Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
We spent a month in southern Greenland and had an amazing time visiting this quite remote destination. We had heard rumours of an amazing anchorage and were not disappointed by it. The supermarkets here are so well-stocked, which really surprised us, but there is one thing we just couldn’t find! And we also share the recipe for a great drink to make to celebrate a successful cold crossing.
While waiting for the ice to clear and right wind to make the passage to Greenland we have been exploring the beautiful Western part of Iceland. The steep mountains often makes the gust in the harbours accelerate so the windy nights can come as a big surprise. We are really glad we had the extra time to explore more of Iceland and visit many excellent and completely free harbours.
We spent almost 3 weeks in Reykjavík as we visited relatives and had friends visiting the boat. This gave us a chance to experience a lot of the city. We also had the time to do some boat work and order new bikes and a VHF for the boat. In this post you can also get a discount code for reusable 316L filter for your watermaker.
After spending a few days sailing to Iceland we were enjoying some great days in Westman Islands. Sarah had been here as a kid and were excited about seeing the fantastic cliffs and puffins again. A lot of nice restaurants has also opened and there are many nice hikes to the top of volcanos and steep mountains.
We spent a week in Tórshavn harbour, where we rented a car and drove around the Faroe Islands. Following the scenic routes in the road map is very pretty, but it is a good idea to bring food and drinks on the trip. We also visited the famous bar on the island Nólsoy.
Saying goodbye to the UK was more emotional than expected, but we have now sailed to Faroe Islands. It takes some planning to get to Faroe Islands as the waters can be difficult and fog is very normal. We arrived in Vágur and went hiking. Then we visited Tvøroyri and met hospitable locals. The harbours are mostly made for fishing vessels and all gear is needed to get electricity, water and calm mooring.
We arrived at the Outer Hebrides on the West coast of Scotland. This place has a lot of changing landscapes and seems a lot less populated. We visit East Tabert, Scalpay and Stornoway and see the historic standing stones and the opium castle of west Scotland.
We arrived in Oban, Scotland on a sunny day, eager to explore. Oban proved ideal for stocking up provisions at local supermarkets. Although touristy with disappointing dining initially, we found a gem. Next, we motored to Tobermory, timed perfectly with its annual music festival. After enjoying the vibrant scene and friendly guest, our trip continued with to Canna Island, filled with historical sites and stunning natural beauty.
We had to sail back to Ballycastle to wait for the right weather to go to Scotland and continue North. But we put some of our resources in this post in case other people could find them useful. Ireland is definitely a fantastic place to sail and we
Sailing to Derry in Northern Ireland needed some careful planning. Swells and currents made it treacherous, but the Causeway coast’s cliffs were breathtaking. Mooring was a nightmare, akin to a Barentsburg night. Despite closed galleries, Derry’s history, food, and street art made it very memorable.