Iris crew working together

Culture & Crew

Our sailing culture, crew expectations, and what to know before you join.

Meet the Crew

The boat is co-owned by Marcus Olsson and his father Arne Ohlsson. We have sailed together since Marcus was 4 months old. The boat can be sailed by 2 people but it's easier - and more fun - to sail with a few more onboard, particularly on longer passages.

Marcus Olsson

Marcus Olsson

Co-Owner / Skipper

Certified Yacht Master Coastal (Kustskeppare). Has been sailing since childhood and previously owned an H-boat in Berlin. Captain of the family boat 'Matanzas' — an orange Rhapsody 34 — for 20 years, with extensive sailing in Sweden and Finland. Has raced with the Finnish 6mR yacht 'Arneta' at NJK in Finland, and has been a member of KSSS in Stockholm since 2022. In 2024, captained Iris on a 4,200 nautical mile journey from Turkey to Sweden through the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Has captained yachts up to 46 feet in the Mediterranean, crossed the North Sea, sailed in the Caribbean, and around Svalbard.

Yacht Master Coastal certified, 20+ years as captain

Arne Ohlsson

Arne Ohlsson

Co-Owner

Started sailing at 13 and has been competing in regattas ever since, with racing yachts including J/24, 6mR, and mini transat. Owns his 38th boat. Beyond the family boat Matanzas — an orange Rhapsody 34 — he has also sailed a wooden Windö 30, the Ballad, the Norlin 34, an H-båt, and the 6mR yacht Arneta. Experienced in single-handed sailing, he sailed Matanzas for many weeks along the Swedish coastline in 2019. Former teacher of yacht mechanics and one of the most skilled sail trimmers around.

Lifetime of racing, 38 boats owned, extensive offshore experience

The heart of why we sail

What Sailing Means to Us

We're not a charter operation or a sailing school—we're just people who love the ocean and what it brings out in us. Sailing with Iris is about embracing adventure, building genuine friendships, and finding joy in the journey itself.

Safety Through Partnership & Leadership

We take safety seriously, which means thinking together and planning ahead. We make decisions as a group, plan our days, and make sure everyone feels comfortable in their role. But we also recognize that at sea, especially when conditions get tough, there's one captain—and trust in that leadership is essential. When the weather turns or a situation demands it, orders need to be followed quickly and directly. Everyone onboard is expected to stay focused, help out, and trust the captain's decisions. This balance—collaboration in calm, clarity in chaos—keeps us all safe.

Nature on Its Own Terms

We sail with the wind and weather that nature gives us. Some days bring perfect conditions, others test our limits. Either way, we adapt, we learn, and we make the most of it. There's a deep satisfaction in working with the elements rather than against them—reading the wind, feeling the boat respond, finding your rhythm with the sea.

In the Same Boat (Sitta i Samma Båt)

There's something special about being out there together—far from land, sharing watches through the night, helping each other through challenges. You bond in ways that don't happen on shore. We cook together, laugh together, work together as a team. Some moments call for trimming sails to squeeze out every tenth of a knot; others are perfect for meditation and watching the sunset paint the sky.

Places Beyond the Ordinary

The ocean takes you to places you can't reach any other way—remote anchorages where the only sound is water lapping against the hull, coastlines that reveal themselves slowly over the horizon. And when you arrive under your own power, using nothing but wind, there's a sense of achievement and freedom that nothing else quite matches.

The Joy of Speed & Craft

We love meeting passionate sailors who get excited about sail trim and boat speed. There's pure joy in making a boat go fast just because you can—tweaking sheets, watching the numbers climb, feeling the hull come alive. But we also know when to ease off, enjoy the ride, and not take it all too seriously.

At its core, this is about finding your people—those who understand the pull of the horizon, who appreciate both the challenge and the serenity, and who know that the best adventures are the ones you share.

What's Expected from You?

