juli 10 - 17. juli 2022
8 days
Welcome on board for an active holiday, high and low on both the Helgeland coast and in Lofoten! This is a trip for those of you who want an eventful holiday with exciting activities and varied challenges, and want to experience both the islands and atmosphere of Helgeland as well as the alpine and magnificent mountain and fjord landscape in Lofoten.
We start the tour as the Træna festival ends, and from here on we will be busy with activities and sailing north every day throughout the week! At Helgeland there will be fjord sailing and summit hikes on Helgelandsbukken, Svartisen and Rødøyløva. Furthermore, we sail north along the many islands and mountains before we leave Helgeland and cross the mythical Vestfjord.
In Lofoten we get close to the magnificent mountains at Reine, where you will be able to hike summits on both Reinebringen and Helvetestind. On the beautiful Bunes beach we take our share of responsibility and pick up as much trash as we can before we continue to the fishing village Nusfjord; one of Norway's best preserved fishing villages. The last day we arrange an internal regatta towards Henningsvær, and then we prepare for a goodbye party ashore at the local Trevarefabrikken culture house.
On this trip, you have the chance to do a glacier hike at the Svartisen glacier as well as a day surfing at Unstad, both additional activities to the otherwise relatively ambitious program. All our planned activities along the way are optional. If you prefer to take a break in the boat and write poems or do yoga, or do nothing at all, that's what you will do.
Like on all our tours, you learn to sail along the way, and you will get both challenges and feelings of achievement- and friends for life!
If you are a beginner we will make you a sailor as soon as possible, and if you are experienced you will be given more responsibility and greater challenges.
See our short film about SeilNorge recorded on this specific tour here!
In the summertime we sail in a fleet of all our boats. See pictures and read more about our boats here.
For an adventurous storytelling about Træna and the festival you can read the very well written and fun “A Poor Man’s Connoisseur Coastal Guide To A Magical World, Far Up North, And How The Helvete To Get There” here.
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Thank you so much for a wonderful trip! I experienced many wonderful moments on my trip, and also met wonderful people on the ocean, glaciers and mountains. I thought the crew were excellent at creating a good environment, and you really got the feeling you were on a trip with friends. The captain was great and i remember thinking to myself that SailNorway is a combination of professional, pragmatic, happy and including. I'd recommend travelling with SailNorway any day!
Helene
Day 1: We meet at Træna, and the adventure begins
Check-in at 16:00 in the boats. We go through the plan and the ambition for the week, as well as important elements in sailing and safety. During the dinner and evening we get to know the other participants.
Day 2: Sail towards the mountains and Svartisen
After breakfast, we cast off and practice boat handling and safety in the harbor basin. After introduction to basic sailing theory we will hoist sails with course for the long reaching Holandsfjord. In Engavågen we moor alongside the quay and prepare for summit hike next morning. The keenest ones start hiking up in the evening and stay overnight in Tåkeheimen (a very nice DNT cabin) up on the mountain.
Day 3: Mountain hike to Helgelandsbukken, Tåkeheimen or glacier hike on Svartisen
Those who have stayed in the mountains start the day with a trip up to Tåkeheimen for a view over Helgeland and Svartisen. Then also there is the possibility of a guided glacier hike and course on the actual glacier for those who want. When everyone is back safely from the mountains, we gather in the boats, and sail out to the coast again, to Rødøy. We eat dinner along the way and after arriving Rødøy we do an evening visit to a nearby attraction, or a midnight sun evening walk up to Rødøyløva (last year there were 10 participants that slept under open sky on top of the mountain this night!))
Day 4: Morning hike to Rødøyløva, evening visit to Fleinvær and sailing across the Vestfjord
Breakfast and morning hike on Rødøya. At 12:00 we will continue north with course for the island group called Fleinvær outside Bodø. On the way we sail past thousands of islands and reefs, including Bolga and Støtt. At Fleinvær we will have a small guided tour (tbc) and a surprise, before we set sails and cross the Vestfjord with course for Reine far east in Lofoten. The crossing of more than 100 nautical miles takes 10-20 hours depending on the weather. We divide all onboard in shifts and take turns on sleeping and sailing. This will be an exciting, challenging and a very educational day and night!
