Catch the wind to the historical Seili on a traditional sailing boat

Departure: Turku, bus station’s charter bus dock number 10 at 9:30 am. We will drive past Parainen to Nauvo, where we will board the beautiful Storbåt Tacksamheten.

Sailing: Storbåt Tacksamheten is a modern version of an old traditional boat type with a minimal carbon footprint and environmental impact. The hull is based on the traditional Archipelago Sea market/cargo vessel model, simply known as Storbåt. The central cabin is a copy of the sump boats of the same era. These peasant boats were used in the archipelago communities from the 16th to the early 20th century. The sailboat has a toilet and indoor spaces (in case of rain). From Nauvo we will hop onboard Storbåt Tacksamheten and sail to Seili, learning about the traditional sailboat.

Seili: After lunch there is time to explore the island’s beautiful nature and interesting history. Seili is a historic island in the Archipelago Sea near Turku. It is known for its former use as a leprosy hospital during the 1600s and 1700s, and later as a mental hospital for women. Patients lived on the island in isolation until their death, and their memory lives on in the wooden crosses on the church cemetery. Seili Church, completed in 1733, is one of Finland’s most unique wooden churches.

The mental hospital operated until 1962 and since then, the Turku University Archipelago Sea Research Institute has conducted active research on the island for the benefit of the Archipelago Sea and the Baltic Sea. Today, Seili is a popular tourist destination, where rich nature, cultural history, and research activities come together.

Return journey: In the afternoon, we will start our return journey back to Nauvo, and continue by bus to Turku where we will arrive approximately at 7:30 pm.