dunedin
Well-known member
What specifically are the problems cruising April/May and Aug/Sep? What is not available that is required.
Being quiet is not necessarily a problem for anchorages etc (though ice etc could be in Jan/Feb in some areas!)
Norway this summer?
- Thread starter Minchsailor
- Start date
What specifically are the problems cruising April/May and Aug/Sep? What is not available that is required.
Being quiet is not necessarily a problem for anchorages etc (though ice etc could be in Jan/Feb in some areas!)
pagoda
Active member
I rarely saw any yachts out before May, then only at week ends until July. July is the MAIN holiday in Norway, and nearly everybody is back at work in August. As you pointed out- anchorages are not time limited. Anything like a "full service" marina will have a shorter season. Many "town quays" are operated by card machine, with normal shops nearby, showers in a hut on the quayside etc. Not too much of a problem.
knuterikt
Active member
Not all places, most of the Norwegian boats have their home ports close to the larger cities.
In the Oslofjord are you will find lots of boats out sailing from June to mid/end September, we had the last sail last year end October..
As an example I checked Grimstad guest harbor http://www.grimstadgjestehavn.no/default.asp - no information in English.
Link to web page showing aerial photo of the harbor / city http://kart.gulesider.no/m/JlgEm (Kart = Map, Sjøkart = sea map (Chart), Flyfoto = Aerial photo)
WGS84 58°20'28.7"N 8°35'47.0"E
Prices here: http://www.grimstadgjestehavn.no/om_gjestehavnen.asp
| Summer period 1.-15. June and 15.-31. August | pr. day |
| less than 30 feet | NOK. 100 |
| 30 - 40 feet | NOK. 150 |
| 40 - 50 feet | NOK. 150 |
| 50 - 65 feet | NOK. 200 |
| Summer period 16. June - 14. August | pr. day |
| Less than 30 feet | NOK. 210 |
| 30 - 40 feet | NOK. 260 |
| 40 - 50 feet | NOK. 340 |
| 50 - 65 fot | NOK. 500 |
| Washing machine, pr use | NOK. 40 |
| Drier, pr time | NOK. 40 |
| Shower, ca 5 min. | NOK. 40 |
Day stay is free - if leaving the harbor before 15:00
Outside these dates short term is free and long term is by appointment with the harbor master.
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knuterikt
Active member
Some places in Norway and Sweden you can find that some services like Shops and Restaurants that is only open during the summer holiday weeks (Mid June to mid August). But I think most of the harbors and fuel docks will be open.
Woodlouse
New member
Norway does get quieter from the start on August and really drops off in the second half of the month. I found most facilities in the harbours stayed open until the end of the month though.
Minchsailor
Well-known member
I've got some SH charts of the west coast. All looks interesting. Planning for 3 weeks in July (OK, 'high' season over there, but can't be as bad as channel France in August). As time is a bit limited, any recommendations on the 'best' area - N or S of Bergen?.
Sgeir
Well-known member
Great thread, thank you. Thanks also for the links and the pics. Well worth thinking about.
There was a superb video (posted on here by Dylan W?) about a young couple sailing in a small yacht from Shetland to Norway and back again; unfortunately, YouTube have pulled it because of alleged music copyright violation. Great shame; I'll post a link if it reappears.
There was a superb video (posted on here by Dylan W?) about a young couple sailing in a small yacht from Shetland to Norway and back again; unfortunately, YouTube have pulled it because of alleged music copyright violation. Great shame; I'll post a link if it reappears.
Angele
Active member
Surely to the North of Bergen.
Whilst yachties tend to stick to the coast (to avoid katabatic winds), you really cannot go to that area and not stick your nose up at least one of the fjords. And top of most people's list would surely be Geiranger given the spectacular scenery. Means getting up as far as Alesund. Alesund itself is a lovely place (as I'm sure "Viking" will confirm).
If you cannot make it as far as that, then Sognefjord is pretty impressive. A couple of years ago I took the post express boat from Balestrand (up Sognefjord) to Bergen. A fantastic passage. Only wished I had been doing it in my own boat, not a passenger ferry.