  • Sailing experience is not mandatory, but it's definitely a bonus
  • Be observant and engaged in the sailing, try to be helpful when needed
  • When weather gets tough, everyone is expected to help out, stay focused, and be attentive to the situation
  • Help with dishes when someone else has been cooking
  • Take responsibility for one dinner meal during your stay (day 2 or 3)
  • Keep things tidy and organized
  • During night passages, take your watch shift and wake the captain if something happens
  • Most importantly: desire to be at sea and understanding we need to move forward together

Food Onboard

Food is super-important onboard. We share cooking duties, taking shifts to cook at sea, at anchor, or in harbour. Since Marcus doesn't eat red meat or chicken, we mainly cook pescetarian food (vegetarian + egg + milk + fish). We can easily accommodate vegans and other dietary preferences.

Guidelines

  • Prepare a simple meal recipe on your phone before arrival
  • We'll buy ingredients together
  • Always offer snacks/drinks to everyone onboard when you have something
  • Notify us of any allergies or dietary needs before signing up

Economy

We split running costs between everyone onboard. We use Splitwise to track shared expenses - please download the app before joining.

Shared Costs

  • Food: ~1,000-1,200 SEK/week/person
  • Harbour fees: 300-600 SEK/night (split between crew), typically ~3 days/week ≈ 400 SEK/week/person
  • Fuel: ~75 SEK/hour, usually split between crew (except on transport sails where owners pay)
  • Estimate: ~2,000 SEK/week/person total

Important Notes

  • • Repairs paid by owners (unless something obviously caused by crew)
  • • Restaurant bills split equally (let us know if you prefer other arrangement)
  • • Flights, transfers, and potential hotel fees if boat is delayed are your responsibility
  • • Book flexible flight tickets!

Learning to Sail

Many opportunities to learn! We bring Swedish Yacht Master (NFB) study material.

Maneuvering in & out of harbour

Anchoring

Sailing & trimming

Navigation & planning

Night-time navigation

Knots

Communication (VHF, Internet, Weather forecasts)

Equipment

Certification

We can certify your sailed distance for NFB (or other certificates).

Practical Information

Electricity & Internet

  • Bring your own battery bank - onboard batteries reserved for navigation/safety
  • 220V sockets in each cabin work only in marina (not while sailing or at anchor)
  • Don't expect to work at sea - waves cause seasickness
  • Mobile data coverage ~50% of time at sea, available in harbours
  • Roaming in Europe is free - check your data plan, enable 'low data mode'
  • Harbor WiFi usually laggy - we can share 4G WiFi (Telia roaming) if needed
  • Starlink system available (10-100Mbps) at €2/GB, used 2-3 times daily for weather/calls

What to Bring

✓Headlamp (preferably with red light option)
✓Battery bank for charging phone
✓Towels
✓Passport (check expiry date!)
✓European health insurance card
✓Personal medicines
✓Water bottles
✓Sun protection: sunglasses + hat + sun blocker
✓Shoes with good grip (sneakers/running shoes, NOT hiking boots)
✓Baseball cap or hat
✓Sailing jacket or wind & waterproof jacket
✓Warm clothes: pullover/hoodie, long pants, woolen socks (gets cold at night!)

Important Packing Notes

  • • Bedsheets & pillows: Ask us first - usually available onboard, but easier if you bring your own or a sleeping bag
  • • Bags: No big square bags - pack in soft bags that can be stowed away
  • • Life jackets: Boat has them, but if you have one that you trust, please bring it

While Onboard

  • Avoid seasickness! At first sign of nausea: tell others, go outside, look at horizon, stop using phone
  • Be mindful of water use (380L total). No running water while brushing teeth, quick showers only
  • Clean shoes and feet before going inside
  • Apply sunscreen outside, away from sofas - let it dry before sitting (stains impossible to remove)

When Leaving

  • Clean your cabin
  • Remove bedsheets & towels, put in washing bag
  • Help clean common areas (kitchen, toilet)
  • Clear outstanding expenses within a week
  • Payment: Swish to Marcus, or ask for bank transfer

Ready to Join Us?

If this all sounds good to you and you're excited about the adventure, we'd love to have you aboard Iris.