Order the lovely commemorative card of the Postal Boat Race with this year’s special cancel and “over-the-sea” cancel in the webshop and send your mail across the Sea of Åland the old-fashioned way. This year’s race sets off from Eckerö in Åland to Grisslehamn in Sweden on Saturday 17 June. The last day for submitting your order and mail items is 8 June 2023.
All mail boats taking part in the race carry a mail bag in commemoration of the peasants in Swedish Väddö and Åland Eckerö who were obliged to convey mail as well as passengers across the Sea of Åland, an ongoing obligation lasting for almost 400 years and ending in the early 1900s.
Approximately 30 boats take part every year, and the crews of four are required to wear contemporary clothing and the boat must also be true to the period. The goal is to cross the Sea of Åland, a distance of 44 km, as quickly as possible. Depending on the wind and weather conditions, the crossing takes anywhere between 3½ and 6 hours. The boat and team acquiring the highest total score for clothing, boat, and speed wins.
The commemorative card of the Postal Boat Race is cancelled with the special cancellation and also acquires a special commemorative cancel, which serves to certify that the mail item has, in fact, been carried across the Sea of Åland by a mail boat.
How to order the Postal Boat Race special and commemorative cancellations for your collection:
- Order the commemorative card with the special and commemorative cancels in the webshop. Price: €4.00/card.*
- Send your pre-franked and self-addressed letters and cards to us to obtain the special cancel free of charges.
- Send your pre-franked and self-addressed letters and cards to us to obtain the special and commemorative cancels. Price €2.00/item. *
* Shipping and handling is additional
Last day of submission!
Your self-addressed and pre-franked covers and postcards for special and commemorative cancellations must arrive at Åland Post Stamps no later than 8 June 2023. Send your covers to Åland Post Stamps, PO Box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland.
NOTE! When sending your covers and cards to us for cancellation, please remember to affix a CN22 customs label to your letter, marking it “Letters for cancellation”. This will expedite and facilitate the clearing process.
Since 1974, the Postal Boat Race is organized by Roslagen Marine History Society and Eckerö Local History Society in cooperation with Swedish PostNord and Åland Post.