2024-1 | ISBJORN | Vindön-Bergen Delivery/Shakedown
Price for this passage is pending but will be available shortly, stay tuned!
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The Passage
Rough itinerary
All 59º North passages are very much subject to weather. We pick our routes based on the "correct" time of year to be sailing in the different regions we visit, and we always build-in enough time to give us some margin for weather windows. The skipper has final say on departure dates and weather windows, but generally speaking, the intinerary for this passage will look like this:
February 24, 2024
Crew arrive to ISBJØRN at in Vindön, Sweden. ISBJØRN orientation followed by crew dinner. All crew stay onboard ISBJØRN.
Prep Days
Between the joining and departure dates, all pre-passage preparation, provisioning, and safety briefings will be completed. The specific pre-departure schedule will be outlined and posted onboard ISBJØRN by the skipper.
February 26, 2024
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
March 3, 2024
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Bergen, Norway.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Vindön
Bergen
Weather conditions
Expect a properly cold, blustery winter passage up the Norwegian coast—gloves-on weather with brisk winds and a lively, rolling sea, so settle in for some bracing, character-building sailing rather than anything mellow or settled.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"As this was my first major passage, I wasn't sure what to expect. You have to have a lot of respect for people who choose offshore sailing for their profession. Erik and Ben were top-notch professionals, and my experience with 59º North was great!"
"This trip across the North Sea from Bergen (Norway) to Oban (Scotland) was awesome! It offered hands-on learning about navigation, lots of sail handling, and a wide range of weather, wind (up to 35 knots!), and sailing conditions. Jon Amtrup is a highly experienced skipper—and he helped me fill in the gaps!"
"What an incredible experience! I am so grateful to have been on the leg from Reykjavik to Stornoway over the solar eclipse. ISBJØRN is an incredible ship—sturdy, safe, comfortable (not to mention her amazing and somewhat scandalous history!). Feeling ever grateful to 59º North for this journey."
"I highly recommend the experience of doing a passage on ISBJØRN. I gained valuable offshore experience on a fine boat, learned how Andy and Mia competently manage their boat, learned about celestial navigation, and had a great time doing it. Completing ISBJØRN's first back-to-back 200 mile day passage was a smokin' fast bonus!"
"It was such an experience! Meeting all the people and being part of the crew is something very special. We were so lucky to spend the passage on FALKEN; the nature and weather gave us the best, and I really wish it could have lasted longer."
"I had an unbelievable sailing experience aboard ISBJØRN with Naxo as skipper and David as apprentice. They took special care to accommodate everyone's wants and needs, and we sailed every point of sail, practiced MOB drills, docking, navigating, trip planning, and weather forecasting. The food was hot, plentiful, and varied, even during our cold offshore passage. I plan on doing this trip again and recommend that you do too. Thanks to 59º North, Naxo, and David."
"I really didn’t know what to expect on my trip. I knew it was going to be about 800 miles, the Bay of Biscay is notoriously challenging, and there was a remote possibility of orca attacks. Thankfully, we were safe, but the Bay of Biscay did not disappoint, and we logged more than 1,000 miles. Our skipper and mate, Nikki Henderson and Emma Garschagen, far exceeded any expectation I had, and at no time did I ever feel unsafe, which allowed me to fully take in every experience. I learned a ton, had a great time, and left with a new sense of confidence that I never expected."
THE BOAT
S&S Swan 48
'
ISBJØRN
'
🇳🇴
ISBJØRN is the "OG" 59º North boat, the classic S&S Swan 48 that we started the business with back in 2015. She's considered an all-time great ocean cruising boat - built like a tank in Finland to the highest standards and with a modern but conservative hull shape making for fast & comfortable passages offshore in any weather. ISBJØRN sails with 5 crew plus a Skipper, and each person has their own dedicated sea berth & storage locker.
packing lists & notes
Day 6
Inshore sailing is all about enjoying the moment. The plans you laid out in the morning, will almost always be changed when the sails are up. We left Tananger after a slow morning talking to the locals, fixing things, and exploring. The downwind sail North took us through beautiful Kvitsøy. We were supposed to sails in the outskirts, but we ended up sailing through the very narrow channels in downtown Kvitsøy.
Day 5
We left idyllic Korshamn in the morning and headed out to sea. The stretch between Lindesnes and Tananger is exposed, feared and most often bumpy. We got it all. From a light breeze to gusting 32 knots, confused seas, and rain. But the crew were all smiles and laughter all the way through the hardship. When we finaly pulled in to Tananger in the pitch dark they were wet, hungry, tired, but still smiling. JoJo's delicious curry warmed us all up. All well on board, Jon, JoJo and crew.
Day 3
What a night. ISBJØRN ghosted into the night. Happy to be in her element again. We did 2 hours on and 4 hours off. Sleep never gets good the first night on a passage. But everyone got at least a few hours dreaming about the moonlight and stars the on watch enjoyed. What a day. When the sun climbed over the horizon the wind slowly evaporated. But the silence was to precious to be broken, so we enjoyed slow living on a mirror sea until noon. We had just sailed past Lindesnes, the most southerly point on mainland Norway.
Day 2
Sails came up just outside the Hallberg-Rassy yard, and out West we went. Everybody smiling as Sweden sunk in the ocean, mobile phones went dead, and it was just us sailing along to a destination two days away. Now the night has surrounded us. Ken is alone behind the wheel looking at stars, I'm by the nav station getting warm while writing this, and the rest of the crew is sleeping. It is blowing 10 knots and we are doing 6.5 knots on a beam reach. ISBJØRN is just as happy as her crew. All well.
Day 1
Yesterday was stormy. We pulled one pullert out of the dock om Vindö Marina. Today we woke up to sun and calm waters. It was time to leave the magical good boatbuilders on Vindön. ISBJØRN has received a make over worthy of a queen. We motored to downtown Henån to get groceries and a restaurant meal. Tomorrow we head out to sea. Where Isbjørn, and maybe we, belong. All well om board. Jon, JoJo and crew.