Testimonials from the Sea.

  • A smiling man with curly gray hair, beard, and glasses, wearing a dark shirt.

    "I was most impressed by the way Tapio entrusted responsibility over Galiana to the young and enthusiastic co- sailors: with calm confidence and authority, yet with discrete attention to safety as well as individual and collective well being of the crew. Always ready to prepare hot food in conditions that no-one else felt able to do so. The chats with Tapio were an enriching experience in many ways. And being squeezed into one boat with the vitality of the predominantly young crew was a rejuvenating experience. I hope to be able to come aboard again soon."

    Gérard Krause

  • A man sailing a boat, smiling while holding the steering wheel, wearing a black jacket, gloves, and a beanie, with sails and rigging visible in the background on the open water under a cloudy sky.

    "I sailed with Galiana from Helsinki to Kiel to learn more about offshore sailing and long-distance passages. I gained a lot from the experience, and Tapio and his team made sure we were safe and comfortable throughout the gales we encountered on the trip. I learned a great deal about seamanship, navigation, and long-distance sailing during the voyage, and I can warmly recommend joining Tapio and his team on one of their passages."

    Bjørnar Bolstad

  • A smiling man wearing glasses and a yellow bucket hat sitting on a boat or cabin interior with a control panel behind him, a backpack, and a smartphone on a table in front of him.

    "I joined Galiana on the leg from Kiel to Gosport. We had a great sail despite winds gusting up to 30 knots. Not exactly Champagne sailing, but this is a boat set up for comfortable sailing in demanding conditions. The Crew was well looked after by the enormously experienced skipper Tapio, who ensured that the Crew was safe, well fed and in good spirits. I can warmly recommend anyone who wants to experience and enjoy ocean sailing to join Galiana on a leg (or more) on her voyage from Europe and to the Caribbean - and beyond."

    Thomas Ahlström

  • Man in outdoor gear smiling, with a gray beanie and a life jacket, on a boat during cloudy weather.

    "Joining Tapio on the delivery of Galiana from Cowes to the ARC start in Las Palmas was an unforgettable privilege. We pushed through rough weather and long stretches of upwind sailing, but Galiana—the iconic Swan 55 by Olin Stephens—showed her true character every mile of the way. What truly made the trip special was Tapio himself. His endless stories, deep knowledge of sailing history, and personal experiences brought an extra dimension to the journey. Combined with the fantastic crew he assembled, the entire trip became not just a passage, but an experience I’m truly grateful for."

    Claes von Heiroth

  • Two men sailing on a boat, smiling, one at the helm and the other standing, wearing waterproof jackets in a gray ocean setting.

    "The passage and the possibility to sail onboard Galiana a legendary Swan was, at least for me, a dream come true. I also got to meet my idol Tapio Lehtinen who I personally rate as the most experienced offshore sailor in Finland. He is a true seaman, a gentleman who’s very humble but don’t ask for apologize and has a very good sense of humour. He’s also a walking sailing history Wikipedia with endless stories beginning from early 70’s. Last but not least I liked the way he’s “raising” the youngsters aboard Galiana as own kids…a priceless gift."

    Henri Harka

  • "Tre generationer damer njuter i högsta grad! Med på resan är också morfar och dottersonen förstås vår fantastiska skeppare Tapio Lehtinen på s/y Galiana.Vi har fått segla Antigua-Guadeloup-Antigua under en vecka. Vi kan verkligen rekommendera seglats med Galiana! Vi har simmat med rockor, fiskar i alla tänkbara färger, fått se flygfiskar, sköldpaddor och delfiner."

    Annika von Schantz

  • "A team onboard Galiana can flexibly share responsibilities, according to skills and interests. In addition to sailing tasks in common, I was our expedition lead, main photographer and card holder for joint expenses. It also so happened that this sailing experience onboard Galiana came at a perfect time for me, as I bought a sailing boat (Nauticat 35) during the preparation of this adventure, so I could keep learning for our boat in mind when sailing and when discussing with more experienced sailing team members. Sailing in the Caribbean on Galiana was a great combination of fine offshore sailing on a classic yacht and experiencing a richness of quite different islands and their surroundings. In our three weeks, we were in the countries of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (on several islands), Grenada, France (Martinique, Les Saints / Guadeloupe, Saint Barth), Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, finishing in Antigua and Barbuda."

    Olavi Luotonen

  • "I got an opportunity to sail on Galiana in the Caribbean for three weeks. These weeks sailing Galiana turned out to be, honestly speaking, among the top sailing sessions I’ve experienced in my sailing life, and that is approximately 50 years. I could not ask for more. The boat and her skipper, the group, the weather, all were shortly said Great! Galiana itself is a thrill to sail, the way she moves her 20 ton hull thru the water is both smooth and powerful, thanks to Olin Stephens design lines. The yawl rig offers several sail setups, including the use of the mizzen stay sail and the spinnaker and keeps multiple hand pairs busy if so wanted."

    Harri Hummelin

  • "It did not take me long to say yes as I was invited to participate in the VSoP sailing trip starting from Saint Lucia. Sailing in the Caribbean had always been on my bucket list, but with my somewhat limited sailing experience I always wondered how to make this dream come true. On board I learned lots of new stuff overall and was able to test my survival skills in a longer sailing trip in a classic sailing boat. As larger sailing team set-ups often require various specialized roles e.g. also those related to technical and support, I took on food logistics and inventory and gradually also cooking. Among the related advantages was to find out the recipe for Tapio’s world-famous morning porridge! Tapio is not only an excellent skipper but also an effective and supportive sailing instructor with a safety-first attitude. He handles with ease the varying skill levels of the team with a clear and patient communication style, especially towards the less experienced crew members which was my case. In short, with a great skipper and superb team, sailing on M/S Galiana was a fantastic experience that I can truly recommend to all wishing to test their limits: the thrill of sailing with wind, waves and open seas, visit beautiful remote spots, test own limits, build mental resilience and learn new skills."

    Sirkka Numminen