Aiski Kainuvaara and Miia Pärnänen encourage others to go on a sailing trip. The end of the six-year journey was witnessed by dozens of people at Kirkkonummi’s Kantvik harbor.
– No pressure for parking! No one is looking that way, comes the cry.
Dozens of people burst into laughter on the sun-baked platform. Each pair of eyes is directed at the approaching boat. The air vibrates with anticipation.
The red sailboat, Omaha, has just arrived at Kirkkonummi’s Kantvik harbor. Beaching seems to go smoothly for sailors as they are used to. And it’s no wonder, because this has been done a lot lately.
The trip was carefully planned
Kaunuvaara already dreamed of such a trip as a child.
– This has been a dream since I was little. Then it happened to be the right moment for work – and otherwise – to leave. We wanted to do this trip while we are still young and fresh and able to move.
The initial spark happened in 2007 in South America. That’s when Kainuvaara decided that he wanted to make such a trip.
The first thing I had to do was get a passing game. He bought a steel 42-foot Danish sailboat. Omaha, who was about 40 years old, was not yet ready for the trip.
– For five years it was renovated, repaired and prepared. Then the decision was made to leave.
Kainuvaara and Pärnänen sold everything for the trip. The apartment and chattels were allowed to leave. All funds were used for the long-awaited trip.
The anchor rose on June 29, 2016 from Kirkkonummi.
Bends on the way
On their journey, the sailors faced the same thing as the whole world at the beginning of 2020: the corona pandemic.
As a result, the original plan had to be deviated from and the Far East was not seen.
The pandemic also made the difficult situation in Australia’s Coral Sea even more difficult.
Omaha’s voyage was slowed down by a broken boom and a broken sail. Ylek also reported on the incident. The port had to be reached before the food and water ran out, but due to Australia’s corona restrictions it was difficult to get to the country.
– We were at sea for 48 days before Australia’s decision-making bodies finally gave us permission to land, Kainuvaara recalls.
According to international regulations, sailors could not be left at sea, even if they would not have otherwise been able to land due to the corona lockdown.
They were granted three-month visas. In the country, Kainuvaara and Pärnänen were placed in a strict two-week quarantine. The boat stayed at anchor for the time being.
All in all, Kainuvaara was left with a positive feeling from the altercation.
– All kinds of things hurt when boating.
\”Let’s go on a trip\”
According to Kainuvaara, about a hundred Finns have traveled around the world by water in the past. Other sailors encouraged the duo to set off. They now recommend the same to others.
– If you feel like going to sea to see the world, then definitely go on a trip, Miia Pärnänen encourages.
According to Kainuaara, you should not be afraid of a lack of language skills.
– Yes, even with bad language skills you can do it. If you come across a strange word on the menu, but the dish tastes good, you can order the same next time.
Kainuvaara describes the experience as great.
– One day you have to die, but other days you have to live.
_What thoughts did the story evoke? You can discuss the topic on August 22. until 11 p.m._