Suomalainen Pursiseura ry.
Suomalainen Pursiseura ry. (SPS) is the oldest Finnish-speaking yacht club in Helsinki, founded in 1913. Its home harbour is on Sirpalesaari island at Merisatama, near Kaivopuisto in southern Helsinki, with berths, a breakwater harbour, winter yard and a connection boat to the mainland. The programme includes regattas such as Helsinki Regatta and Wednesday races, training, cruising squadrons and the island base TĂĄgholmen with sauna and barbecue shelter. Guests find visitor berths with water, electricity and sanitary facilities; members use club rooms, boat hall and Restaurant Saari. The tradition ranges from Olympic success to active youth and junior development.
History
Suomalainen Pursiseura (SPS) was founded in January 1913 under Russian rule; on 28 June 1913 the club first raised its flag on Nihtisaari island. In October 1913 SPS joined the Finnish Sailing Federation. At that time Finland already had at least 39 yacht clubs, but none in Helsinki that were Finnish-speaking. In its founding year racing began with two sailing and one motorboat races. The 1920s were a golden era: in 1919 five SPS boats raced at Sandhamn in Sweden; from 1921 annual contests with Tallinna Jaht Klub (Helsinki–Tallinn) began. In 1928 Bertel Broman won Olympic bronze in the dinghy class in Amsterdam. Organised junior activity started in 1933, after junior races had been held since 1926. In 1939 Nihtisaari burned; clubhouse, trophies and archives were lost. A new clubhouse opened on 28 June 1952. In 1961 SPS had to move to Sirpalesaari for Sompasaari construction; club and office buildings were completed in 1963, the breakwater in 1967. Thomas Johanson became Olympic champion in the 49er class in 2000; earlier Laser European titles in 1991/1992 and Laser World Champion in 1993. Jyrki Taiminen was Europe dinghy World Champion in 1990. Since the 1980s the member magazine Pursi has been published again; the club also maintains the Tågholmen base in the Sipoo archipelago.
Information
Facilities
Home harbour Sirpalesaari with berths and breakwater, winter yard with tower crane (8 t), boat hall, club room, sauna, Restaurant Saari, connection boat, island base TĂĄgholmen with berths, barbecue shelter and sauna
Activities
Regattas (Helsinki Regatta, Wednesday races, Olympiamalja), training races, education, cruising squadrons, work parties, member magazine Pursi
Youth section
Junior membership and youth development; organised since 1933
Guest berths
Yes, 20 Euro/day