4 teams fought until the finish line in the last race to get on the podium.
It was full racing until the finish line on the last leg. Karlsson/ Nordblom (SWE) did it again with a total score of 121 points! And 3 teams came in on 117 points, but only 2 got medals. On 2nd place the Becker brothers (NED) and on 3rd Silen / Muikku (FIN) and on 4th Busck/Wersäll (SWE).
The mixed class was also tight between the top three teams. In the end father and daughter Middleton (GBR) took the gold medal. In the youth class Orama/Hyttinen fought heroically in the heavy winds and managed to beat many heavier teams.
Peter and Dani Middleton won the mixed classAkelius Orama and Onni Hyttinen
As 3 weeks remains until the start of the 26th consecutive Archipelago Raid the teams prepare their boats and gear and for navigation in unknown waters.
To date, 16 teams from five countries have registered for the 26th consecutive Archipelago Raid, and a few spots still remain for teams considering joining the adventure. The fleet includes a youth team, three mixed crews, former world champions, Olympic campaign sailors, offshore racers and several previous Archipelago Raid podium finishers.
Among the teams to watch are Victor Silén and Anssi Muikku (Finland), who arrive with strong recent performances at the F18 World Championships and many years of sailing together in the class.
Another Finnish team expected to be in the front is Niki Blässar and Oskari Alho. Blässar is a former Youth World Champion and Olympic campaign sailor, while Alho brings extensive offshore experience from races such as the Fastnet, ARC and Baltic Sea Race.
The youth team of Akseli Orama and Onni Hyttinen (Finland) will also be one to watch. After around ten years in Optimist and ILCA dinghies, they moved into the Formula 18 class and represent the next generation of catamaran sailors.
The Netherlands field two strong teams. The brothers Wik and Rob Becker bring decades of racing experience and several previous Raid appearances to the start line and so does Kees Wiersema and Arthur Moerman (Arthur finished third in the Archipelago Raid 2024)
From Germany, Christian Schütz, a veteran of both the Worrell 1000 and numerous Archipelago Raids, teams up with his daughter Katharina Schütz, creating one of the fleet’s most interesting family partnerships.
Among the Swedish entries, look out for Fredrik Karlsson and Niklas Nordblom three-time Archipelago Raid winners. Peter Busck and Oscar Wersäll also arrive in good form after strong performances at the European Championship earlier in July. And the Raid specialists Lars Linder and Erik Brunnberg, known for thriving in demanding long-distance races and tricky navigation conditions.
Skipper Name
Crew Name
Sailing for country
Sail no
Sailing Club
Akseli orama
Onni Hyttinen
Finland
FIN 007
Merenkävijät
Niki Blässar
Oskari Alho
Finland
FIN 123
–
Samuel Rinnetmäki
Markus Ahonen
Finland
–
Helsingfors Segelklubb (HSK)
Victor Silen
Anssi Muikku
Finland
FIN 14
Ristiinan Pursiseura
Valtteri Rahkonen
Antti Laukkanen
Finland
FIN 42
Helsingfors Segelklubb (HSK)
Florian Leuschner
Jan Hansen
Germany
GER 379
WSV Kollmar
Christian Schütz
Katharina Schütz
Germany
GER 340
STS Surendorf
Wik Becker
Rob Becker
Netherlands
NED 2
WV IJburg
Kees Wiersema
Arthur Moerman
Netherlands
NED 901
Catclub Zeeland
Mattias Wallin
Henrik Riccius
Sweden
SWE 017
Kungliga Segelsällskapet (KSSS)
Peter Busck
Oscar Wersäll
Sweden
SWE 64
Kungliga Segelsällskapet (KSSS)
Fredrik Karlsson
Niklas Nordblom
Sweden
SWE 007
Kungliga Segelsällskapet (KSSS)
Erik Blomberg
Rikard Blomberg
Sweden
SWE 137
Lidingö Jolleseglare (LiJS)
Lars Linder
Erik Brunnberg
Sweden
SWE 1
Kungliga Segelsällskapet (KSSS)
Peter Middleton
Dani Middleton
United Kingdom
GBR 511
Saltash Sailing Club
Duncan Barr
Nils Jolliffe
United Kingdom
–
Netley Sailing Club
ÅSS and the race organisation is ready to welcoming the teams in Mariehamn on the 8th of August
One day after registration opened 8 teams from 4 countries signed up.
