Årstavikens Segelsällskap
Årstavikens Segelsällskap (ÅSS) is a non-profit sailing and boating club on Södermalm in Stockholm on the northern shore of Årstaviken in Eriksdalslunden near the Hammarby lock. Founded in 1898, the club has around 960 members and about 360 berths. Facilities include pontoons, a clubhouse, winter berthing and the club islands Verkarna and Vällinge; the youth section sails Optimist and Laser. Regular evening sailing, work days, regattas and environmentally conscious biocidal-free boating shape the programme. The long tradition at this inner-city harbour and the active community make ÅSS a fixture of Stockholm's boating life.
History
Årstavikens Segelsällskap was founded in 1898 on the northern shore of Årstaviken in Eriksdalslunden near the Hammarby lock; the first minuted meeting took place on 13 October 1898 after earlier records were lost in a fire. From Årstavikens Båtförening the club became Årstavikens Båtklubb in 1900 and Årstavikens Segelsällskap in 1918. In the early 20th century it grew quickly, organised regattas and dock work duties, and secured its site through allotment leases and later contracts with the City of Stockholm. In 1929 ÅSS received a larger harbour area at the old waterworks – the location still used today. In 1932 the summer island Verkan was purchased and became an important archipelago base. During the wartime 1940s the club kept operating despite rationing and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1948. Post-war years brought pontoons, lighting and youth support; 1958 marked the 60th jubilee with major regattas. In the 1960s ÅSS modernised slips and pontoons and founded a youth section in 1966. A new harbour clubhouse was inaugurated in 1976. The 1980s brought organisational modernisation, major jubilees and sporting successes including women's SM in the H-Boot class. The 1990s strengthened environmental work, safety and harbour infrastructure. In 2019 the new clubhouse was inaugurated. In the 2020s the club weathered the pandemic with practical solidarity; afterwards youth sailing and camps on Verkarna returned. Today ÅSS has around 960 members and about 360 berths and is known as an environmentally conscious, biocidal-free boating community with strong volunteer ethos.
Information
Facilities
Harbour facilities with pontoons and Y-booms on Årstaviken, clubhouse with kitchen, toilet and shower, winter berths afloat and ashore, mast shed, environmental station, club islands Verkarna and Vällinge, and member parking with permit.
Activities
Youth evening sailing, sailing camps on Verkarna, internal and open regattas, veterans' programme, shared work days, clubhouse meetings, environmental work and educational evenings.
Youth section
Active youth section with evening sailing from age 7 (Monday, Tuesday or Thursday from 17:00) and an annual sailing camp on Verkarna for ages 9–17; Optimist and Laser, run to Swedish Sailing Federation guidelines.
Parking
Yes, free with member permit