august 24 - 27. august 2023
4 days
SeilNorge invites you to a long weekend in the Ytre - Oslofjord archipelago! Inner Oslofjord is all well and good, but it's out by the sea where adventure awaits! Join this long-weekend trip through the archipelagos in both inner and outer Oslofjord. We promise wind in the sails, salt water in the hair and educational trip experiences you will remember for a long time!
If you live in Eastern Norway, you certainly don't have to travel far for great sailing experiences on the fjord and fun island sailing and archipelago. Both inner and outer Oslofjord have a lot to offer, and on this trip we offer a good mix of both fjord sailing, island hopping and navigation between the islands in the outer Oslofjord. This is the trip for those who want to get to know both the inner and outer Oslofjord better, for those who want to learn more sailing or test out whether sailing can become your new favorite hobby, and for those who just need a good break from the hustle and bustle and want to go on a trip!
We start the trip from Kongen Marina in Oslo in the afternoon and sail off into the afternoon sun. The goal for the trip is Færder Lighthouse and the end of the world in the south, a distance of approximately 150 nm. On the Vestfold side, we sail up between the islands and past Sandøsund and Hvasser, through Færder Lighthouse and to the End of the World. From here we cross over to the eastfold side, to Hankø, and through Hankøsund, before sailing home past both Rauer and Jeløya, Drøbaksundet and Oscarsborg.
During the weekend we will sail a lot, but we will also set aside time to go ashore, enjoy the beautiful places we pass, eat good food and make new friends.
As on all our trips, you will learn to sail, you will have challenges, you will feel a sense of mastery, and you will have memorable experiences for life! You don't need sailing experience to join, but if you have a lot of experience from a sailboat, you are also welcome to join. If you are a first-timer, we want to make you a sailor/woman, and if you are experienced, you will have more responsibility and greater challenges to sharpen your skills.
This trip is a good opportunity to test out sailing, and to sail out of the safe embrace of the Oslofjord. And in between action-packed sailing, we take time for cozy meals, anchorages in the outer harbor and to simply enjoy the fjord and the sea.
On this trip we sail our Oslo boat; WakiWaki. A good sailing boat and touring boat that has already been around the world. Here, there are many exciting stories in the sails!
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So far, we have tentatively taken up the fight with Hurtigruten up the coast of Northern Norway.
Join this summer's new trip in the Oslofjord!
Johannes (Seilnorge)
Day 1: Evening sail out the Oslofjord as far as we can.
We meet to check in the boats at 16.00 at Kongen Marina in the center of Oslo, and start by getting to know each other and the boat. We go over the plan for the weekend, the weather outlook, safety and routines on board. Already on the first afternoon, we leave the dock and practice basic sailing techniques and safety procedures. We head south out the fjord and eat dinner along the way. We sail through the evening and closer to midnight we lay down in the archipelago around the Bolærne for the first night on board.
Day 2: Sail out the outer Oslofjord, around Færder Lighthouse and to the end of the world
The first morning of adventure starts with a morning bath. If we have spent the night in a port, we stretch our legs a bit and look around before we sail on. In any case, today's sailing leg continues south out the fjord towards Færder. We will probably sail inland along Nøtterøy and Tjøme, before we round Færder lighthouse, enter Verdens Ende and spend the night there. This day there will be both sailing in the open sea and sailing among the islands, depending on the wind and conditions. We expect to arrive at Verdens Ende in the afternoon, and spend the evening and night here in the harbour.
Day 3: Crossing the outer Oslofjord and sailing to the archipelago in Østfold
Today we will go out on slightly opener seas and cross the outer Oslofjord towards the East. We get ourselves and the boat ready for sea and set off on a course for Hvaler and Hankø. In Hankøsundet we anchor and eat and relax a bit, before heading north towards Rauer or Engelsviken for the night. Here we find, among other things, the world's best fish shop and a restaurant where we can recommend the fish soup. The weather and the wind decide where we sleep this night, but we anchor and sleep in the outer harbor if we can.
Day 4: From Rauer and into the fjord to Oslo
Now we are going to enter the Oslofjord again and we are betting on good weather. Now hopefully everyone has warmed up in their sailing jersey and can help guide the sailboat home. We set sail in the morning and will cover around 45 nm. The tour ends at 18.00, and we aim to be back at Kongen Marina well before that so we have time to pack and clean ourselves out of the boat before the end of the tour. Thanks for a great weekend on tour!:)
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 Oslo
All roads lead to Oslo.. At least here in Norway. With a wide selection of train, bus and flight routes, from the vast majority of large and small places around the country regularly every day. If you drive your own car, be aware that parking in the center costs a lot.
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
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.
Minimum number of registered participants
We need a minimum of 5 registered participants to run this trip. We are able to tell pretty early on whether a trip will be confirmed or not. If we have to cancel, you will get reimbursed or offered to join another trip. Since we need a certain number of registered participants to confirm a trip, please do not book your travel (flights, ferry, train, bus etc.) before we have confirmed your trip.