Vaasan Merenkyntäjät ry
Vaasan Merenkyntäjät ry is a Finnish sailing club founded in 1926, with its home harbour on Vaskiluoto in Vaasa on Finland’s west coast. The club maintains berths with boom and stern-buoy moorings, a historic sailing pavilion from 1927, a boatyard and sheds, a sauna and a tennis court. The programme includes a junior sailing school, Wednesday racing with WSF and VTP, FinRating events such as Vaasan Majakan kierros, flotilla cruises across the Kvarken to Sweden, and member training. Its hallmark is a century of tradition as a Finnish-language club in the region, complemented by island bases at Kaukaluoto and Rönnskär.
History
Vaasan Merenkyntäjät ry was founded on 11 April 1926 at the Suomalainen Klubi in Vaasa as a Finnish-language sailing club; registration cites 14 December 1926. The trigger was language tensions in the Swedish-speaking Wasa Segelförening. J.O. Ikola proposed the name; architect Matti Björklund (later Visanti) designed the club emblem. First commodore was Artturi Myntti. The Visanti pavilion was inaugurated on 11 June 1927; the first sauna followed in 1928. The 1930s depression and war years slowed development; in 1940 the pavilion served as a summer camp. Post-war works included 1947 alterations, a new yard area in 1949 and a new quay in 1954. Junior sailing began in 1947 with the first Vikla; in the 1970s about 40 Optimists were built. In 1985 the south quay with nearly 50 berths was completed. In 1994 the club co-hosted Nordic Optimist and E-dinghy championships with WSF. In 1996 the register listed 82 sailing and 35 motor boats with 125 berths. In 2026 the club celebrated its centenary with over 90 members present.
Information
Facilities
Home harbour on Vaskiluoto with pontoons (side booms and stern buoys), mast crane, boatyard with halls for wooden boats, historic sailing pavilion with restaurant (80–100 seats), seaside sauna, tennis court; island bases at Kaukaluoto (Pyhäranta sauna and island sauna) and a share of Rönnskär; three guest berths with water, power, showers and toilets.
Activities
Wednesday racing (Vaasa championship with WSF and VTP), FinRating events including Vaasan Majakan kierros, Finnish Sailing League participation, flotilla cruises to Sweden across the Kvarken, junior sailing school and summer camp, training (navigator course, skipper course, intro courses), winter events in the pavilion, club sauna and tennis.
Youth section
Active junior section with sailing school (Tue/Thu 17–20), summer camp and club youth boats
Parking
Yes, paved parking at the pavilion
Guest berths
Yes, 3 berths, 15 Euro/day
Boating license training
Available: 1
Mikko Heikkilä
Skipper course spring 2025, Wednesday evenings from week 8