Sottunga
Sottunga island · Sottunga harbour
60°07.5'N 20°40.7'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for good holding in mud/sand in 3–6m. Quiet, small bay — swinging room may be limited; check before anchoring. In southerly conditions, the bay is exposed.
About This Anchorage
Sottunga is the smallest municipality in the Åland Islands and one of the smallest in all of Finland — approximately 100 permanent residents on a small island that feels genuinely remote despite its position between the more accessible parts of Åland. The island is connected by ferry to the rest of Åland but receives very few visiting yachts — most sailors bypass it for the more prominent stops at Kökar, Föglö, or Kumlinge. The quietness is the attraction. The red granite landscape, small fields, and traditional wooden houses of the island are classic Åland — untouched by the bustle of Mariehamn. An ideal anchorage for sailors seeking genuine solitude in the archipelago.
Protected From
N · NW · W · NE
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (jokaisenoikeus/Åland open waters)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Åland regulations apply; nature reserve areas in outer islands — check maps; respect small community; no noisy generators at night.
Hazards
- !Open to south and SE — southerly conditions expose the small bay
- !Very remote — no facilities whatsoever; completely self-sufficient sailing required
- !Red granite rocks throughout approach — use Åland chart carefully
- !Small swinging room in bay — check anchor clearance carefully
- !Ferry traffic in adjacent channels — monitor AIS
Skipper's Tips
- →Sottunga is for sailors who want genuine solitude in the Åland archipelago — if you want quiet, this is the place
- →The island is small enough to walk around in 2 hours — the rocky shoreline and traditional farms are typical Åland at its quietest
- →Self-sufficiency is essential — provision well at Mariehamn or Kökar before arriving
- →The anchorage is uncrowded even in peak summer — a rarity in the popular Åland archipelago
- →Early evening in Sottunga with the sun setting over the red granite islands is one of the finest moments in Åland sailing
Facilities
No restaurant. No shop. Self-sufficient sailing required. Nearest provisions at Kökar (15nm E) or Föglö (10nm SW).
Nearest provisions: Kökar (15nm E) or Föglö (10nm SW) (10nm)
Best Months & Season
Jun, Jul, Aug
June–August. Best in settled northerly or westerly conditions. The island's remoteness makes it weather-sensitive — have an escape plan to Föglö or Kökar.