Departure from Bergen!

2026-2A | ISBJORN | Women's Sail Training Camp

Michele Charriez

Passage Blog
Wednesday, June 3, 2026

08.45 Local Time | Hjellestad, Norway

At the dock

The crew on the women’s sail training on Isbjorn is settling into a great routine for managing the boat and life onboard. We left Bergen practicing leaving a crowded dock in a busy harbor. We raised the main and sailed west toward Knarrvika. We tacked south with one reef in the main and two in the Genoa. We started to come together as a working crew with lots of controlled tacks. We had periods of sun and low wind and then higher wind and rain. Typical for Norway :)

We spent the night near Hjellestad. More great practice setting dock lines. We sighted a helicopter training exercise in the Raunefjorden. Amazing skills!!

Michele Charriez

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Seasickness

But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.

22/8/2026
Seasickness

Dolphins and Bioluminescence

We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.

21/8/2026
Dolphins and Bioluminescence

Greetings from Lala Lemonshark

The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!

20/8/2026
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark