Where did all this start again?
The Finnish coastline, and especially its archipelago, is unique.
Our story
The first idea of bringing together the harbours, services, and attractions of the archipelago into a single service that would be easy to use and would create value for its users - at that time we were only considering the needs of sailors - emerged sometime around the turn of the millennium, perhaps in 2001. At that time, the world had not yet become very digitalised, and many companies were just beginning to practice moving online, and sailors were not much further along either, perhaps partly because the networks and devices were what they were. Ultimately, the idea simmered for quite a while, but since we did not want to start building a suitable technical platform from scratch, it eventually fell through due to a lack of time and other projects.
Over the years, the thought would always cross my mind when I was planning my annual summer boat trips, wherever along the Finnish coastline. At some point in the 2010s, I had to move a single H-boat from Tornio to Vaasa, and since the waters were not yet so familiar to me, it was a bit frustrating that finding and locating the route and possible harbours was at least quite difficult. Not to mention that in a foreign harbour, it was sometimes devilishly hard to find food - if only I could have ordered a pizza from somewhere, but I couldn't.
No, the harbours were found and starvation was avoided... and so that thought continued its sleeping beauty dream once again.
The years went by and the thought simmered in the back of my mind, until in the winter of 2023/2024 I planned a slightly longer sailing trip with my foreign friends - the area chosen was broadly Helsinki-Stockholm and the aim was to get a beer in Stockholm.
Of course, one knows how to navigate home waters, and many of us find our way to a familiar island even in worse weather, and in a familiar harbour, the familiar bartender pours a beer into a glass as soon as he sees the boat mooring at the dock. But what would happen if the thought occurred to set off to explore places one has never been, except perhaps once during childhood on a summer holiday?
Yes, quite a few evenings were spent thinking, searching, and researching. Information can certainly be found if one is willing to look for it. The different matter is how up-to-date that information is.
And that's how it all started, in the summer of 2024 the decision was made that something needs to be done about it... and now it is being done. These webpages outline the main features of the service - and this is just the beginning!
Favourable winds and suitable weather, see you in the summer in the archipelago or somewhere between Virolahti and Tornio!
Harri Mesikämmen, Kilocode Oy