Norway

westhinder

westhinder

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Feb 2003
Messages
2,656
Location
Belgium
Visit site
Our summer cruise is taking us to Norway. We will be leaving from Belgium, and the general idea is to head up the Dutch coast to either IJmuiden or Den Helder and from there almost due North to the Stavanger region. As the wind along the Norwegian coast is often NW, we will try to stay to the West of the rhumbline and curve towards the coast once we are far enough North.
I would welcome advice from anyone who has experience with that part of the North Sea or the Norwegian fjords.
 
If you are aiming to keep that leg as short as possible but still want to reach the Stavanger area, then Tananger would be your nearest port. South east of there is over 30 miles of open coast with no shelter until the Egersund area, including Sirevåg. Strong NW winds could halt you there, but once in Tananger you are 'over the threshhold' and can advance further north along the coast.
In the Stavanger area, I have found the small Kvitsøy archipelago is very nice and also the Sjernarøy islands a bit to the NE. Many people go in to Lysefjord, E of Stavanger, to see the famous Pulpit Rock, but I have not been there.
 
Last edited:
BabaYaga said:
If you are aiming to keep that leg as short as possible but still want to reach the Stavanger area, then Tananger would be your nearest port. South east of there is over 30 miles of open coast with no shelter until the Egersund area, including Sirevåg. Strong NW winds could halt you there, but once in Tananger you are 'over the threshhold' and can advance further north along the coast.
In the Stavanger area, I have found the small Kvitsøy archipelago is very nice and also the Sjernarøy islands a bit to the NE. Many people go in to Lysefjord, E of Stavanger, to see the famous Pulpit Rock, but I have not been there.
Click to expand...

I would agree with that. On the South end of Norway is also Mandal - a safe and easily entered harbour. As mentioned Egersund is pretty good - we have been in both. Tananger is also OK once you are in. Sirevåg we skipped. The area behind Kvitsoy is called the Boknafjord - part of Ryfylke "county" not unlike the Clyde- lots of islands, fair shelter. In the south there is access up the Hogsfjord to Lysefjord. Pretty but NOT really sailing country due to flukey wind. Another landifall point worth considering is Skudneshavn at the bottom end of Karmoy. Deeply indented harbour - pretty and safe. North of there towards Haugesund it's worth visiting Utsira and Rovaer. Both Stavanger and Haugesund are very busy commercial ports (incl Tananger) .
The North sea off Norway has LOT of fetch and can be very gnarly indeed. (worked in N.Sea for 38 years!). Crossed it 3 times from the UK to Norway. Beware COLD at night on the helm in summer- it's not a s trivial as it sounds.
In Summer Norway is BUSY. Thousands of Norwegians have boats and there is masses of commercial traffic too. After July it gets quieter...
 
westhinder said:
Thank you all for your advice and keep it coming.
Both Tananger and Skudeneshavn are landfalls I am considering.
Click to expand...

When approaching the southwest coast of Norway, stay at least 1NM from the Lista peninsula. General advice is to follow the 150-200meter depths, to avoid the gnarliest seas and dangerous areas of standing waves.
Same further northbound towards Tananger. Pass at least 0,5 - 1NM W of Jærens rev light buoy, due to risk of standing waves.

From Jærens rev / Tananger, go east of the Kvitsøy island group, then east of Karmøy, via Haugesund. From there you can sail in sheltered fjords all the way north to Måløy where you can wait for a weather window to pass the Stadt peninsula. (yet another dangerous area)
Notice that the short open area called Sletta, just north of Haugesund, is treacherous waters. Rough seas can be expected with any westerly wind direction. If winds between SW and NW, keep a good distance to land, to avoid the worst seas.

Norwegian pilot books and tidal tables can be downloaded for free here:
https://kartverket.no/en/Maps--Nautical-Charts/Nautical-Publications/The-Norwegian-Pilot-Guide/
https://kartverket.no/en/sehavniva/data-pa-se-havniva/Tide-Tables/
 
Within the stretch of coast that we have visited so far (south of Bergen), we have found the area around the island of Bømlo particularly delightful.
This quiet pond is less than 3 miles from the open sea:
b%C3%B8mlo.jpg
 
TrondS said:
When approaching the southwest coast of Norway, stay at least 1NM from the Lista peninsula. General advice is to follow the 150-200meter depths, to avoid the gnarliest seas and dangerous areas of standing waves.
Same further northbound towards Tananger. Pass at least 0,5 - 1NM W of Jærens rev light buoy, due to risk of standing waves.

From Jærens rev / Tananger, go east of the Kvitsøy island group, then east of Karmøy, via Haugesund. From there you can sail in sheltered fjords all the way north to Måløy where you can wait for a weather window to pass the Stadt peninsula. (yet another dangerous area)
Notice that the short open area called Sletta, just north of Haugesund, is treacherous waters. Rough seas can be expected with any westerly wind direction. If winds between SW and NW, keep a good distance to land, to avoid the worst seas.

Norwegian pilot books and tidal tables can be downloaded for free here:
https://kartverket.no/en/Maps--Nautical-Charts/Nautical-Publications/The-Norwegian-Pilot-Guide/
https://kartverket.no/en/sehavniva/data-pa-se-havniva/Tide-Tables/
Click to expand...

Thank you, I have downloaded the relevant parts.
 
BabaYaga said:
Within the stretch of coast that we have visited so far (south of Bergen), we have found the area around the island of Bømlo particularly delightful.
This quiet pond is less than 3 miles from the open sea:
b%C3%B8mlo.jpg
Click to expand...

Is that Mækjevik on Bømlo? Looks very attractive.
 
Last edited:
westhinder said:
Is that Mækjevik on Bømlo? Looks very attractive.
Click to expand...

The photo was taken here:
https://kartor.eniro.se/?c=59.837376,5.134907&z=15&l=nautical&d={%22m%22:[[59.837829,5.133834,null,0]]}

(you may have to copy and paste into browser)

That site is a convenient planning tool for Scandinavian waters BTW, as it lets you switch between charts (sjökort), airial view (flygfoto) and standard map (karta). Box at top right.
https://kartor.eniro.se/
 
Last edited:
BabaYaga said:
The photo was taken here:
https://kartor.eniro.se/?c=59.837376,5.134907&z=15&l=nautical&d={%22m%22:[[59.837829,5.133834,null,0]]}

(you may have to copy and paste into browser)

That site is a convenient planning tool for Scandinavian waters BTW, as it lets you switch between charts (sjökort), airial view (flygfoto) and standard map (karta). Box at top right.
https://kartor.eniro.se/
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the link
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
xyachtdave
xyachtdave
T
Notices to Mariners - Week 50
Replies
2
Views
609
tillergirl
T
T
Notices to Mariners - Week 49
Replies
0
Views
741
tillergirl
T

Share this page

Top