Sailing in Norway-Oslofjiord

[dar]

I plan to sail one week during august starting and finish Son-Son
Any recommendation and itinarary on this subject in details
would be appriciated
Thanks
Ami

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[Trevethan]

I reckon the west side of the fjord is prettier but a triangular route, assuming Oslo is your base - down one side across then up the other.

run down past Holmestrand Horten maybe Sandefjord, over to Stromstad in Sweden perhaps (watch for the ferries!) and back up the east side (avoid Moss it stinks due to the paper mills)) . Lots of little marinas and islands to anchor/tie up to.

Oslofjord has some great sailing but if possible take a day to visit the city. Use the marina at Aker Brygge - have a beer or two on the quayside looking at the Akerhus fort, which usually has a couple of tall ships moored below it. Other places to visit there are Vigelands Park, which is amazing and if more boaty inclined Bygdoey which has the Viking Museum, Kontiki museum and the Norways folk museum - the "stavkirke" (wooden churches) look like converted longships..

There are a couple of marinas around Bygdoey too if you don't want to be in the heart of the city





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[BoatlessinOslo]

Hi Ami,

I guess you mean starting from Son Marina?

In which case I would head South for Strømstad on a victualling mission, booze (and just about everything else) is a hell of a lot cheaper in Sweden than Norway. On the way there is Fredrikstad with an old town (Gamlebyen) and fort, you can park in the middle of downtown on the river for about 9 squids and showers cost about 3.

Outside Fredrikstad there are a myriad of islands, one of the fun bits is trying to find one where you can "come alongside", make sur you have a BIG fender, and most boats are equipped with iron bars for jammimg into the rocks as mooring cleats. Watch out for the "toneflue", these are flies which bite and most people when bitten react badly, swelling etc. I was bitten on the ankle once and couldn't walk for ca. 3 days.

In Strømstad the marina/harbour is great and about the same price as Fredrikstad and the Systembolaget (off-licence) stocks a vast range of beer, wine and spirits but it is not open on Sundays, evenings or after 3pm Saturday.

An hour or so's sail out from Strømstad brings you to the Koster islands which are very nice olde worlde type places.

Heading South you can sail in an "intracoastal" waterway down to ca. Gothenburg, a favourite with me is Smøgen which was an old fishing village with some of the houses built on piles, or you can sail the outside route and/or head across to Denmark.

From Strømstad/Koster Isl. you can head West to Kragerø/Risor where there are lots of small islands and if you call a taxi a boat turns up. It's very nice and quiet there.

Depending on how much sailing you want to do you could head for Kristiansand which is about the sunniest place in southern Norway with almost guaranteed sunshine in August.

Tønsberg is NE from Kragerø and is also a great place in summer, there is an opening bridge there and North is another loads of Islands.

Just North of Son is Drøbak there is an island Håøya, on the island is a fort which you can visit, it was this fort which torpedoed a couple of German ships when they were invading in 1940. To the West of the island is an area with fluky winds and Håøya and the mountains on the mainland to the West are said to be sleeping Trolls.

Up near Oslo there are a bumber of island which are favourites for the locals to get out to for a barbie. Middagsbukta is probably the most popular.

Drammenfjord is pretty boring.

Give me a call if you want more info.

+47 977 53 970

John

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[dar]

Hi John,
Thank you very very much for your recommendation,
I plan to sail only one week starting from Son ( 50 km south to Oslo ) and finish
also in Son.
Is the itinarary you suggest me for one week ? it's seems more ?!
Rememeber it is the first time for me to sail in Norway.
I have no maps on the area, could you please advice me which link to see the places you suggest on map?
I shall appriciate if you could also recommand which nice anchorages and marinas to visit during each day and where to stay at night during the 6 days ?

Thanks again

Ami


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[BoatlessinOslo]

Hi Ami,

How long is a piece of string?

How much do you want to sail/relax on a beach/sightsee, what are you interested in doing/seeing, are you prepared to sail uphill, are quiet places to overnight more important than having showers/shops available, are you prepared to motor to keep to your itinerary, etc.

What I was trying to say is there are options to go South, West or North initially from Son. Trevethan suggested a triangular route which is probably a good idea but if you're not so interested in the bright lights of Oslo (doable in a day from Son) then the more interesting sailing areas are South/SW from Son.

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[dar]

Hi John,
I prefer to motor to keep my itinerary, and if there is a good wind also to sail few hours during the day.
To visit during day sailing nice beaches, anchorages, quiet places and afternoon + overnight place with shops available. seafood restaurants etc.
As you say the more interesting sailing areas are south/SW from Son- so please recommand the nicest itinerary and mention all the places in details starting Sunday morning from Son and finish Friday evening in Son. .

