An unforgettable trip:

Balance 6 catamaran transfer sailing from France to Finland

Balance 6 trip from France to Finland

This spring we had the honor of receiving a new one Lagoon 46 -catamaran, Balance 6, who arrived in Finland in May. The catamaran was brought from southern France to Finland with a transfer sailing that started in the middle of April, which culminated in Helsinki's HSK harbor at the end of May. The migration sailing, which exceeded 3000 nautical miles, was full of adventures, learning experiences and unforgettable moments.

The journey was described in his diary by Kevin Shabastari, who was one of the crew members. Kevin's story takes us into the moments and events of this exciting sailing that left a deep impression on him and the others involved.

Sailing preparations and helpful encounters in France

The transfer sailing started in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, where the crew members prepared the catamaran for the sea journey. The catamaran was equipped with care, and during the finishing works I got to experience the community of the sailors, when next to us was a huge Lagoon Seventy 7 -the crew of the catamaran helped us in procuring the necessary spare parts. This encounter gave a good idea of the helpfulness and friendliness of the boatmen. Preparations were completed and we were ready to head towards our first leg, L'Escala, Spain.

The first stages of the sailing: L'Escala and Barcelona

The sailing to L'Escala in Spain was not very long and served as an excellent starting point for transfer sailing. At the beginning of the sailing the weather was quite cloudy and gloomy, but as we approached Spain the weather cleared up and the sun started to shine. We spent three nights in L'Escala and the journey continued towards Barcelona, where we stopped and spent time enjoying the city's culture and food. The harbor area was undergoing renovation, which made the area less attractive, but the city itself made up for this deficiency many times over.

Passing Valencia and night sailing towards Cartagena

From Barcelona we continued our journey, but the crew decided to skip Valencia and continue straight towards Cartagena. This was the first night sailing of the trip, and the night watch shifts were a new experience for me. Before the start of the trip, the crew had been assigned predefined work shifts, which included navigation, watchkeeping and other boat maintenance tasks. This ensured that there was always someone responsible for different tasks on the boat, whether it was day or night. Dolphins followed us, which brought joy and energy in the dark of the night. We spent several days in the port of Cartagena, taking care of the boat and enjoying the local sights.

Rest in Fuengirola and head towards Gibraltar

In Fuengirola we made a stop where we spent a couple of days, but the trip was not without challenges, as one of the crew members fell ill. During the stop, Teemu, one of the crew members, decided to get a tattoo from a Finnish tattoo artist who came directly to the boat. After that we continued our journey towards Gibraltar.

Towards the Atlantic waves and Lisbon

From Gibraltar, the sailing continued towards the coast of Portugal, where sailing brought its own additional excitement to the journey. The large waves and strong winds of the Atlantic were a significant change from the calm waters of the Mediterranean. When we arrived in Lisbon, we spent a few days in port, which gave us the opportunity to explore the city and equip the boat with the necessary parts.

Journey to A Coruña and a stop in Cherbourg

From Lisbon, the journey continued towards A Coruña, after which the Bay of Biscay was crossed. This part of the journey offered wonderful night shifts, where the stars shone brightly and the sea raged around. The night shifts were particularly memorable experiences for the crew. On the way, we also stopped in Cherbourg, where we spent a couple of days exploring the local submarine museum and resting before continuing the journey.

Crossing the Kiel Canal and stopping at Rendsburg

The next significant stage was the crossing of the Kiel Canal. This phase brought more peaceful moments, although the dense forests around the canal caused pollen that was a bit disturbing. We stopped at Rendsburg where the crew changed and spent some time equipping the boat for the rest of the trip.

Laboe stop and preparation for the last stage

In Laboe, located in northern Germany near the mouth of the Kiel Canal, we received the expected Code 0 sail, which had been delivered to the local Lagoon dealer. This technical addition completed the equipment of the boat before the last leg of the journey towards Finland. The location of Laboe made it an ideal stop before we headed towards the open sea and the coast of Finland.

Visby: The last stop of the sailing

Before we arrived in Finland, we made one more stop in Visby, where we spent the day maintaining the boat and getting to know the town. Here the crew experienced the last change, and the journey towards Finland really began. We sailed the last leg to Helsinki alone with Teemu, and the trip went in calm conditions.

End of sailing - Helsinki calls

Balance 6 arrived at the port of Helsinki HSK on May 24th, ending a transfer sailing that lasted more than a month. The trip was full of learning, adventures and a strong sense of togetherness. We wish Balance 6 a long and successful life in Finnish waters.

Kevin Shabastar 2024

Got your interest in future transfer sailings?

Transfer sailing offers a great opportunity to get to know sailing and especially the fascinating world of catamarans. For example, if you are considering getting your own catamaran, taking part in a transfer sailing can be an excellent way to gain experience and feel what your home at sea could feel like. You will learn new skills, you can enjoy the marine scenery and experience the freedom of sailing. We highly recommend following our website and social media channels so you don't miss out on future opportunities to participate in transfer sailings. You can also express your interest in future transfer sailings by contacting us: contact@yachtsagent.com, so that we can communicate directly with you about upcoming opportunities in the future.

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-Team YachtsAgent