This year the maximum limit of teams is 22 for logistical reasons, which means 14 places are still available. Early bird fees applies until end of June. Sign up here.
Åland is a autonomous part of Finland with 30 thousand Swedish inhabitants. The islands are stunning and mainly inhabited . The last time the Archipelago Raid visited Åland was in 2009.
Up to 22 teams are welcome to join the 2026 edition of the Stockholm Archipelago Raid. Sign up to secure your place and pay the registration fee prior to 1st of July to benefit from the early bird fee.
Registration and safety inspection Saturday 8th followed by burger and beers and welcome meeting.Start and Finish will take place in Mariehamn and the plan is to round Åland clockwise and camp at the classic venues Hamnsundet, Lappo and Kökar. After 4 days of sailing Ålands Segelesällskap (ÅSS) welcome us back to Mariehamn for regatta dinner and pricegiving.
After 17 years since the last visit *, the Stockholm Archipelago Raid will once again return to Åland. To avoid scetchy weather forecasts from stopping the fleet from crossing from Sweden like last year, this year’s raid will take place entirely in Åland, offering a rare opportunity for a new generation of F18 sailors to experience its remarkable archipelago. For many, this will be their first chance to discover Åland’s unique blend of open sea racing and welcoming island hospitality—a truly unforgettable introduction to raid sailing in Åland.
The event runs from Sunday, 9 August to Wednesday, 12 August, starting and ending in Mariehamn, Åland. Participants will compete in 2–3 races each day, navigating through crystal-clear waters dotted with pine-covered islands, enjoying challenging races by day and relaxing evenings in traditional Finnish saunas at each camp. There will be four camps, each offering hearty meals, tent sites, and those much-loved saunas. The course and check points will be set in the evening for the following day and may include iconic islands such as Kökar, Sotunga or Lappo, sure to spark fond memories for Archipelago Raid veterans.
Imaginary course 2026
Åland features thousands of islands spanning over 13,000 sq km and compared with the Stockholm archipelago it is more open with fewer navigation marks, which makes for both exhilarating and demanding sailing.
Åland is a self-governing part of Finland with a Swedish-speaking population of about 30,000 residents and boasts a vibrant culture and society. Ferries operate regularly from Stockholm and Helsinki to Mariehamn, making the islands easily accessible for all participants.
The event is a collaboration between the Swedish F18 association and Ålands Segelsällskap (ÅSS). Registration opens on 1 April and is limited to 25 teams for logistical and safety reasons. For the latest news and to secure your place, stay tuned.
* The Archipelago Raid was a longer more extreme version organised by by Atlant Ocean Racing from 2001 to 2009 Photo cred: Thierry Martinez
Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025 – Friday, June 27 – Leg 10 and 11
At the start of the 11th and final leg only 4 points separated the top 3 teams. Karlsson/Nordblom just needed to finish in 4th place to secure their 4th win overall. However they entered Sandhamn from the wrong direction and ended up on 5th 10 seconds behind the 4th team. The Aussies took the line honour and had a chance of winning the overall regatta, but were beaten by one point by Ekefalk/Rosengren! In the end, after 5 long days and 11 races, only one point separated the teams on the podium!!!
On the podium:
🥇 ARG 111– Thomas Ekefalk/Rasmus Rosengren
🥈 SWE 007 – Fredrik Karlsson/Niklas Nordblom
🥉 AUS 800 – Emma Rankin/Beau White
Final results
But let’s take it from the beginning of the day…
Leg 10
Start: Rånö at 08:30 with towing
3 Start
58 leave to starboard, Ornö to port
34 Finish on beach, 500m east of CP Mörtö Bunsö
08:00: Grey weather again. Rain followed shortly after. The start boat went out in calm conditions to search for wind. A decision was made to tow the fleet. After 75 minutes of towing, the start was given north of Utö.