Day 5: “Pacific island”-like Bunes
We arrive at Reine in the morning and make a proper pirate breakfast upon arrival! After resting and a stretch on land, we sail under the bridge on low tide and into Reinefjorden for an excursion to the Bunes beach on the north side of the Lofoten wall. Here we play on the beach, make a bonfire and prepare dinner. There will also be an opportunity to climb to the summit of “Hell peak”. In the evening we sail a last stretch to Nusfjord, where we stay alongside a quay for the night.
Day 6: Summit hike to Mosestind and surfing in Unstad
Morning time in Nusfjord and possibility for a hike up to Mosestind with a great view over the Vestfjord. Lofoten has a lot to offer, and if you would like to try out surfing, this is the day to do it. We arrange transport to Unstad, and here you can rent equipment and venture into the waves. In the afternoon we relax and enjoy life with sauna and hot tub in Nusfjord, and dinner at the local restaurant “Karoline”.
Day 7: Sail towards Henningsvær and goodbye dinner at Trevarefabrikken
After breakfast in Nusfjord, the last stretch goes to Henningsvær, also this one of Lofoten's most spectacular fishing villages. After sailing for a whole week, now it's time for a regatta from Nusfjord to Henningsvær, competing with the other boats. This last evening we will have some good fun with dinner on land at the Trevarefabrikken in Henningsvær.
Day 8: Thank you for the trip
Breakfast and final cleaning of the boat. An adventure is over for this time. Thank you for this summer's Sea & Mountainsports week.
The program
The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to the weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to change and improve our itineraries. We will have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach on all our trips - we are ready for adventure! Are you?
Included
Not included
Deposit and payment
You pay a 6000NOK deposit when you book the trip, and the rest of the payment is due 60 days before the trip begins.
Travel - in general
Sometimes we have to fly, but not always. If you have the luxury of time, we always encourage you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. Traveling slowly also allows you to start your holiday in a special way. Cycling, taking the train, or driving a car together can be good options! Feel free to add some extra time before and after your trip, since up north the weather can be unpredictable and might affect your plans!
Travel - Træna
The north-Norwegian train line stops at Mosjøen, and from Mosjøen you can take a bus to Sandnessjøen or Stokkvågen, from where you can get to Træna. For the bus timetables check route planner at Nordland Fylkeskommune.
How do I get all the way to Træna?
You can take an express boat to Træna from both Bodø and Sandnessjøen. There is also a ferry from Stokkvågen. If you are not attending the Træna festival and plan to arrive in Træna on Sunday, the same day as the trip starts, we will set up a RIB with departure from Sandnessjøen at 11.00. For alternative ways on how to get to Træna, the Træna festival will provide information on how to get to the islands through other tour operators, and here you can also pre-book seats, see: www.trena.net. Route planner in Nordland has the following link: www.177nordland.no . You can also call traffic information on phone 177 if you are in doubt.
Travel - Henningsvær
From Henningsvær the bus to Svolvær takes approx. 45 mins, and from there you can take a flight, sail with Hurtigruta, the express ferry or the regular ferry south to Bodø. From Svolvær there is also a bus to Harstad/Evenes airport.
Safety and risk - in general
We take safety seriously and on our trips we train on handling different situations that can occur at sea. On board a boat and on trips, everyone must know what to do in potentially dangerous situations. For us it is important that you as a guest and participant are trained quickly enough to be a participant - not a passenger. It contributes to learning, a sense of achievement, and increased safety for all. It's also why our trips are considered to be sailing courses: you are trained to be one of the crewmembers on board. Feel free to contact us to discuss risk.
Level of this trip
Sailing wise, our trips are not very difficult, and you are always welcome to join us! Our trips attract both people who have never sailed before, as well as experienced sailors. If you are a beginner, we will turn you into a seaman/woman as soon as possible. If you are experienced, you will be given more responsibility and greater challenges so that you can learn new things along the way. We usually sail along the coast in protected waters, and we often have the opportunity to choose either more or less exposed routes, depending on the weather. The weather Gods decide, so you must be prepared for both windless conditions and sailing in harsher weather!
