Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to write for the Pilotage Foundation?
My name is Andy Beharrell and my connection with the Pilotage Foundation came when I helped to organise a Baltic Seminar for the Suffolk Section of the Cruising Association. I must have seemed to give the impression that I knew about the Baltic as I was later approached to see if I was interested in editing The Baltic Sea and Approaches. I had several friends who had been involved so I was flattered to be asked to contribute.
What’s your background as a sailor - how did it all begin, and what does sailing mean to you today?
I started sailing when I was apparently just over a year old, but I don't remember that! My father was a passionate lifelong sailor with a succession of boats and as children most of our holidays were spent sailing. The passion he showed was passed on to me and I spent a lot of time racing various dinghies, then offshore racing and now cruising with family and friends. Sailing is a form of freedom. We are privileged as sailors to see communities exactly as they are and are allowed access to appreciate how others live and work. It is this freedom which is perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of cruising. When not cruising I spend a lot of time helping out with a local sailability group and this reinforces this sense of freedom - with sailing disability is not a barrier to enjoying being on the water.
What drew you to the Baltic Sea in particular?
When I first bought my previous boat I was chatting to friends and they were planning to sail to the Baltic. I didn't know much about it a decade ago, so I decided to follow them out there. It sounded like an interesting place and while initially I expected to be there for just a couple of years, I now have no plans to leave.
This is a new edition of The Baltic Sea and Approaches - what’s new or different about this version?
With the new edition of The Baltic Sea and Approaches we have, as always, revised and updated the information, adding new ports and new locations. In particular we have significantly expanded the coverage around the east coast of Sweden, adding around 60-70 new harbours in the Stockholm Archipelago and the Blue Coast (south of the Stockholm Archipelago) recognising that this is a wonderful cruising ground in its own right. We have also changed nearly all the photos adding many drone photos to help aid pilotage and let people know what they can expect when they arrive somewhere.
What’s your top piece of advice for anyone planning to cruise the Baltic for the first time?
The best advice to anyone who is considering sailing to the Baltic is obviously first to buy The Baltic Sea and Approaches. Reading about each country will give you a feel for where you might like to visit and it is such an extensive cruising ground that you will need to prioritise initially. The other great way to find out about where you want to go is to chat with sailors who have been there. Once you have been to the Baltic, you will, like the rest of us, become a Baltic evangelist - we love talking about it and are always happy to chat to others considering cruising there.
Do you have a favourite place in the Baltic - that you'd recommend to fellow sailors?
One of my favourite places in the Baltic is the Blue Coast of Sweden. This is on the east coast of Sweden and is roughly the area between Kalmar and Nynashamn. Many people pass through here quickly on their way north to Nynashamn and the Stockholm Archipelago, but to do this is to miss a wonderful cruising ground in its own right. In the new edition we have added lots of possible stops on the Blue Coast and I would recommend lingering here a while on your way north.
Do you have a favourite quote - sailing-related or otherwise?
Probably my favourite quote in relation to sailing is: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!"