A somewhat chilled fleet started at 10:20. First over the start line were Åberg/Simmons and Ekefalk/Rosengren. Downwind leg toward Mörtö Bunsö.
Winds died down over Fjärdlångsfjärden. Rankin/White in the lead.
Patchy wind outside Ornö.
Finish on the beach at Mörtö Bunsö. First boat crossed the line around 12:10. The Raid’s first wipeout and a final sprint to the finish by Karlsson/Nordblom. A wet battle for 7th place was fought between Bengtsson/Degerfors and Schütz/Rumpf.
Top 3 finishers, Leg 10:
Karlsson/Nordblom
Rankin/White
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Screenshot
Leg 11
Start: 13:20
34 Start Mörtö Bunsö
67 southeast of Nämdö, leave to port, paddling allowed from gate
26 Finish (Enter Sandhamn from west to east)
A short lunch break before the final start of this year’s edition of the Stockholm Archipelago Raid.
13:20: Despite light winds, an exciting downwind start with flying hulls among the top contenders.
Winds eased, leading to an upwind beat to the gate east of Nämdö. Rankin/White led through the gate, followed by Åberg/Simmons and Bergendahl/Wallin.
Bengtsson/Degerfors hit a rock just before the gate nearly sinking and had to abandon the leg, due to damage in one hull.
Downwind towards Gråskärsfjärden, with varying wind strengths and stretches of paddling.
Finish from west to east near Sandhamn harbour. Two teams initially sailed past the finish, approaching it from east to west, then turned back. All teams paddled to the finish, with Rankin/White arriving first.
Top 3 finishers, Leg 11:
Rankin/White
Åberg/Simmons
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Satisfied, tired, and exhilarated warriors gathered at Sandhamn’s square. Wet clothes were exchanged for dry ones before the prize ceremony and later regatta dinner at the Seglarhotellet.
SAR JUNE 26, 2025 Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025 Thursday, June 26 – Leg 8 and 9
Leg 8 – Start at 9:00
6 Start (south of the Finnhamn lagoon) – Paddling allowed from start to finish
94 to starboard – Björkskärsfjärden
24 Finish close Stora Alskär
The morning’s most satisfying trade: a daggerboard for some batteries.
Sunshine all around and surprising warmth. Several sailors felt overdressed already on the way to the start.
Paddling across the start line ransitioned into light upwind conditions, with some support paddling likely all the way to the first checkpoint.
Two groups of five boats each held a steady downwind course toward Stora Alskär. Wallin/Riccius and Mårten/Richter missed CP 94.
First to finish was Ekefalk/Rosengren, with a solid lead over the second boat—7 minutes ahead: Åberg/Simmons and Rankin/White.
Lunch at Stora Alskär on flat rocks and sand in warming sunshine.
Top 3 finishers, Leg 8
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Åberg/Simmons
Rankin/White
Leg 9 – Start 14:00
24 Start Alskär
32 to port – Bullerö
48 to port (close by) – Norsten
54 to starboard (close by) – Huvudskär
61 to starboard, paddling allowed
3 Finish on the beach – Rånö
Downwind start – Karlsson/Nordblom got the best start, followed closely by Ekefalk/Rosengren and Bengtsson/Degerfors.
A bit further Åberg/Simmons squeezed into third place, with Bengtsson/Degerfors and Bergendahl/Wallin closely behind in steady 4–6 m/s winds. Interesting to see how this holds over the remaining 38 nautical miles.
About halfway, at CP 48 Morsten, six boats were tacking in a tight group aiming for Huvudskär.
Karlsson/Nordblom had a few minutes’ lead, but a ripped gennaker cost them time.
Good speed through Huvudskär, then fading wind outside Utö, followed by a shift to the south and rising wind again … and then another drop. Finish at Rånö.
Just before 8 p.m., the first boat Rankin/White crossed the finish line, closely followed by Åberg/Simmons.