Thanks again

Ami


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[dar]

Hi John,
I prefer to motor to keep my itinerary, and if there is a good wind also to sail few hours during day.
To visit during day sailing nice beaches, anchorages, quiet places and afternoon
for overnight place with shops available & seafood restuarants etc.
As you said the more interesting sailing areas are south/SW ,
Please recommand the nicest itinerary if it possible in details starting Sunday morning from Son and finish Friday evening in Son.

Thanks again

Ami.

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[BoatlessinOslo]

Hi Ami,

FWIW here goes:-

Save major shopping until Strømstad. No booze for sale until Monday. Beer, cider etc. supermarkets. Wine, spirits, martini, strong beer, etc. - Vinmonopol in Norway, Systembolaget in Sweden. Almost everything is cheaper in Sweden.
Almost no tides 10-30 cm. Some currents but negligible except for the rivers.

Sunday:-
Son - Engelsvik - Fredrikstad
Great seafood restaurant next to the fuel jetty in Engelsvik.
Nice islands/beaches on the way in and out.
Same but more for Fredrikstad.
Sail up into the town centre along the river. Mooring at the quay ca. 200 metres short of the bridge.

Monday:-
Fredrikstad - Strømstad
Through the bridge (watch out for opening times). Options; moor up on the other side of the river (once round the corner) and/or visit the old town or sail out through the islands stopping for a beach visit/barbie (Hvaler or small island) and/or sail up towards Halden (Ringdalsfjorden) for the "Fjord" experience, not as good as the west coast but not bad.
Sail on down to Strømstad and overnight in the inner harbour. Watch out for the ferries. Loads of restaurants including the floating one (pretty good). Cinema in Sweden in known as "the Bio" pronounced B.O or beeo and films are shown with original soundtrack with subtitles except some kiddies cartoons which are dubbed.

Tueasday:-
Strømstad - Koster islands
Shopping in Strømstad AM.
Sail out to Koster islands for swimming, sightseeing etc. Overnight at Koster in harbour/anchorage. Minimalist tourism practised here ie. backpack, sleeping bag & bike.

Wednesday:-
Koster Islands - Tønsberg
Keep to the west of Tjome & Nøtterøy and there are hundreds of nice islands/beaches on the way up to Tønsberg. Loads of restaurants and the Kino (cinema in Norwegian, pronounced "Keano"), same story as in Sweden - original soundtrack ....
Overnight at the town marina, very close to "Brygge", bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. or if you can get through the bridge just after it on the starboard side a quay after the petrol station (free but no ablutions), 1000-1500 metres to walk to the "Brygge". Watch out for opening times of the bridge.

Thursday:-
Tønsberg - Saetre/anchorage after rounding Håøya.
Sail east out of Tønsberg (loads of islands/beaches just after departure and the fishing is pretty good here) and up the Fjord past Drøbak keeping to starboard nearing Drøbak. There is an underwater wall across the fjord to port, you may be able to scrape over and there are a couple of small-boat channels but better safe? Go up west of Håøya and round the top (this is the upper Oslofjord where it widens out) and back down towards Sætre. Just after Sætre (ca 1 NM) to starboard is an anchorage with beaches, a great place to spend the night. PS This is where the Trolls live

Friday:-
Sætre - Drøbak - Son
Head East through the small-boat channel to Drøbak marina or Harbour and moor up.
Walk north from the harbour or south from the Marina to the jetty for the trip over to Oscarborg (this is the fort which torpedoed the German ships). Guided tours are available, check with the HM for times etc. Good restaurants in Drøbak near the harbour (not near the Marina) or fish market/supermarkets for a few kilos of prawns, it will keep you busy peeling them for enough to eat . Beaches also north of harbour south of marina and some places where you can jump from 10m into deep water. Lazy sail back to Son.

Alternative Tuesday
Strømstad - Kragerø
Beautiful islands/scenery. Anchor just about anywhere or small marina at Kragerø.

Alternative Wednesday
Kragerø - Tønsberg.

All IMHO of course.

John

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[dar]

Hi John,

Again I want to thank you for your kindness,
If you need in the future any recommendation on sailing in- Greece islands, Croatia, B.V.I, Turkey, Korsica, Sardinya, Palma, French Riviera
-don't hesitate to call me for advise.
I hope to enjoy my sailing in Norway-Sweden
Thanks thanks thanks
Ami

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[BoatlessinOslo]

Hi Ami,

Glad to have been of help.

Cheers & enjoy your holiday

John

PS Alternative Friday:-
Jump on the bus from Drøbak to Oslo or visit Tusenfryd (amusement park on the way to Oslo, take your swimming gear with you)

PPS If you are staying in Oslo for a night or two I'll let you buy me a beer

<hr width=100% size=1>Why's that smoke coming out the hatch ?