Ankarudden 58°48.1' N, 17°50.35' E

Ankarudden has been termed "a small, dull anchorage in a beautiful setting". To call here in darkness, strong winds or in rough seas is not recommended. There are plenty of underwater rocks close to the marked channel making the approach very difficult for those who call here for the first time. However, there is more to Ankarudden and the surrounding area than meets the eye.

Stockholm’s southern-most archipelago, with the island of Öja/Landsort as its final outpost, is called southern Södertörn. The islands often presents barren landscapes where there is little vegetation and where large, bare rocks are the most common sight. For sailors headed north and south along the Swedish east coast, this world of islands has been both a loved and feared region. The archipelago between the northern-most point of Landsort and Torö offers shelter and protection. Here you can find natural anchorage and moorings in well-protected channels and natural harbours. However, rocks lurk both on and below the surface. Since they are very hard to discover, especially in darkness, they often surprise the unwary sailor.

History

The oldest written record of official activity in the area date back to 1535 when the Swedish king Gustav Vasa established the first official pilot station on Landsort. The pilot Anders Båtelsson and his descendants were tasked, in exchange for payment, to guide ships to Stockholm. The ships of the Crown were to be piloted without a fee. Apart from the piloting, the pilot could support himself on fishing and animal breeding. In 1679 a law was set down declaring that all ships were obliged to engage a pilot. This in turn led to the establishment of a larger pilot service. The number of pilots in the area quickly grew, they could be found on Landsort, Krokskär, which occupied a suitable spot near the old channel, Läskär, and Viksten.

The freeway going by Herrhamra and Landsort have a very long tradition. In the so called Valdemar Itinerary from the 1200s, which is presumed to be a kind of description of shipping routes for the Danish king Valdemar, both Torö (thorae) and Herrhamra (haerihammaer) are mentioned. The sailing channels of those days passed near the coast since the seamen needed close-by anchorage and landmarks by which to navigate. When larger ships began to frequent the archipelago at the end of 1800s and when nautical charts and improved navigational equipment became available, the channel south of Landsort was used instead of the old, difficult inner channel. By the often-used sites of anchorage and moorings along the old channels, inns, pilot stations and customs stations began to come up. The ringbolts you can find at various locations in the area show where the old mooring spots were situated.

Krogen, historic naval location!

The small island of Krogen outside Herrhamra has become the subject of investigations of a naval historical character. The island was earlier called Ulfskär. The existence of an inn and tavern enterprise can, through written records, be verified back to 1690s. On a map of the Krogen area from 1745, drawn for the purpose of land partitioning, there is an inn and a jetty that are clearly marked on Krogen’s north-eastern side. As the Russian galleys haunted the Stockholm archipelago in 1719 the buildings were burnt to the ground and the newly arrived inn-keeper Peter Laggman was abducted by the Russian forces – never to be heard from again. However, the enterprise was quickly back in business again and the inn existed until 1829. Thus, while waiting for favourable winds the seamen could go to the inn to pass the time. Both local and foreign sailors regularly visited the inn. In addition to the foundation of the inn, there are today several foundation-like remains of various sizes. These structures are probably the remains of dwelling houses, outhouses and perhaps boathouses related to the enterprise. In the vicinity of the inn there was also a well, a cellar and a natural harbour. The significance of Krogen and the surrounding area as an important waiting place for ships on the border between the open sea and the archipelago is emphasised by written sources from the beginning of the 19^th century. Sometimes there could be upwards of 30 large sailing-ships lying anchored outside the small island.The wind-blown islets of this area have been a place where shipping has, for topographical reasons, concentrated. In the Valdemar Itinerary more locations in this area are mentioned, among them Fifång, Revskär, Ekholmen and Viksten.

Opposite the eastern side of Krogen there is a long head by name of Läskär. This has in earlier times been a separate island, cut off from Torö by a small strait. On the map of the Krogen area of 1745, there is a tollhouse, belonging to the local customs officer, marked on Läskär. The increase in trade and shipping was the foremost reason for the expansion of the customs service. Another reason was that the archipelago provided many off-loading points for those sailors who wished to avoid the customs’ reach. In 1720 the customs station on Läskär was established, outside of which all kinds of vessels, from fishing boats to full-rigged ships, could pass safely since the channel was easily navigated. According to a customs manifest from the Läskär customs station there were already on 26 March 1860 approximately 40 brigs and full-rigged ships lying anchored, waiting for the break-up of ice in the archipelago. At that time Soviken was used as an off-loading point. In 1877 the customs station was moved to Landsort and a co-operation between customs officers and pilots was commenced with the purpose of increased surveillance and efficiency.