At the finish: horn, beer, and a stunning sunset for the exhausted sailors. Debatable whether … or just how much … the beer tasted good after such a long day.
Today’s time of sailing: 10.5 hours including the lunch stop. Sauna and food followed, meanwhile three boats were towed in, and Eriksson/Hinnerson made it home on their own, reaching the beach at 22:30!
Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025 – Wednesday, June 25 – Leg 5, 6 and 7.
Leg 5 – Start 5:30
4 – Start Fejan
78 – leave to starboard
43 – leave to starboard
44 – leave to starboard
88 – finish between L. Gräskö
A very early morning with cool, damp air. The officials, who had spent the night on Lidö, traveled to a quiet and tense Fejan. The sailors packed up their tents, got dressed, and rigged their boats. Breakfast bags and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) to bring onboard.
A perfect upwind start in 5 m/s with ten boats. Some chose a starboard start, others port. Ekefalk/Rosengren crossed the start line first, heading toward the northernmost island Arholma. The course then turned back south and out to the open sea in increasing winds before rounding the epic lighthouse Söderarm, and then more east toward the finish at Lilla Gräskö at the family Östermans private recidence where we were welcomed with open arms and coffe. Former F18 sailor Anders Tengbom showed up with his amphibious airplane.
After less than 4 hours of fast sailing, the top 3 teams were:
Top 3 finishers, Leg 5:
Karlsson/Nordblom
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Bengtsson/Degerfors
Finish at Gräskö: 9:25 AM.
(Wallin/Riccius and Mårten/Richter – shortened course; Åberg/Simmons – DNF; Rankin/White – NSC for incorrect rounding of cp 44)
Leg 6 – Start 11:30
88 – Start
45 to starboard (close by)
66 – finish on the beach at Husarö
Sound signal finish
The fleet blasted off on a downwind start in a fresh 7 m/s breeze, charging southeast into the maze of islands north of Rödlöga. From the start, Rankin/White, Mårten/Richter, and Bengtsson/Degerfors showed their intent with aggressive positioning. Ekefalk/Rosengren were right in the mix—until fate struck. They snagged an anchor line and pitch-poled, sending their cat into a somersault. But the crew recovered fast and were back in the race within minutes.
This leg turned out to be one of the most dramatic yet. Ekefalk/Rosengren’s misfortunes weren’t over—a crew member was tossed overboard but managed to cling on behind the boat. Meanwhile, Rankin/White shattered a daggerboard navigating the treacherous shallows. The entire fleet battled complex navigation, unpredictable gusts, and a scattering of submerged hazards.
As the wind tapered near Husarö, the final approach turned tactical. With boats converging toward the finish, Ekefalk/Rosengren and Åberg/Simmons were neck-and-neck. In a bold move, Rosengren jumped ashore and sprinted through the forest, shortcutting to the finish horn—beating Åberg/Simmons by seconds.
After a cold and testing leg, the sun finally broke through—lifting spirits just in time for rest and repairs.
Top 3 Finishers – Leg 6:
Karlsson/Nordblom
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Åberg/Simmons
Leg 7
66 – Start L Gräskö
52 to port – Finnhamn
20 to starboard – PA (paddling allowed) Norra Möja (possibly S-flag)
72 to port (close by) – PA Stavsudda
6 – Finish on the beach on Finnhamn
Start: 15:00
The afternoon start at Gräskö saw the fleet once again heading off downwind—but not everyone made it off cleanly. Rankin/White had to delay their start by five minutes to patch up damage from a collision with a rock.
Forty minutes into the leg, Åberg/Simmons had seized the lead, followed by Bengtsson/Degerfors, Karlsson/Nordblom, and Ekefalk/Rosengren. But the course was soon altered, removing waypoint 72 and shifting tactics across the fleet.
The reshuffle brought a new top pack: Åberg/Simmons still leading, chased by Karlsson/Nordblom, Ekefalk/Rosengren, Bergendahl/Wallin, and Rankin/White clawing back time after their delayed start.
But disaster struck again. Bengtsson/Degerfors suffered a daggerboard-breaking collision with another rock, forcing them to retire from the leg.
