Turnipseed Travel
  • Home
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Inspiration
    • Preparation
    • Destinations
  • About Us
  • Partner With Us
  • New Visitors
  • Social Media

Tales From The Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Survives Sweden's Wildest Boat Ride.

2/8/2016

20 Comments

 

In Stockholm's Archipelago, an RIB is the best way to travel.

RIB Oppet Hav Stockholm
My list of enemies may not be long, but it is firm. And boats have been at the top of that list for my entire life. I am a seasick, motion-sick mess at the mere thought of boats. I have thrown up in public. I have nearly thrown up on people. I have inadvertently taken too much anti-nausea medication and have fallen asleep on the floor of a whale watching vessel. I have taken too little medication too late on an overnight ferry and have cried myself to sleep.

I even felt queasy on the Amsterdam Houseboat Museum. A docked vessel in an inner city canal designed for human habitation. I take my ginger capsules with a hearty dose of shame.

Needless to say, had I really known what an RIB was and what it did, I never would have gone to the dock in Stockholm. I hate boats. I hate speed. Sometimes I even think I hate fun. I’m an absolute scaredy cat, the saddest wimpiest traveler to ever tentatively hit the road.
​
Who on earth would have thought I’d have one of the best experiences of my life?!
RIB Oppet Hav Stockholm Picture
RIB Oppet Hav Stockholm Picture
RIB Oppet Hav StockholmPicture
An RIB is a rigid, inflatable boat. That’s right. A boat. A SPEED boat. For the purposes of this post, let’s call it the fastest boat in the Sweden because that’s TOTALLY WHAT IT IS. From my point of view at least. And traveling on it was the greatest thing ever - even for an anti-adventurist like myself.

Visiting Stockholm's Archipelago is an essential part of any trip to Sweden (and as you can see from my post here, we had an absolutely amazing time on the island of Uto). Most people make their way around by ferry or private sailboat and that's what I had expected for our trip. So my anti-adventurist tendencies were rather rattled when I first saw our sleek, speedy vessel but I needn't have worried - our leaders Andy and Hannah from Oppet Hav had all the logistics and safety details well in hand.

RIBs have historically been used as military or search and rescue vehicles thanks to their light weight, durability, and high speed but nowadays tour operators like Oppet Hav have embraced them as a fun, unique way to move travelers around and show them around Stockholm's Archipelago - this is no sedate sailing experience!
Picture
RIB Oppet Hav Stockholm goggles beanies Picture
RIB Oppet Hav Stockholm lifejackets Picture
Save on your hotel - www.hotelscombined.com
RIB passengers don’t look like your classic sailor either. Guests are loaned comfortable windbreakers and eye goggles to protect against the whipping wind you’ll encounter at high speeds. The goggles might look silly but they're an absolute necessity as they keep the wind from your eyes and prevent an otherwise constant state of tears. I was even able to wear them over my regular glasses. 

The company also gave us beanie hats to keep as souvenirs – fun, but also very practical as your ears can get COLD without them. And, most importantly, they fitted us with sports-style life jackets that have a very slim and comfortable profile and I instantly forgot that I was wearing one. 
Stockholm Archipelago RIB Picture
Stockholm Archipelago RIB Picture
Stockholm Archipelago RIB Picture
Stockholm Archipelago RIB Picture
Leaving Stockholm's beautiful harbour and entering the charming waters of the Archipelago had me whipping my head in all directions. There were so many colourful, captivating wee cottages and incredible nature views. The stage was set for us to enjoy a leisurely cruise to Uto - but our guides had something else in mind!

Pushing speeds upwards of 60 knots, Andy and Hannah led us through a series of wild – WILD! – curves and turns, at times pretending to ‘charge’ an island straight ahead of us, only to execute a sharp last minute turn. The bow of our vessel was steered into the waves left by other boats and we bounced up and down on their crest. As we flew across the open water, the front of the boat would jump and skip in the air before crashing back down, leaving us bouncing in our seats and squealing with delight.

Having sensibly never been on a roller coaster before, I feel confident that this would rival the experience. I have never had anything like it in terms of speed, movement, and exhilaration. And wind. Oh, the wind! Let's just say I was glad we had our goggles and jackets, as...

....while I hoped I looked like this in the RIB....

Picture
Photo courtesy lestuffblog.com

.... I suspect I looked more like this....

Picture
Picture
Of course, what all readers who are familiar with my previous anti-adventures want to know: did I get seasick? NO! Ultimately, it felt like I was in a race-car, not a boat. The fresh, cold wind was actually helpful and the RIB was much more stable than I expected. I did take anti-nausea ginger medication but I don’t know if it was really necessary. Nevertheless, I’m glad I had it along with me as it helped boost my confidence and reassure me before the trip.
Huvudskar Picture
Huvudskar Picture
Huvudskar Picture
An RIB trip doesn’t just provide travelers with a heart pounding ride. A small vessel like this can take you to less visited islands and into much smaller harbours. Between visiting our two main destinations, the islands of Uto and Sandham, we also stopped to fika (the traditional Swedish practice of relaxing with coffee and treats) on Huvudskar. While disembarking here was rather awkward (you basically fling yourself up out of the boat and onto a rock), it was wonderful to get a sense of what a  quiet, tiny archipelago island is like.  
Picture
An RIB experience with Oppet Hav can be arranged as a custom itinerary, like our group experienced, or, when in season,  with their signature seal safari. While we didn't see any seals in their natural habitat during our trip, we did see another phenomenon of nature: A flying penguin. 

Now, I know what you're thinking. One: penguins don't fly. Two: penguins don't live in Sweden. But I have a boat load of RIB friends who will swear on their life that there are indeed penguins in Sweden and they do indeed fly.  And we saw this happen not once but on two occasions! Go ahead, laugh all you want. We'll see who's laughing when they name an RIB after me and I win a billion dollars as amateur biologist of the year!

