2025-6 | ISBJORN | WOMEN'S PASSAGE Bergen - Aberdeen
Meet ISBJØRN in her home port of Bergen to set sail across the North Sea on her very first All-Women’s passage! Expect to make a stop before reaching Aberdeen as long as conditions allow. Aberdeen, on the east coast of Scotland, is one of the host cities of the Tall Ships Races 2025! Plan on staying here for a few days to witness this wondrous event, and to step aboard some historic tall ships.
SAILING STAFF
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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:
July 8, 2025
Crew arrive to ISBJØRN at in Bergen, Norway. 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.
July 10, 2025
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
July 15, 2025
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Aberdeen, Scotland.
We plan on a non-stop passage across the North Sea, depending on the weather and timing we might cruise the area around Bergen before we set off, or maybe a stop in Shetland, Orkney or other places along our route.
Our destination is Aberdeen on the east coast of Scotland which is one of the host cities of the Tall Ships Races 2025! The event in Aberdeen starts on July 19, plan on staying here for a few days to witness this wondrous event. If you are booking accommodation ashore after the passage, remember this is a busy time in town so book early! You can read more about the event at tallshipsaberdeen.com
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Bergen
Aberdeen
Weather conditions
I don't have access to actual weather forecast data for that specific North Sea crossing on July 8, 2025, so I can't reliably summarize the expected conditions without making something up. To write an accurate, Andy Schell–style summary, I'd need real forecast or climatological data for that route and date.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
The best boats
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"Our voyage was interesting because both ISBJØRN (which I was on) and ICEBEAR traveled the same route at roughly the same time. We had Matt Rutherford as our captain and Ben Doerr as first mate, and they were both chill, fun, and always happy to answer questions and provide advice. I feel I got the experience I need with the ocean and Gulf Stream to pilot my own boat from Florida to Bermuda in the future, which was exactly my goal. If you are looking for blue water sailing experience and a fun adventure, I highly recommend that you sign up with 59º North."
"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."
"Andy & Paul were amazing from the practice sails to the race itself; I never thought I'd be able to participate in such an exciting event. I'd also like to thank Liz & Lee, your first mates, who were always on hand to encourage us, teach us, and swap stories. I came away with tremendous respect for ISBJØRN, her captain, and the excellent crew she attracts. I'm definitely coming back."
"This passage was literally my first time sailing. My goal was to get as far as possible from my daily life and desk-bound comfort zone, and Andy assured me I would be looked after. I could not have asked for a better skipper (thank you, Jon), better crew mates, or a more enjoyable passage. I'll be forever grateful to 59º North for this opportunity, and I hope to sail with them again soon."
"Adventure, education, majesty... I can't imagine a better pair to introduce people to the sublime enterprise of offshore sailing. This trip will always live amongst my cherished memories. Thank you!"
"Huge thank you to the 59º North Team, especially Captain Emily and First Mate Mia, for taking me and our crew safely across the Atlantic Ocean. A daunting dream turned into an amazing reality under the expert supervision of a skilled and experienced team, on the beautiful, fast, and well-equipped boat, FALKEN. I feel very grateful to have met and worked with the wonderful, international crew aboard. I learned so much and I'll be back for more!"
"If you are thinking about reefing—reef! The same logic applies to sailing with Andy and Mia: if you are thinking about sailing with them, stop thinking and GO! Andy and Mia are great sailors, leaders, teachers, cooks, and warm, intelligent, accepting people. No matter how many blue water miles you have under your keel, you will be a better sailor after your trip on ISBJØRN."
THE BOAT
S&S Swan 48
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ISBJØRN
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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.