Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
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.
We ended up spending a little more time in Faroe Islands tha planned as we couldn’t find the weather window to sail to Iceland. Faroe Island was amazing and we found a very special experience in Klaskvík. The strike however resulted in empty shelves, no gas or busses so we felt a little captured in the end. We also put some tips for planning your sailing trip to Faroe Islands in the post.
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.
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.
Our journey around the Coast of County Donegal was trouble free until our heating stopped. Fortunately we had planned a stop at Killybegs, (a vibrant Fishing Port with friendly locals) to service our life-raft giving us chance to fix the problem and indulge in local cuisine and rich Irish culture.
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.
Ballycastle is clearly a popular Summer tourist destination and as soon as we arrived here, we got the Spring feeling.
Coming into the harbour can be a little dramatic as the Atlantic swells easily get quite big. To get into the harbour you have to do a sharp turn around the break water, but as soon as you have turned the corner, the inner harbour is nice and calm.
In Belfast, we enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and great restaurants. We continued to Glenarm, a small village with lots of historic points. We took a trip to the neighbouring marina where a scene from Game of Thrones had been filmed. the the wind was right to continue to Ballycastle and sailing around the dramatic cliffs Fair Head into its well-protected harbour.