Even without becoming the world's most influential animal-myth debunker, I'm prepared to declare that riding in an RIB to be my most successful anti-adventure ever. Had I really grasped what I was going to experience in advance, there's no way I would have gone through with the trip. Sometimes it pays not to study your itinerary too intensely! Boats, speed, skips, turns - absolutely none of these are my thing. But Andy and Hannah were so welcoming and reassuring and professional in the boat that I felt completely safe and relaxed in their capable hands. It's hard to describe, but when you meet them, you just know that they're there to give you thrills through fun, not through scares. They pushed my limits (and I suspect those of a few of my boat-mates as well!) but it was in the name of exhilaration and not so they could show off. They were some of the best travel leaders I've ever had in any country and they were so warm and genuine - whether they were instructing us in the boat or chatting about politics and foodie trends over lunch - that I didn't just love my RIB experience but I felt like I could be entering a period of bigger, bolder travel...

... And if a penguin can fly all the way to Sweden, who's to say where I might go next?


If you enjoyed this post, you'll also like:
Exploring Uto: Stockholm's Friendliest Isle
5 Tips for Stealthy Stockholm Savings
Tales from the Anti-Adventurist: Vanessa Goes Kayaking

My RIB experience was provided as part of the TBEX conference. 
20 Comments
Mar link
11/9/2016 12:50:42 am

Wow that sounds like a lot of fun! I may not be as much of an anti adventurist as you but I do often feel like I don't need to risk my life to have fun by I love roller coasters! Great that you didn't get sick! Now you know what to do next - fast boats!

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:30:10 am

Really, not getting sick is a major accomplishment for me.

Reply
Debra Schroeder link
11/9/2016 02:27:54 am

ROFL, greatest first couple of lines of a blog post ever! The entire post was hilarious. Especially loved the photos of how you imagined yourself to look and how you "really" looked.

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:30:44 am

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Reply
danik the explorer link
11/9/2016 04:01:20 am

Fantastic read, very humourous. :) Love the photos, I love Sweden in whole. Dam it, you want me to go back to Sweden now asap! :P

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:34:24 am

We loved Sweden too and it was so great to get out of Stockholm and explore further afield.

Reply
Christina link
11/9/2016 05:19:25 am

I tend to get seasick to so don't usually like going out in small boats when the ocean is rough. I've done a few of these in different places and I'm sure it's nowhere near as scary as going on a giant roller coaster. The scenery looks lovely!

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:35:20 am

Hey, it was TOTALLY as scary as a giant roller coaster, at least to me!

Reply
Carmen's Luxury Travel link
11/9/2016 06:44:52 am

Wow, what an adventure! And what a beautiful part of the world too! Great post, thanks for sharing :)

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:36:09 am

Glad you enjoyed it.

Reply
Meg Jerrard link
12/9/2016 02:52:12 am

Congrats on a successful boat ride!! The RIB actually sounds like a blast! And a great way to see the stunning archipelago :) I want to see a flying penguin :D

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:39:05 am

Alas, only the truly fortunate are blessed by the Swedish flying penguin's presence.

Reply
Lauren Meshkin @BonVoyageLauren link
12/9/2016 09:28:28 am

Sweden is high up on my list! Lovely post, thanks for sharing. Happy travels!

Reply
Vanessa
12/9/2016 09:39:31 am

It was a great travel destination.

Reply
Natalia
12/9/2016 10:17:51 am

haha :D What an experience!! I loved your comparison and the way you described it) Thanks for sharing

Reply
Vanessa
4/7/2017 09:32:57 am

So glad you liked it!

Reply
Chris link
14/9/2016 03:20:44 am

What a wonderful and funny post. I really enjoyed it. I have to say you really should be proud of yourself. If you were getting a bit sick on a house boat in Amsterdam (I don't really remember them moving that much at all) but graduated to a speed boat then thats progress in my by book. Good job, you rock. But just in case don't sit beside me on ferries....lololol!!!!

Reply
Vanessa
4/7/2017 09:33:30 am

Never fear - on ferries I hide myself away in a corner!!

Reply
Heidi link
1/7/2017 01:21:41 pm

This post is so funny! Good that you did enjoy it afterall. Can't believe TBEX in Stockholm is almost a year ago already!

Reply
Vanessa
4/7/2017 09:33:57 am

I wish I had another RIB ride coming up this summer.

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    TurnipseedTravel Inspiration
    Travel Inspiration
    TurnipseedTravel Preparation
    Travel Preparation
    TurnipseedTravel Destinations
    Travel Destinations

    Posts You'll Love

    The Perfect PEI Road Trip Travel Plan.

    ​
    My Favourite Churches in London.

    Fighting off Wild Boar (or, why I love my headlamp!).

    One Day, Four Ways in Thessaloniki. 

    Sailing Down Burma's Irrawaddy River.

    Save on your hotel - www.hotelscombined.com

    Classic Canada

    Maple Memories in Montebello Quebec.

    Saving and Splurging in Edmundston, NB.

    Lighthouse Tours and More in Thunder Bay.

    Oxford, Ontario's Epic Cheese Trail.

    Newfoundland Travel:
    Ferry or Flying?

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    RSS Feed

Top 100 Travel Influencer
As named by the Obama White House in 2014.​
Picture

Subscribe to our mailing list

* You need this to get mail!
In need of a Social Media Strategist?
Visit Vanessa at Sculpt Social!
© COPYRIGHT 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Disclaimers, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy

DMCA.com Protection Status
  • Home
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Inspiration
    • Preparation
    • Destinations
  • About Us
  • Partner With Us
  • New Visitors
  • Social Media