Barösund (Inkoo)

About This Anchorage

Barösund is the finest natural anchorage in the Inkoo (Swedish: Ingå) archipelago — a narrow sound between the outer granite islands and the coastal mainland that gives shelter from almost every direction. The area is part of the Western Uusimaa Archipelago, a less-visited stretch of coast between Hanko and the Helsinki approaches that offers genuine solitude compared to the busier Turku Archipelago to the west and the Helsinki islands to the east. The deep mud and clay holding is exceptional — one of the best-gripping bottoms on the entire Helsinki coast. The sound has a small seasonal café and guesthouse at the narrows. This is a classic mid-passage anchorage for sailors on the Hanko–Helsinki corridor who want to avoid overnight passages.

Hazards

• !Narrow sound — measure swinging room carefully; local boat traffic
• !Open to west and SW — westerly conditions can reach the inner sound
• !Rocks at both ends of the sound — use Finnish chart; the narrows have hidden rocks
• !Limited facilities — self-sufficient sailing required beyond café basics
• !Bird sanctuary restrictions on outer islands Apr 1 – Jul 15

Skipper's Tips

• →Barösund is the best overnight anchorage between Hanko and Helsinki — the deep mud holding and near-total shelter make it ideal for a peaceful night
• →The café at the narrows is a hidden gem — they serve simple but good food and have a sauna available (book in advance)
• →The surrounding Inkoo archipelago is one of the least visited stretches of the Finnish SW coast — dinghy exploration reveals quiet coves and uninhabited rocks
• →From Barösund, Helsinki is 50nm east — plan an early departure to arrive in Helsinki before the afternoon sea breeze builds
• →The granite landscape here is typical of the inner coastal zone — lower and more wooded than the outer Turku Archipelago, with a softer character

Nearby Anchorages