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
Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025. Monday June 23 – leg 1 and 2
Leg 1 – A Wet Start and Wild Gybing Duels Start: 10:00 | Distance: Approx. 21 Nm
1 Start PA (Paddling Allowed) NP (No Paddling) from end of Skurusundet
22 Leave to SB (Starboard) Finish on beach next to 22 (sound the horn by the beach flag)
The first day of the Stockholm Archipelago Raid kicked off with 12 eager teams and soggy gear — everything was already soaked before anyone even left the shore. Fortunately, the rain paused just in time for the 10:00 start. Winds ranged between 7 and 10 m/s, promising a fast and challenging day on the water.
Karlsson/Nordblom claimed an early lead as the fleet set off, soon splitting into three distinct groups. Meanwhile, the race committee boat had a rough start of its own — striking an underwater cable and sacrificing its anchor to break free.
Just 15 minutes into the race, all teams had reached the narrow Baggenstäket strait, alternating between tacking and paddling to squeeze through. Once through, they faced gusty off-wind conditions in Skurusundet, where the action really heated up. Four teams — Karlsson/Nordblom, Ekefalk/Rosengren, Åberg/Simmons, and Rankin/White — traded places in a thrilling series of gybes, testing their reflexes and teamwork.
As the fleet stretched out toward Vaxholm, a few teams encountered trouble. Blomborn/Jönsson suffered a broken spinnaker pole and had to withdraw. Others capsized in the challenging breeze.
After covering around 21 nautical miles, the teams landed on the beach at Sandön for a well-deserved lunch — damp, tired, and definitely ready for more.
Top 3 – Leg 1: 🥇 Karlsson/Nordblom 🥈 Ekefalk/Rosengren 🥉 Rankin/White
Leg 2 – Upwind Battles and a Grinda Finish Start: 14:25 | Finish: North of Grinda
Only 10 boats made the start of Leg 2, as Mårten/Richter did not continue. The wind had picked up slightly, blowing a steady 7–12 m/s — ideal conditions for an upwind leg.
Leg 2: Start 14:25
22 start near by Sandön
72 Leave to port
55 Leave to port
73 Leave to port, finish about 100m after CP (North Grinda)
Rankin/White nailed the start and led the fleet on a tactical route past Stavsudda and west of Svartsö, pushing hard toward the finish north of Grinda. The conditions demanded precision and stamina, with tight racing and changing positions along the course.
After another tough leg, the fleet arrived at Grinda — filled with race officials and tired but happy sailors. A great dinner steak was served as the stories from the day were flowing. With two legs down and more racing to come, the raid is off to a thrilling start.
Top 3 – Leg 2: 🥇 Rankin/White 🥈 Ekefalk/Rosengren 🥉 Karlsson/Nordblom
Stockholm Archipelago Raid 2025. Sunday June 22 – preparations.
A day for the teams to get ready, including rigging and equipping the boats, registration and weighing, safety inspection and for some of the teams a final test sailing. A welcome meeting with sausages and beer was followed by the skippers meeting with a safety briefing and a presentation of the sailing condition and the first waypoints of the race.
Nine Swedish teams, one team from Germany, one from New Zealand and one team from Australia. The 2 teams from the UK unfortunately had a car accident and the trailer landed on the side with both boats being damaged beyond a quick repair. Fortunately no one in the crews got injured!
Tomorrow’s wind forecast shows 8-15 m/s, which makes exciting conditions and the start is therefore from Saltsjöbaden and west towards Baggensstäket.
All twelve teams will cross the start line in downwind, then half-wind (paddling allowed) through Baggensstäket. The first finish is Sandön south of Grinda.
