Crossing the Barents Sea with Alma from Svalbard to Tromsø!
29,500 NOK
juni 11 - 18. juni 2022
8 days
Welcome on board for a totally unique experience! We invite you to an authentic expedition, as was done in the good old polar-exploration days. With our traditional expedition ship Alma, we will cross the Barents Sea, from Svalbard to mainland Norway! Alma is a slightly smaller replica of the expedition ship, Gjøa, which belonged to the famous Norwegian polar-explorer Amundsen. And now you have the opportunity to join this vessel on a true expedition sail and ocean crossing, from Longyearbyen to Tromsø via Bjørnøya!
On this trip you will have the opportunity to visit Svalbard in a way that few do in today’s modern times, but which used to be the only way to visit the archipelago back in the day. With the sailboat as our means of transport, we’ll get to feel the forces of nature, both on the southwest coast of Spitsbergen, and as we cross the Barents Sea. We will also get close to nature and wildlife during the whole crossing. We will get wind in our sails, saltwater in our hair and lots of experiences along the way!
We cover a distance of about 600 nautical miles in total during this adventure. The crossing of the Barents Sea is a fantastic experience, and we sail through the bright arctic night on our way to the destination. First we will get to experience the nature of Svalbard with its iconic mountains, deep fjords and glaciers. We spend a few days down the coast from Isfjorden, and plan to sail past at least one of the fjords southwest of Spitsbergen; Hornsund or Bellsund. Here we may come right up to some of the mighty glaciers that calve in the fjord here. A spectacular sight. As we leave Svalbard for good, we only have the sea ahead of us until we reach Bjørnøya, which is a little less than halfway between Svalbard and our destination on coast of North Troms.
The best part of this trip however is what boat we are sailing! The latest addition to our fleet; Alma, is an almost-new replica of a traditional sailing vessel called a Hardangerjakt. She’s built by the boat builders at Karmøy in Western Norway and was completed in 2012. Alma is sturdy and weighs 45 tons, and is equipped for expeditions to the world’s most remote waters. This is a real outdoors adventure vessel, and a ship where we can really experience some of the feelings that Amundsen and his crew onboard Gjøa had when they were on their 3-year expedition through the Northwest Passage more than a 100 years ago. Alma is a replica of Amundsen’s ship Gjøa, just 20 feet shorter.
Alma is a very safe and sturdy boat with enough comfort for us modern people. With a lot of space below deck, a cosy galley midship, central water-based heating and comfortable beds with warm down duvets and pillows. Pictures and more information about Alma can be found on her webpage here.
Our skipper and co-skipper onboard will include everyone in the sailing along the way. This is one of the best parts of this type of adventure, and is also totally necessary on a traditional vessel like Alma. At the start of the trip we will divide into watch teams, and if we are enough people onboard, you as a participant will have 4 hours on duty and 8 hours off. We rotate the watch shifts among the watch teams, so that the distribution of shifts is even and everyone gets a chance to get some sleep at night. Nevertheless, it is often the night shifts in the bright arctic summer night with only wind and waves to hear, which create the most beautiful memories!
Whether you are a traditional-boat enthusiast, want new sailing experiences, or want to learn more about sailing and ocean crossings in a big boat, this is an ideal arena for learning and new insight. The sailing comes in addition to the experiences along the way, which makes this a great nature experience!
The Arctic is a vulnerable area under pressure from people and climate change. In SeilNorge we are committed to taking care of the environment as much as possible and we believe that small boats with few people and little pollution and waste are much less harmful to the environment, climate and local wildlife, than larger boats and cruise ships. We also try to gather garbage at the places we visit, instead of leaving something behind. On Svalbard we follow AECO's guidelines for encounters with wildlife, beach cleaning, cultural heritage sites and for arctic operators. More about AECO's guidelines can be read here.
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To be a part of, and experience multiple nights out on open sea was the biggest experience for me. Combining that with ascending mountainpeaks, and the trip to Bear-island was very unique, and something i never would’ve experienced without SailNorway. There were plenty of smaller, beautiful moments underway - especially when we sat down to cook, tell a good story or crack open a bottle of Akevitt!
Pernille Arnet
Day 1: Departure from Longyearbyen
We meet on board the boat on the quay in Longyearbyen at 14:00. Here you will meet the other participants and we start off by getting to know our new home for the coming days and filling up the boat with the necessary provisions and equipment for the trip. Life on board requires cooperation, and before departure we carefully review safety, plan for the trip, check the weather forecasts and learn how the boat works. Then we set off, headed out of Isfjorden. Before we get out of the fjord, we practice a man-overboard drill, as well as other sailing maneuvers.
Day 2: Along the coast of Spitsbergen
On the way out of Isfjorden we pass Isfjord Radio on Cape Linnaeus. This is a cozy hotel which used to be a radio station which was the Svalbard community's only contact with the outside world. The journey continues south along the west coast of the island of Spitsbergen, and we plan to anchor in either Bellsund or Hornsund, to look around and stretch our legs. This area is characterized by the typical layered Svalbard mountains that are split by glaciers that calves in the sea. Most likely we will find enough wood to make a fire on the beach, and maybe we will get to do a short hike to one of the nearby peaks.
Day 3 - 4: From Sørkapp to Bjørnøya
We will sail the stretch from Sørkapp on Spitsbergen to Bjørnøya over a period of about 24 hours. After passing Sørkapp, it’s nothing between us and mainland Norway, except the small isolated island of Bjørnøya.
