Hanöbukten (Kristianstad)
Hanö Bay anchorage · Kristianstad offshore
55°59.0'N 14°38.8'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for 3–5m on sand. This is an open bay anchorage — the alarm is critical and should be set at 65m minimum. Never leave a boat in Hanö Bay without a confirmed settled forecast for at least 36 hours. The NE Baltic fetch is the longest in Sweden — NE gales produce steep, dangerous seas in this bay. Always have Sölvesborg or Simrishamn as escape routes.
About This Anchorage
Hanö Bay (Hanöbukten) is the large open bay between the Blekinge coast to the east and the Skåne coast curving west toward the Öresund. The bay is named after the island of Hanö — a small nature reserve island in the middle of the bay, historically a British naval base during the Napoleonic Wars (the 'English churchyard' on Hanö marks British sailors who died here in 1812–1813). The bay's great depth and openness to NE Baltic fetch make it a challenging anchorage — it is primarily a transit and fair-weather stop on coastal passages between Karlskrona and the Öresund. In settled conditions with SW/W winds, the anchorage in the coastal shallows is pleasant.
Protected From
W · SW · S
Exposed To
N · NE · E · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (Allemansrätten)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Open bay — temporary fair-weather stop only. Monitor NE swell carefully. Hanö island itself is a nature reserve — landing allowed but camping restricted.
Hazards
- !NE Baltic fetch unlimited (500km to Estonia) — worst seas in SE Sweden in NE gales
- !No shelter from NE-E-SE — leave immediately if these conditions develop
- !Open bay with no refuge — always have escape plan to Sölvesborg or Simrishamn
- !Sand bottom can drag in steep sea conditions — set alarm generously
Skipper's Tips
- →Only anchor here in settled SW-W conditions with confirmed 36-hour weather window
- →Visit Hanö island (nature reserve) by dinghy — British naval heritage from Napoleonic Wars
- →The 'English churchyard' on Hanö island is historically fascinating
- →Stage overnight in Sölvesborg or Simrishamn harbour instead of open bay for overnight stops
- →Good transit waypoint for coastal passage — check AIS for shipping from Karlskrona approach
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Sölvesborg (8nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
July–August for fair-weather stops. Transit anchorage on the south coast passage route — most sailors prefer the harbours of Sölvesborg, Kristianopel, or Simrishamn for overnights in this area.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
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