The leg ended with a picturesque finish at Finnhamn’s beach in “paradiset”, the paradise, where the horn and flag signaled the end of leg 7.
Top 3 Finishers – Leg 7:
Åberg/Simmons
Ekefalk/Rosengren
Karlsson/Nordblom
Mårten/Richter and Wallin/Riccius did not start this leg.
Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025. Tuesday June 24 – leg 3 och 4.
Leg 3 – Tactical Starts and a Long Reach to Rödlöga Start: Grinda | Distance: Approx. 25 Nm
Grinda start outside beach
18 leave to starboard Nassa
17 leave to port Nassa
7 finish Rödlöga
Day 2 began with 11 boats lining up at Grinda for what would become a fast and scenic leg across the archipelago. The wind held steady at 5–10 m/s, shifting just enough to keep teams on their toes during the upwind start.
Karlsson/Nordblom seized the lead right out of the gate, with Rankin/White and Ekefalk/Rosengren in close pursuit. However, things got a little chaotic on the line — Åberg/Simmons jumped the gun and had to take a 360° penalty turn. Oddly enough, Rankin/White also completed a penalty turn, though the reason remains a mystery.
Once around Grinda, the fleet caught the breeze and took off downwind. Karlsson/Nordblom extended their lead significantly, sailing confidently past Möja and weaving through the beautiful but challenging Nassa archipelago. Behind them, Rankin/White and Ekefalk/Rosengren fought for second, but the leaders were never seriously threatened.
The weather mirrored the mood — grey skies gave way to sunshine as the fleet closed in on the day’s finish near Rödlöga. Karlsson/Nordblom crossed the line a full ten minutes ahead of the next boat, showing dominant form. Ekefalk/Rosengren managed to edge out Rankin/White to claim second place.
After the finish, one incident was reported: Schütz/Rumpf ran aground but fortunately without major consequences.
Sailors were treated to a well-earned lunch at Rödlöga, wrapping up a 25-nautical-mile leg that featured long beam reaches, tactical decision-making, and classic archipelago scenery.
Top 3 – Leg 3: 🥇 Karlsson/Nordblom 🥈 Ekefalk/Rosengren 🥉 Rankin/White
Leg 4 start: 14:20
7 start Rödlöga 44 leave to port 46 leave to port 4 leave to port at Fejan gate 91 leave to port at Lidö 4 finish from south to north at Fejan
Leg 4 Tuesday Afternoon | Rödlöga to Fejan Gate (Shortened Course) | Approx. 22 Nm
The second leg of Day 2 began at 14:20 under a light drizzle and with tension in the air — quite literally. The teams lined up for a tight downwind start, where Karlsson/Nordblom were quickly dealt a setback: a penalty forced them into a 360° turn just seconds after the horn.
Unfazed, both Karlsson/Nordblom and Ekefalk/Rosengren broke away from the pack, choosing a bold easterly route directly from Rödlöga. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet threaded the narrow channel between Gräskläppen and Askören. The split made for an exciting gamble, though the fleets later converged further north as the breeze began to settle.
Through the afternoon, wind conditions improved slightly but remained tricky — gradually easing and shifting. By the time the boats reached the Fejan gate, the breeze had dropped to a whisper — just 1–4 m/s — prompting the race committee to shorten the course and relocate the finish line accordingly.
Despite the fading wind, one team suffered more than just slow progress. Marra/Duske (NZL) suffered a serious hull breach and came dangerously close to sinking. Fortunately, they were safely towed to Gräddö, but their raid was sadly over.
The rest of the fleet pushed on in the light air, and it was Rankin/White who showed their finesse, securing the win. Karlsson/Nordblom recovered impressively to take second, while Åberg/Simmons claimed third — their first top-three finish of the event.
In the evening as all teams came ashore the hot showers and a well-earned sauna felt really good. Hamburgers were served before the tents were pitched for another short night under the stars before the early start the following day.
Top 3 – Leg 4: 🥇 Rankin/White 🥈 Karlsson/Nordblom 🥉 Åberg/Simmons