Day 5: Bjørnøya; the misty land in the middle of the sea
There are around 300 days of fog on Bjørnøya every year, so the island is not always easy to spot. This will make for an exciting approach! If conditions allow, we will go ashore and try to catch Barents cod in our secret fishing spots around the island. We’ll seek to find a fairly sheltered harbor somewhere around the island, so we get to rest at anchor.
Day 6 - 7: Between fishing boats and oil rigs from Bjørnøya
The second leg across the Barents Sea is busier than the first, and we will probably meet some fishing boats on the way. It takes approximately two days from when we leave Bjørnøya until we see the peaks on the mainland on the horizon, of course depending on the wind and the sea. This stretch is about 220 nautical miles of open sea, but with rich wildlife below sea level. We hope to see whales on the way, maybe have some dolphins following the boat, and the birds will stay with us all the time.
Day 8: Goodbye in Tromsø
Hopefully the weather and wind make it possible for us to arrive in Tromsø by the last night, so we can finish the trip with a fun dinner and a well-deserved glass of wine on land! In any case, we will arrive in Tromsø in time to clean up after ourselves and pack out of the boat before we end the trip by 10.00. Thanks for the trip!
In Longyearbyen
We recommend everyone that is joining us on a trip to/from Longyearbyen to staying an extra day or two before traveling home/before the trip starts. Longyearbyen is a thriving little Arctic village, with the raw arctic natre It's always smart to add time for some rest and calmness before and after such a trip, to relax and let the impressions sink in.
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
- Trip experience with sailboat - experienced and locally familiar skipper/instructor on board
- Extra co-skipper and guide/crew on board
- Our Comfort Package which consists of accommodation onboard in single bunks, with a ready-made bed (warm and nice duvets and pillows)!
- All the food we eat on board during the trip
- Oilskins (jacket/pants) for everyone
- An environmentally friendly, local, sustainable, unique, exotic and exclusive Norwegian adventure holiday
- A shared experience and friendship with like-minded adventurers from around the world
- A lot of time outdoors - raw and honest nature experiences
- Use of our shared trip-equipment: dinghy, kayaks, fishing equipment, etc.
- All boat-related expenses such as diesel, gas, harbour fees, etc.
- Personal safety equipment; Helly Hansen inflatable lifejacket
- Survival Suit and Search and Rescue insurance for everyone on board
- Teaching, advice, and guidance about boat life and sailing
Not included
- Travel to and from the start/end location
- Optional meals at cafés/restaurants
- Entrance to galleries, museums and similar, or other alternative arrangements and activities that you/we may come up with along the way
- Drinks like wine, beer or high-exclusive apple juice and other luxury (yes, we drink beer and wine on board, bring your own)
- Travel/cancellation insurance - recommended, but up to you.
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 Longyearbyen
Very few row to Longyearbyen, a few more sail, but most fly. Norwegian and SAS fly to Longyearbyen.
Travel Tromsø
The fastest option for getting to or from Tromsø is to fly. But if you have time to travel slowly we recommend doing that instead. Taking Hurtigruten south from Tromsø to Bodø and train from there is one option.
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.
Safety and risk - expeditions
On our expedition trips, we often spend multiple days on sea-crossings, and we sail into areas far from people and with extra risk factors, such as sea ice and unreliable navigations charts. This requires our crew to have extra focus and awareness of the potential situations that might arise. We sail in these areas only in the most optimal seasons, and use only our largest and most sturdy boats, which are both equipped and dimensioned to cope with this type of expedition sailing. We are fully aware that sailing is the safest and most accessible way to visit these very inaccessible places. However, sailing in general, and especially sailing in the Arctic and over the high seas, involves a certain risk that you must be willing to take. Feel free to contact us for a chat and guidance regarding risk.
Level of this trip
This is a sailing expedition where we will undertake multi-day sea crossings, which can be an incredibly wonderful and special experience! You do not need to have sailed before to be on board, and we are joined by both people who have never sailed before and experienced sailors. If you are a beginner, we want to make you a seaman / woman as soon as possible, and if you are experienced, you will quickly get more responsibility and greater challenges. The group and crew will be divided into watch teams so that we can learn from each other and help each other out.
The boats we sail on our expeditions are large, robust, and sail well in the open seas.. However, we do not control the weather, and we must be prepared for wind and potential heavy seas that we might encounter offshore. From light breezes to sailing in hard weather with several meters of swell, and the proximity to the forces of nature on such an expedition is something most people find very unique and rewarding!
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 (included for borrowing onboard Alma). A pair of higher rubber boots for landings from the dinghy is very nice to have, in addition to slippers to wear below deck. Out on the high seas and in the Arctic, it is cold even in summer, so bring both swimwear and plenty of warm clothes. 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. You will be split into a watch team, with the teams working in rotations of 4 hours on and 8 hours off, with a rotating system to make sure that the night-shifts are divided equally among all watch teams. 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. Accommodation is in separate single berths in two large cabins / common rooms, with several shared bathrooms. 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.
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 free and is available all year round!v
What kind of people join this trip - and how many are we 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. Most of our participants are usually between 25-55 years old. The number of participants varies from trip to trip, but on these trips we are usually between 6 and 11 people.
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.