South of Bergen is the Hardangerfjord. I didn't go there, but my brother and his family did.
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knuterikt
Active member
Depends on what your after
Hadangerfjorden south of Bergen is spectacular https://www.google.com/search?q=har...ZrKAhWLOxoKHWauBp0QiR4Icw&safe=active&ssui=on
Prekestolen close to Stavanger https://www.google.com/search?q=pre...prKAhWBHRQKHcDbDtgQsAQIGw&safe=active&ssui=on
From Bergen south to Stavanger the coast has got lot of islands (What we call Skjærgård=Skerry)
From Stavanger south to the tip (Lindesnes) the coast has got few islands.
Going north from Bergen it's relatively sheltered until you get to Stadt (Stattlandet) http://kart.gulesider.no/m/oZ5HF
You will find small towns all along this stretch in the fjords and along the coast.
Norwegian charts have markings of dangerous areas, like this.
"Aktsomhetsområde. Farlige bølger. Se DNL bind 1" = caution area. Dangerous waves see Norwegian Pilot (DNL) volume 1
The charts on http://kart.gulesider.no/ is great for planning puposes - they use official Norwegian charts - they are free.
pagoda
Active member
Depends on what your after
Hadangerfjorden south of Bergen is spectacular https://www.google.com/search?q=har...ZrKAhWLOxoKHWauBp0QiR4Icw&safe=active&ssui=on
Prekestolen close to Stavanger https://www.google.com/search?q=pre...prKAhWBHRQKHcDbDtgQsAQIGw&safe=active&ssui=on
From Bergen south to Stavanger the coast has got lot of islands (What we call Skjærgård=Skerry)
From Stavanger south to the tip (Lindesnes) the coast has got few islands.
Going north from Bergen it's relatively sheltered until you get to Stadt (Stattlandet) http://kart.gulesider.no/m/oZ5HF
You will find small towns all along this stretch in the fjords and along the coast.
Norwegian charts have markings of dangerous areas, like this.
"Aktsomhetsområde. Farlige bølger. Se DNL bind 1" = caution area. Dangerous waves see Norwegian Pilot (DNL) volume 1
The charts on http://kart.gulesider.no/ is great for planning puposes - they use official Norwegian charts - they are free.
The Gulesider charts you can print off, though it's not that easy to get the coverage as you would like it.
Between Haugesund and Bergen has a huge number of islands, with little towns and places to visit, not unlike the outer Hebrides in places. Not too many high sided deep fjords with flukey winds. Don't be put off visiting a few , but sailing in them is not the easiest!! The Archipelago on the west side of Stord is amazing.
Bergen is worth a visit, but you don't need to go right into the busy /noisy harbour. We went into Strusshamn on Askoy just outside, north of the Sotrabrua bridge.
Very cute - and on the bus route for the city. Easy.
Have fun.
johnwest
Member
There is an original Shetland Bus in Alesund.
j
j
knuterikt
Active member
It's the M/K Heland read more here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_bus_boats#M.2FK_Heland_.28M5V.29
HNoMS Hitra has been restored and is operated by the Norwegian navy, home base in Bergen but is sailed during summer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNoMS_Hitra
knuterikt
Active member
Some links to information from Norwegian customs
http://www.toll.no/en/goods/alcohol-and-tobacco/quotas/
http://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/storing-a-foreign-recreational-boat/
Basically you don't need to check in with customs if you don't carry goods that need customs clearance and the crew can enter Norway without visa.
Beware of Norwegian alcohol quotas and fines for excessive quantities.
https://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/import-of-recreational-boats/
http://www.toll.no/en/goods/alcohol-and-tobacco/quotas/
http://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/storing-a-foreign-recreational-boat/
Basically you don't need to check in with customs if you don't carry goods that need customs clearance and the crew can enter Norway without visa.
Beware of Norwegian alcohol quotas and fines for excessive quantities.
https://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/import-of-recreational-boats/
pagoda
Active member
+1
I contacted the Stavanger Customs people in advance. They were not very concerned by a Scottish boat with 3 onboard visiting. We did not need to interact with Customs at all - either way !
knuterikt
Active member
My winter berth today,close to Oslo.
