Porvoo to Kotka
Minka of Southampton - Cruising Log
Edmund Wigan
Tue 28 Jun 2011 06:49
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Position N60 28.4261
E026 55.9297
A very good trip leaving at 10.00 and arriving at
2000 all in fine weather with some useful winds to enable us to average around
6kts. The whole trip involved navigation through islands with clearly marked
passages. Firstly a few general scenery pictures
 These little houses on islands look idyllic. Mostly
they have small landing stages and are sometimes in small groups.
 Some islands are just too small for
houses
 We went through a narrow channel between two large
islands which seemed to be a base for survey vessels. The maintenance of the
buoyage here must be a major undertaking and I guess these orange survey vessels
are involved.
 You can see the little motor boat is not hanging
about. In general the power boats here do not concern themselves about the wake
they create despite coming very close. The picture shows a mild
example.
 This was in a narrow channel approaching a
Ferry.
 Despite this it is a very relaxed day for
some.
 Rocks like these make you very happy that the
survey vessels do such a good job. Even in large expanses of water there can be
narrow channels so just because it looks safe to wander off track it can be
hazardous. The charts are very detailed and show every rock but they are not
identified by isolated danger marks as they would be in the UK. A rock
picture
 and another
The buoyage largely comprises port and starboard
lateral marks and cardinal marks. The marks are nearly all poles showing the
appropriate colours but not shapes or top marks.
 Above is a standard port hand lateral mark. Very
few are lit although they all have reflective tape on them. The cardinal marks
can be black and yellow or black and white.
 A North Cardinal and to follow a South
Cardinal
 We only passed one in poor condition which needed
some paint and was a bit confusing from a distance
 These more substantial buoys tend to be in major
ship channels. There are some other signs as well
 and a better shot of the happy orange buoy
 It reminds me of those large orange balls with ears
that we used to bounce around the garden on.
We passed a several yachts on the way and I
took some photos of a few. Generally the average size is a bit smaller than in
the UK. There are a few beautifully maintained wooden classics
 and some blue water yachts.
 and a very pretty small yacht with wooden
coachroof.
 Unfortunately the picture doesn't do it
justice.
We came into a service dock in Kotka as we wanted
to be near the engineer who will hopefully be fixing the boat's diesel heater.
On the corner coming into the dock we passed a modern building which I am
guessing is a maritime museum.
 A closer shot of one of the old boats
outside
 We are staying here today so I will go and explore
the town......it looks pretty industrial.
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