Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
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.
On August 11, 2023, after dinner, we rendezvoused with Yuma, who was observing a humpback whale, leading to an hour of exceptional whale watching and photography. Although a nearby fin whale proved elusive to our cameras, we continued southward, sailing in light winds and calm seas despite intermittent rain.
Just as we are about to anchor we see a polar bear walking across the hill. We decide to follow it from the boat and see it finding a dead walrus.
19th July 2023 The area around here is very pretty and without all the big cruise ships, so we decided to stay a few days in the area. As Steve was still under the weather …
16th July 2023 Yesterday we had planned a (for us) early start. The alarm went off at 9.30 am but we were not so much in a hurry that we couldn’t sit and enjoy a …
15th July 2023 Trinityhamna is a historic landmark as 130 people are buried here. We would not have known these were graves if they hadn’t had a fence around them as it just looks like …
13th July 2023 Following a very quiet and long sleep we woke up ready to see the enormous Lilliehöök glacier. Well as ready as we can be as we both seem constantly tired and able …
10th July 2023 So now the connection is disappearing which means we cannot add pictures to the post and our phone connection is very limited. As we new this was happening we used our last …
Navigating the chilly waters towards Bear Island at 74 degrees north, the duo battles exhaustion and irregular sleep during their 3-day journey. Despite fatigue, the allure of encountering whales and dolphins keeps spirits high. Groggy and disoriented, strange eating habits emerge, but Sarah’s adaptation brings hope for a better routine. Anchoring on Bear Island’s southeast side, they anticipate a windless night ahead.
Excited by sunny weather, they sailed comfortably, eventually marking the Arctic Circle with a memorable celebration. In Bodø, vibrant nightlife, a unique laundry experience, and a thrilling Saltstraumen rib safari featuring massive whirlpools and close encounters with eagles defined their day. A pizza dinner concluded the energizing day for the continued journey.