Färjestaden (Öland Bridge)
Färjestaden anchorage · Ölandsbron south
56°38.0'N 16°28.3'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
55m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m
55m in 2–4m on mud — excellent holding. The Öland Bridge creates current accelerations directly beneath it — anchor well south (at least 500m) of the bridge to avoid current effects. Sound current away from the bridge is typically 0.3–0.5kt. The mud holding in this part of the sound is outstanding.
About This Anchorage
Färjestaden sits at the foot of the famous Öland Bridge — the 6km causeway connecting the island of Öland to the mainland. When built in 1972, it was the longest bridge in Europe. The town is the main crossing point for Öland and has developed as a service centre for the island — supermarkets, fuel, and facilities that are less available in the historic Borgholm. The anchorage south of the bridge is a convenient staging point for boats transiting through the Kalmar Sound, either north to Kalmar and Stockholm or south to Karlskrona and Blekinge. The mud bottom throughout this part of the sound gives excellent anchor holding.
Protected From
E · SE · S · SW
Exposed To
N · NW · W · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (Allemansrätten)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Do not anchor within 500m of the Öland Bridge — current acceleration and bridge maintenance vessels. Bridge clearance 36m — measure your mast before passage.
Hazards
- !Öland Bridge current — up to 1kt beneath the span; anchor well south
- !Bridge clearance 36m — verify mast height before approach
- !Sound current can exceed 0.5kt in sustained NE or SW winds
- !Heavy road traffic noise from bridge — less peaceful than other anchorages
Skipper's Tips
- →Good staging anchorage for bridge transit — anchor south, wait for settled conditions
- →Färjestaden supermarket is well-stocked — best provisioning stop between Kalmar and Karlskrona
- →The bridge walkway is open to pedestrians and cyclists — excellent views of the sound
- →Kalmar (5nm N through the sound) has better overnight facilities if staying in the area
Facilities
Färjestaden town has supermarket and service facilities; cafe at the harbour
Nearest provisions: Färjestaden town (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
Year-round utility anchorage but June–August for comfortable overnight stays. Primarily used as a transit stop rather than a destination. The Öland Bridge makes this an important logistics waypoint on the E coast of Sweden.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 55m
In the Kalmar Sound, wind-driven currents can shift your position more than expected overnight. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
Download Free for iOS