Come visit the largest archipelago in the world and one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Europe. Yacht charter Sweden is a top destination for all those who love sailing and will offer top conditions (both natural and in terms of infrastructure) to those who prefer colder climates.
General Info
Sweden is the biggest Nordic country, covering almost half of the Scandinavian Peninsula and having a long shoreline towards the
Baltic Sea, which would make it the perfect Yacht Charter destination with all the fjords, islands and islets carved in the granite coast by glacial erosion.
The country was actually three times its size back in the 17th century when it was regarded as a military power but a lot of things have changed from back then. Now,
yacht charter Sweden thrives on peace and is actually one of the very few countries that don’t belong to any major military alliances. The population mirrors this attitude by being very open and tolerant towards everyone which means foreign Yacht Charter people are going to feel right at home here.
Some of the most picturesque and appreciated sailing and touristic zones are the
Bohuslän region and the
Stockholm archipelago (the largest in the world). Here, you’re not only going to find sleepy fishing villages turned into holiday resorts like
Marstrand and
Nyköping, but you’re also going to find thriving metropolises like Stockholm and Göteborg where the Yacht Charter tourist can enjoy a hoard of fun activities.
Law & Order
It used to be that Swedish waters were open to everyone, especially Yacht Charter sailors, but with a dramatic increase in the number of vessels on the waters and also an increase in the number of accidents, the authorities have decided to toughen up the rules and regulations.
There are 3 categories of licenses that apply to different types of boats. First off, there is the mandatory driver’s license for boats with a hull longer than 10m and faster than 15 knots. Then, there’s the license for the boats longer than 12m and with a beam higher than 4m. Finally, those Yacht Charter skippers sailing on pleasure boats equipped with a motor capable of propelling them up to 30 knots will also need a license.
For locals that exceed the age of 55 or for people living on islands that have no bridge or ferry connection to the mainland, the mandatory license does not apply. However, if you already have a skipper license issued in your home country, you can easily go Yacht Charter sailing, as this is recognized in Sweden. Careful though that your qualification matches the type of boat you’re sailing.
Getting to yacht charter Sweden is easy, especially if you’re American or from any European country that adhered to the Schengen Agreement. In that case, you and your Yacht Charter group can enter Sweden and stay up to 3 months with just a valid passport. Citizens from other countries are advised to check with their local Swedish diplomatic mission in order to see how to get a tourist visa.
Other northern countries also don’t require visas for their citizens, even if they are not part of the Schengen agreement. However, Sweden has a separate agreement that facilitates entry for tourists coming from these countries.