The Træna Festival (voluntarily, before the trip)
"Paradise isn’t always in the tropics," the local “Trænværingene”' say. This is “one of the best festivals in Europe '', according to the British The Guardian. The Træna Festival is an exclusive music and cultural festival - far out at sea. It may not be as important to book the biggest stars, but the nature, the people, and the atmosphere make it a truly magical experience you should not miss! Read more here https://trena.net
Equipment/packing
As with all activities, there is plenty of specialized equipment and clothing for sailing. We do not expect you to buy lots of new equipment to join any of our trips, so, use what you have, borrow what you need from a friend, try to purchase used equipment, and if you have to invest in new equipment - buy quality items that will last. What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and layered clothing underneath. Some jackets may not be waterproof enough, or might not perform well in saltwater, so you might want to consider purchasing or renting a set of “oilskins” from us to use on the wettest days. Even in summer it can be cold at sea, so bring both swimwear and warm clothing. We will send you a detailed recommended packing list in good time before departure.
Food and cooking
On our trips you will be part of the crew onboard and get the chance to participate in all aspects of the running of the sailboat. This includes the cooking, where everyone is taking turns in the galley! Skippers and guides assist as much as they can along the way. Before the trip we set up a menu and purchase what is needed. We offer good menus with healthy “boat friendly” food. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and we will take that into account. During the trip, we often sail by a good restaurant or two where we stop and eat.
What we expect from you
We want you to take part in the routines onboard the sailboat, whether it is sailing, docking, navigating, looking for whales and icebergs, washing up, cooking, cleaning the boat, or contributing in other ways when required. Our trips require a little work from the participants - and you must be open to contribute and open up a bit socially. We have many different people with us on our trips, and most people get along very well. Our experience is that doing things with others out in nature, and not least doing things with new people with different personalities than one might be used to, is what creates the best, most interesting and memorable stories :)
Life on board and accommodation
Life on board a sailboat is social and pleasant, but for some it can be perceived as quite intimate and crowded, which one should be prepared for. On our trips everyone participates in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. We would like to get to know you well and hope that you will get to know everyone else on the boat as soon as possible. It requires some patience, generosity, and an open mind to thrive, but the new acquaintances and completely raw nature experiences will take your focus as soon as you become comfortable with life at sea.
Accommodation on the boat is part of the fun. The accommodation is generally in shared cabins, some of which have a double bed and some of which have bunk beds. Figuring out who sleeps where can be a bit of a puzzle, but we do believe we’ve gotten quite good at it. Let us know if you have any special needs or reservations. You must arrange any accommodation before and after the trip on your own. If you have any doubts about where to stay, we’re happy to give you some recommendations.
We have plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbor with fresh water or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. A morning swim in the sea is also available all year round!
What kind of people join this trip - and how many will we be on board?
Many come alone, some travel as couples, and others travel as a group of friends. The common denominator for everyone is that these are fun and interesting people you will become friends with almost no matter what. Sharing grand experiences creates strong ties! Many people wonder about the age composition of our trips, but this isn’t so important to us. It doesn't matter if you are young or old as long as you want to go on a trip and intend to do your part in making this a great trip for everyone. The number of participants varies from trip to trip. If we have many participants, we will expand with more boats and skippers. On most trips we sail multiple boats in a fleet, with 7-9 people onboard each boat.
Environment and sustainability
In general sailing is an environmentally friendly activity,, and we sail as much as we can and use the engine as little as possible. We encourage crew and participants to travel as environmentally-friendly as possible, and we use local ingredients and resources as much as we can. We also run trips where we collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.
Philosophically, we often say that sailing is an exercise in sustainability: we move with the wind and we have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity and food. In order to run sustainably, knowledge, patience, flexibility, and hard work are required. The same can be said about many other things that one tries to do in a sustainable way.