Part 3.

When most boys only saw cars, the walls of 7-year-old Ilkka's room were covered with pictures of boats. He got his first chance for a sailing trip not before he was grown, when his uncle took him for a two-hour sailing trip on his wooden-hulled yacht. After that, it took only a couple of weeks until he had bought his first sailing dinghy. Today, he owns his seventh yacht and fourth Finngulf yacht.

What makes sailing such a thrill for Ilkka is being on one.s own. Nothing can beat the feeling of seeing the coast disappear on the horizon: from there on you only have yourself to depend on. Also, you must be in balance with the forces of nature.

His passion for sailing shows no signs of fading. On the contrary, last year he sailed more than ever before. And he already has plans for new, long sailing tours.
For a yachtsman who likes to sail long distances, it is not enough to be able to make one's yacht sail well. It is preferable not only to be able to sail and navigate, but also maintain the yacht, the motor and the equipment - at least the basics. In addition to these, Ilkka thinks it is good to know some meteorology, astronomy, medicine, geology, history, different languages etc. During longer yachting tours it is useful to have many kinds of skills.

Mastering light weather sailing At the moment, the Liukkonens. sail a Finngulf 44, which they acquired a year ago. Ilkka found the yacht, which was built 1995, in Sweden and in excellent condition. The last 20 years Ilkka has been faithful to Finngulf yachts.
- Six seasons I sailed a Finngulf 39, a beautiful yacht called Paula Blue. I sailed it as far north as to Kemi in northern Finland, in the east to St. Petersburg, in the south to Helgoland and in the west to Norway, Ilkka lists his earlier sailing tours.

According to Ilkka, the sailing qualities of Finngulf yachts are excellent.
- I have sailed a Finngulf yacht for almost 20 years, and this shows that I trust that they are of superior quality. It is also of crucial importance that their after sales service really works. If I need help or a spare part, it is only a phone call away. I cannot imagine a better service, praises Ilkka.

All yachts sail fairly well leeward, but the differences between yachts become obvious when you sail windward. When a yacht has good windward sailing qualities, it gives a great advantage in making sailing much faster.
- Finngulf is made optimal above all for the Baltic sea conditions. It shows in the strikingly large sail area. It guarantees a good sailing speed even in light weather.
- When the wind is five meters, Finngulf yachts move wonderfully. It is a true enjoyment when the wind doesn't howl and the waves don't crash, but the yacht sails on. It.s like a dream! In light and medium winds Finngulf is a superior yacht, and it exactly the kind of weather you mostly sail in on the Baltic sea, says Ilkka.
- A yacht should be at its best when life at sea is easy and comfortable for the crew. Why should the yacht show its best qualities only when it becomes uncomfortable there and the crew wants to go on land, asks Ilkka.