Across Vestfjorden; Bodø - Værøy - Røst
15,800 NOK
juni 7 - 11. juni 2023
5 days
New trip! A long weekend packed with experiences and action, where we will feel the forces of nature and appreciate our sails. We will cross Vestfjorden and visit fishing villages and some very special islands. On this trip, both new and experienced sailors get a real challenge, while we test our strength when we are crossing Vestfjorden, the “Westfjord”. Are you ready for new sailing challenges?
Seeing an iconic part of Northern Norway, in the authentic way from the sea, is a great experience.
A “vær”, a fishing village, are small collections of islands and reefs, inhabited or formerly inhabited, which are so close together that it is possible to travel between the islands by small boats, even in bad weather and gale. On this voyage we will feel the weather, the forces of nature, and we will learn to sail while we visit islands and small settlements. With daylight for 24 hours per day, you will see and experience a lot!
We start and end the trip in Bodø, and if weather treats us well, the plan is to sail back and forth across the Vestfjord during the weekend. The first leg will be a warm-up sailing to the fishing village of Fleinvær just outside Bodø. Day two we get ready for a full day of sailing across the Vestfjord, and during the trip we visit Værøy with its mountain peaks and the beautiful island of Røst, with millions of seabirds. And of course we have to sail around the lighthouse at Skomvær, at the far end of Lofoten, before we cross the Vestfjord again and sail back towards Bodø.
As on all our trips, you will learn to sail, you will have challenges, you will feel a sense of victory, and you will have memorable experiences for life! And make new friends. You don't need sailing experience to join. If this is your first time sailing, we want to make you a sailor, and if you are experienced, you will have more responsibility and greater challenges to sharpen your skills. In between sailing, we will also make nice meals, anchor up nice places, fish (our own meal?!?) and enjoy nature and life on board!
On this trip we will be accompanied by 1-2 boats. Read more about our boats here.
“
A fun, inspiring and exciting way of exploring one of the most beautiful places of our planet - especially in that gorgeous weather we were treated with. Learned not only about sailing but about the way of life, history and culture of this pearl of northern Norway. As a cherry on top, we had an amazing group of people on board, including our fantastic skippers!
Kati Temonen
Day 1: Welcome on board!
Check in at 18.00 in Bodø. We start by getting to know each other and the boat. We study the plan for the weekend, the weather forecast, safety and routines on board. We leave the quay and practice basic sailing techniques and safety procedures, and raise sail towards Helligvær outside Bodø.
Day 2: Sail west across the Vestfjord
After a morning bath and an early breakfast, we get ready to lift anchor. We have a full day of sailing across the Vestfjorden ahead of us. The Vestfjorden is a stretch of open sea where it can get a bit rough. There are many stories from back in the days when fishermen from all over the coast had to cross the Vestfjord in open boats, with only oars and sails, for the traditional Lofoten fishing. With our modern sailboats, a small gale across the fjord is just extra fun! After a full day of sailing, it's good to come ashore on Værøy and stretch our legs. And maybe the local pub is open…
Day 3: Mountain hiking on Værøy and afternoon sail to Røst
Værøy and Røst are very important fishing villages. It is not only because of the traditional and historic Lofoten fishing, but also for mackerel and herring fishing. There are beautiful mountains on Værøy and after breakfast we climb one of the peaks on the island with a view of the Lofoten mountain wall. Værøy has long sandy beaches and if someone would rather go for a walk along the sea, this is a good option. In the early afternoon we set off towards Røst. This stage is relatively short at 20nm, and we can see Røst from a good distance, with its characteristic bird mountains. Once in port, we eat dinner and enjoy the evening in the sailing boat, or go for an evening stroll.
Day 4: The best of Røst, and evening sail to Værøy
Today we have plenty of time on Røst- and we visit the small islands around by our dinghy. We will try to get hold of some dried cod fish- and try to catch up with some local fishermen to catch up about life. After dinner we get ready for an evening sail back to Værøy. We are in the land of midnight sun, and we can enjoy the summer night and light 24/7. If the weather is clear we can enjoy the midnight sun and a burning sky in all shades from pink and purple to flaming red and orange.
Day 5: Across the Vestfjord back to Bodø
This will be a long and good day of sailing. We have to start early to be back in Bodø in a reasonable time. We aim to be at the finish line in time for packing and cleaning the sailing boat, at the latest at 17.00.
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 on board
- Our Comfort Package which consists of accommodation onboard in a shared double cabin (bunk or double bed) with a ready-made bed (warm and nice duvets and pillows!)
- All the food we eat on board during the trip
- 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 life vest
- Advice, guidance, and practical training on sailing and boating
Not included
- Travel to and from the start/end location
- Optional meals at cafés/restaurants
- Entrance to galleries, museums, and similar, or other activities that you/we may come up with along the way
- Optional activities where we hire external guides and equipment, such as kayaking, glacier hikes, or surfing
- 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 - optional, but recommended
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 - Bodø
The Nordlandsbanen train line goes all the way to Bodø, and can be taken overnight from Trondheim or Oslo. This is a great way to travel and a beautiful journey from southern Norway. For timetables and prices see www.vy.no. If you live along the coast, the speed ferries or Hurtigruta are possible options either northbound or southbound. Another option is a flight to Bodø, and there are some reasonable tickets.
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!
Equipment/packing
On this trip, we offer free SeilNorway “oilskins” to all participants, in collaboration with our partner Helly Hansen. You’ll even get to take these home after the trip! These are perfect for both sailing and beach cleaning. Otherwise, you’ll be quite comfortable in regular hiking/mountain clothing. What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and layered clothing underneath, preferably wool. 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.