Anny has returned home

AvH in Gdansk

Picture by Helena Rosenblad/ Yle

Freely translated article written by Helena von Alfthan dated 3rd September 2025, published by Finnish broadcasting company (YLE). Click the link for pictures.

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The sailing ship Anny von Hamburg has returned to its home port – Ekenäs is of interest around the world

Skipper Juha Pokka wishes the city of Raseborg could offer better marketing materials. He has tried to attract tourists to Ekenäs when the sailing ship visited Poland and Germany.

It's cozy aboard the Anny von Hamburg. A fire is crackling in a small stove and on a large, shiny table, skipper Juha Pokka has books and brochures spread out.

This summer, Anny von Hamburg has been traveling around the Baltic Sea for three months, visiting major sailing events in Germany and Poland. Among other things, the ship has been in Kiel in northern Germany during Kieler Woche, a major regatta.

– After Kieler Woche we visited smaller ports, Heiligenhafen, Burgstaaken and Sassnitz, which is a really beautiful city, says Pokka.

Juha Pokka says that he tried to advertise Finland when the boat was in port in Poland and Germany. On the table is a large book about Raseborg that visitors can browse through.

– Fortunately, we have Vidar Lindqvist's book here so we can tell where we come from. We also have lifebuoys that say Ekenäs on them and we have the ESS flag.

Many people have asked what ESS, i.e. Ekenäs Sailing Association, stands for.

– We have told you that we come from Ekenäs in Finland, a Swedish-speaking town that is worth a visit if you are interested. But unfortunately we do not have any brochures, nothing that we can hand out.

Instead, Juha Pokka has handed out the Kimitoön brochure, a thick bundle with many pictures and QR codes. A QR code that would lead to information about Raseborg is something Pokka wishes he could take with him on his sailing trips around the world.

Now Anny von Hamburg is back in the Northern Harbour in Ekenäs. It has been a year since the sailing ship has had the North Harbour as its home port.

Juha Pokka is pleased with the agreement with the city. And he has also advised other ships around the world that they can dock at the location when Anny is not there.

– During the trip we made now, for example, we met the Swedish navy sailing ship Gladan. We asked if they would pay us a visit and the captain of the Gladan replied that if someone invited them here and the depth was sufficient at the quay, they could come.