Kotkan Pursiseura – Kotka Segelsällskap ry
Kotkan Pursiseura – Kotka Segelsällskap ry is a traditional sailing and boating club in Kotka on Finland's Baltic coast, founded in 1888. Its Meriniemi base sits at Sapokka harbour with club pontoons, clubhouse, sauna and guest berths; the club also runs the Pitkäluoto island station in the Haapasaari archipelago. The programme covers keelboat and dinghy sailing, junior training in Optimists, regattas such as Kotka Cup and Helsinki-Kotka Race, cruising and radio-controlled sailing. Adults and juniors find courses, weekly practice and an active community; membership in recent years has been around 600 members.
History
Kotkan Pursiseura – Kotka Segelsällskap ry was founded in 1888; organised sailing in Kotka began in the 1870s when the sawmill boom shaped the coastal town and sailors such as Carl Henrik Ahlqvist and Hans Gutzeit staged races. In 1874 public regattas were held off Kotkansaari with support from Nyländska Jaktklubben. Cooperation with Hamina ended in 1899. The name evolved from Kotka Segelförening via Kotka Segelsällskap to Kotkan Pursiseura–Kotka Segelsällskap (1926, registered 1934). From the 1890s Kotka sailors joined coastal squadrons and races linked to Vyborg, Tallinn and St Petersburg; Kotkan Purjehtijapäivät began in 1916, Itä-Suomen Purjehtijapäivät in 1934 and Itä-Suomen Regatta in 1953. The 1990s brought international events such as Kotka International Regatta, Hogland circumnavigation, Tall Ships stops and squadrons to Estonia and Russia. The motorboat section was founded in 1948. Dinghy sailing produced many Optimists, OK dinghies, Europe dinghies and Snipes. Meriniemi, built in 1898 as a Gutzeit villa, was donated in 1962 and opened in 1963 with 241 members, later peaking at about 1100. The Pitkäluoto island base gained the Ystävyyden tupa cabin in 1988/89. In recent years membership has been about 600 to 700.
Information
Facilities
Meriniemi club base with pontoons V/Y/Z/T/X, clubhouse, sauna, changing rooms, Sapokka guest harbour, Marina Cafe Laituri, fuel station on the breakwater, Kuusinen winter storage and Pitkäluoto island station with sauna, grill shelter and jetty.
Activities
Keelboat and dinghy regattas, Someron Säästöpankki Kotka Cup, Helsinki-Kotka Race, junior and adult sailing courses, boat surveys, cruising, RC sailing, powerboat sport and island events at Pitkäluoto.
Youth section
Active junior section with beginner and advanced courses on Optimist and Zoom8, SPV-trained coaches, weekly training and regatta opportunities.
Parking
Yes, fenced parking for a fee
Guest berths
Yes, guest berths at Sapokka