Sail in Luleå’s archipelago – even in the winter!

Yes, you can even go sailing in Luleå’s archipelago in the dead of winter. Bothnia Isseglare (the Bothnia Ice Sailors) do – with iceboats.

The frozen bays and channels are perfect for ice boating.
The Bothnia Ice Sailors extend their sailing season, trading summer’s keelboats for iceboats. When the winds are right, the club’s 40-odd members head for the outer archipelago.

Equipping their iceboats with slalom skis, they have adapted them for inshore sailing on the Bay of Bothnia, which means that they can sail across snow-covered areas. The steel runners stick through the skis, enabling direct contact with the smooth, underlying ice, so that top speed can be achieved.

Thrilling experiences
A February weekend, and the group makes its way out to Hindersöstallarna, about 10km from central Luleå.

A stiff northwest wind is blowing, and the adventurers set course for Kluntarna on the outskirts of the archipelago. The island is the site of the Luleå recreation department’s cottages, which will be the group’s base for a weekend of exciting winter sailing.

“Ice boating gives you an incredible lift and a totally different sensation of speed than sailing a keelboat. It’s a new dimension. On snow, we achieve speeds of 60-70 kph, but on sheer ice we can reach 90,” says Hans Överby, sailing enthusiast and Bothnia Isseglare member.

Sauna beneath the stars
The ice around Kluntarna is perfect. The armada of iceboats cuts a wide arc out towards the fairway, which is kept open for shipping all year round.

Far out to sea, they glimpse open water. The day draws to a close, and under starry skies, the group enjoys a hot meal and a hot sauna. An extraordinary experience in every respect.

On Sunday, they venture out to Bastaskär and Småskär before steering back towards Hindersöstallarna.