connection boat to the mainland runs mainly at 20 minutes intervals, but there are exceptions to this rule, please consult the timetable.
During the Midsummer weekend (the weekend closest to June 24th), however, traffic ceases on Friday afternoon and recommences on Sunday afternoon.
additional information
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.
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 6 pm on Sundays. Major international credit cards (e.g. Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, AmEx and Diner’s) are accepted in most shops and restaurants. Banks are open from 10 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.