Suomalainen Pursiseura – SPS –
The Finnish Yacht Club – SPS Helsinki, Finland

Location 60º 9’ 7’’ N 24º 56’ 46’’ E

Sirpalesaari as a Guest Marina

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.

The island of Sirpalesaari, 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.

Antti Voutilainen has taken this photo of Sirpalesaari from the main land.

Yachts arriving directly from outside the Schengen area (e.g. from Estonia or Russia) should go through passport and customs inspection at Suomenlinna Coast Guard station before moving to Sirpalesaari. Suomenlinna is situated about 1.5 NM ESE of Sirpalesaari.

Berths available for visitors are not especially marked, except for four at the southern end of pier no. 7 (see map). After landing there, you can inquire the coaxman (also harbour master) of the connection boat (no. 1) for other alternatives. The harbour master Mr Mikko Lanki can also be reached by phone: +358 400 844 172 or by e-mail: mikko.lanki@blueshipline.fi. Berths occupied by club members´ yachts are available for visitors when members are away for longer periods.

The guest fee per day is EUR10, payable to the harbour master. For longer stays (one week or more), more favourable rates are available. The fee includes drinking water and electricity on the piers, as well as the use of lavatory and shower facilities (no. 3 on the map). Garbage disposal is on the mainland near the pier of the connection boat (no. 5). Sauna is available at extra charge, please consult the harbour master.

The marina is guarded by the club members.

Sirpalesaari is also home to restaurant Saari that specialises in the Finnish cuisine (no. 4 on the map). The restaurant also has an outside serving area with a wonderful seascape.

The connection boat to the mainland runs every hour on the hour from Monday to Friday, and every half-hour from 3 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. It is conducted by the harbour master.

During the Midsummer weekend (the weekend closest to June 24th), however, traffic ceases on Friday afternoon and recommences on Sunday afternoon.

It is possible to dock the visiting boat temporarily for inspection (max. displacement 8 tonnes) and use the self-service mast crane (no. 10 on the map). Should these services be required, please consult the harbour master.

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 (no. 11 on the map).

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 9 pm on Sundays. The major international credit cards (e.g. Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard and Diner's) are accepted as payment media in shops. Banks banks are open from 9.30 am to 4.15 pm, Monday through Friday, and post offices 9 am to 6 pm Monday–Friday and on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm. During week-end money can be changed at the Helsinki main railway station at some exchange points

The nearest cash machine (signed Otto.) is located at the intersection of Kapteeninkatu and Tehtaankatu, abt. 1 kilometre from the connection boat's mainland stop. Helsinki City maps are available from the harbour master.