The Baltic Sea

The nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea offer an immense variety of cruising grounds, peoples and cultures. There are thousands of harbours and innumerable anchorages, and it would take an entire bookshelf, to cover them all in detail. The information contained in this book is therefore selective. It has been chosen for its value both at the planning stages - preparing the yacht, choosing the most suitable route, timing and communications etc - and again on arrival, when a general overview of each individual country is followed by specific harbour information. Where detailed cruising information is readily available - effectively Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - only selected harbours are covered, chosen, with a few exceptions, as fulfilling certain key needs. Where cruising information is more limited - Poland, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia - many smaller harbours are also featured in detail.

In addition to comprehensive suggestions for further reading (and sources in each country from which they may be ordered) more than 200 websites are listed, again chosen for their relevance both at the planning stage and en route. In order to facilitate the latter, as well as for general communication, details of internet access points are included for most major harbours. Finally, around the photographs and full colour plans give an unrivalled foretaste of what the Baltic holds in store. Nearly all the photographs were taken by experienced yachtsmen and women during the course of their own cruises, and so give a truly authentic picture of the region. Beautiful, secluded anchorages, picturesque canals, bustling marinas, dramatic cities - all await those considering a Baltic cruise.

This 3rd edition has been edited by Mike Lewin-Harris and contains substantial changes. Coverage of the West Coast of Sweden and Gulf of Bothnia has been extended and there is more information on the Baltic states. Throughout there are new plans and photos and the technical data has been thoroughly revised.

Hardback; Full colour plans and photos throughout; A4