2026-1 | SPICA | Stockholm-Mariehamn, Åland
Mia & Andy will start their family vacation in Åland, so here’s a chance to do an island-hopping cruise up the archipelago with Andy onboard SPICA in order to position the boat in historic Mariehamn! You’ll join the boat in Stockholm, at the archipelago base of KSSS in beautiful Saltsjöbaden, a short train ride from the city center and right on the doorstep of the archipelago. We’ll set sail soon after you join, most likely finding a waterfront sauna for our first night onboard! Once into the archipelago, we’ll island-hop our way north-northeast towards the Finnish archipelago, stopping off at islands and anchorages that strike our fancy. It’ll be a mix of pristine natural harbors and island-village outposts along the route. We’ll almost certainly include Sandhamn in our itinerary, the start/finish port of the famous Gotland Runt race and a beautiful island with a nice marina guest harbor and some shops and restaurants ashore. The further north we get, the more off-the-beaten path we’ll be as we explore the outer archipelago. Then it’s a 30-mile sail across the Baltic and into Mariehamn, the capital of historic Åland. If we have time, we’ll stop off in Rödhamn before our final destination, a small former radio outpost from WW2, now with a tiny guest harbor, fresh bread from the cafe and, of course, another sauna! When you disembark SPICA in Mariehamn, it’s a beautiful, short (and cheap) ferry ride back to Stockholm city center, so if you’re traveling from abroad to join the trip, you can fly in/out of Stockholm. It’s worth spending a few extra days ashore in Åland as well, if nothing else for the history!
SAILING STAFF
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The Passage
Rough itinerary
All 59º North passages are very much subject to weather. We pick our routes based on the "correct" time of year to be sailing in the different regions we visit, and we always build-in enough time to give us some margin for weather windows. The skipper has final say on departure dates and weather windows, but generally speaking, the intinerary for this passage will look like this:
July 1, 2026
Crew arrive to SPICA at in Stockholm, Sweden. SPICA orientation followed by crew dinner. All crew stay onboard SPICA.
Prep Days
Between the joining and departure dates, all pre-passage preparation, provisioning, and safety briefings will be completed. The specific pre-departure schedule will be outlined and posted onboard SPICA by the skipper.
July 3, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
July 7, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart SPICA from Mariehamn, Finland.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Stockholm
Mariehamn
Weather conditions
Expect a pleasant early-summer passage across the archipelago—mild and comfortable on deck, with mostly settled skies and a steady breeze to keep the sails full, though you'll want a layer handy as it cools off once the sun dips.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"I highly recommend the experience of doing a passage on ISBJØRN. I gained valuable offshore experience on a fine boat, learned how Andy and Mia competently manage their boat, learned about celestial navigation, and had a great time doing it. Completing ISBJØRN's first back-to-back 200 mile day passage was a smokin' fast bonus!"
"If you are thinking about reefing—reef! The same logic applies to sailing with Andy and Mia: if you are thinking about sailing with them, stop thinking and GO! Andy and Mia are great sailors, leaders, teachers, cooks, and warm, intelligent, accepting people. No matter how many blue water miles you have under your keel, you will be a better sailor after your trip on ISBJØRN."
"It was an honor to be onboard FALKEN for her crewed maiden voyage. We sailed in challenging conditions on our 5-day romp in the English Channel, with the crew rising to the occasion inspired by our skipper, Nikki, and first mate, Alex. If you want to experience real-world offshore life under expert supervision with like-minded folks, look no further than 59º North."
"I really didn’t know what to expect on my trip. I knew it was going to be about 800 miles, the Bay of Biscay is notoriously challenging, and there was a remote possibility of orca attacks. Thankfully, we were safe, but the Bay of Biscay did not disappoint, and we logged more than 1,000 miles. Our skipper and mate, Nikki Henderson and Emma Garschagen, far exceeded any expectation I had, and at no time did I ever feel unsafe, which allowed me to fully take in every experience. I learned a ton, had a great time, and left with a new sense of confidence that I never expected."
"Some of us seek out more meaning through travel rather than escaping from life. We want to be stronger tomorrow than we are today."
"Sailing from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas with 59º North Sailing was an outstanding experience that I would recommend to anyone seeking offshore sailing combined with exceptional instruction and seamanship. The lead crew, Andy, Mary, and Ryan, created a professional and welcoming environment focused on safety, preparation, and teamwork. I came away with much more confidence in offshore sailing and a deeper understanding of ocean passagemaking. 59º North delivers an authentic offshore experience, expert leadership, and an adventure that builds both skills and confidence."
"There are so few opportunities in our lives, unless we seek them out, for adventure, exploration, and personal challenge. Doing hard things results in personal satisfaction and makes life meaningful. If people don't understand that and want more creature comforts than 59º North trips offer, then they're not the right people for you. Keep doing what you're doing and there will be plenty of crew who share your values wishing to join you."
THE BOAT
OE 36
'
SPICA
'
🇸🇪
SPICA is my (Andy, writing this!) and Mia's family boat here in Sweden. Well, actually it's Axel's boat, our six-year-old! It's a classic Olle Enderlein 36, built in Sweden in 1971, and very much a "mini" ISBJØRN, both in underwater hull shape, deck layout and interior style and arrangement. When you sail on SPICA you will be joining our family's summer home here in Sweden. When we have crew onboard, we sail with 3 plus me (Andy!) as skipper.
packing lists & notes
Cold | Warm Packing List
This will be a "transitional" passage, either starting in warmer climes and increasing in latitude until it's significantly cooler, or vice versa. Another one of those trips where you'll need to pack one of everything for changing conditions. See the packing list for specifics.
Packing Notes
Start here when planning your packing for sailing with 59º North. This list includes the general basics for all of our passages. The passage-specific packing lists offer more details.