Certficate of competence Norway.

[Kintail]

I aim to sail to Norway probably in July. Can I ask members here how they have fared under the post Brexit regulations . Are there any regulations that have come as a surprise and should I be particularly aware of certain Regs. In a letter to a UK sailing magazine, one reader thought that things were over policed. Any views appreciated. My heading Certificate of competence is now a bit misleading. I am now fully aware of legislation.

 

[Tranona]

Norway is not in the EU so unaffected by Brexit, except that it is in Schengen so you will need to abide by the rules for third country nationals.

 

[Sandy]

Friends have been and I am planning to visit one day now the Baltic is a bit 'hot'. No reports of 'over policing' as they were visiting on a British flagged vessel. Best take your own whisky as it is rather expensive over there. I found the tinned reindeer meat revolting.

 

[R.Ems]

Generally visiting smaller harbours, I found Norway lightly policed, and the customs/immigration were thin on the ground as well. I reckon you could discreetly hop around for years under the radar, without coming to the attention of the authorities.
Not that I would suggest breaking the law of course, just to give an impression of the legally relaxed scene.

Mooring fees are cheap or sometimes even free in small fishing harbours and fjords. (Obviously not central Oslo etc)
I overwintered in a small non-icing harbour in the South; October to April, including a guy to sweep the snow off deck, and free unlimited 3kw electricity, was about £100; same price as two nights in Lymington! (11m yacht afloat)

Food is insanely expensive so take plenty, and use your duty-free allowance..even if you aren't a drinker, it is useful for gifts and breaking the ice. Or if you need a youngster to shin up your mast or something like that.
I never tried reindeer but was offered whale to taste in a restaurant, it was like a slice of bicycle tyre dipped in dog muck, not reccomended!
A favourite tinned standly was the quaintly-named 'Sodd', available in all shops...a cross between Irish Stew and Cassoulet, very tasty.

I have lots of pilot books and charts for the S, which I am planning to put on the For Sale section because they need using not gathering dust, if anyone is interested. Only as far N as about Bergen though.

It is the most magical scenery I have ever seen, or expect to..

 

[Minchsailor]

I visited in 2017 and +1 to the above about light policing and the cost of food. I was sailing North of Bergen up to the Arctic Circle.

Cost of overnighting in 'marinas' was a pleasant surprise; mostly they were unattended (payby app, or honesty box, seldom more than c£15 a night), but with good facilities - showers (always immaculate), washing machines, communal BBQ areas and so on.

Fuel - diesel pumps are selfservice. I have heard that they will only accept Norwegian credit cards. I had a Caxton FX card loaded with NKr - it worked fine.

Remember than Lerwick has a duty free warehouse for booze - we made good use of it. Beer is readily available in supermarkets; anything stronger and you have to go a state liquor shop; a £5-6 bottle of UK supermarket wine was about £12-15. Spirits are a luxury buy.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Spirits are a luxury buy.

+1. So much so that my former Norwegian colleagues regarded home distillation as a normal activity in rural areas. But it does mean that UK duty free is a very welcome present.

 

[Kintail]

I aim to sail to Norway probably in July. Can I ask members here how they have fared under the post Brexit regulations . Are there any regulations that have come as a surprise and should I be particularly aware of certain Regs. In a letter to a UK sailing magazine, one reader thought that things were over policed. Any views appreciated. My heading Certificate of competence is now a bit misleading. I am now fully aware of legislation.