2026-2A | ISBJORN | Women's Sail Training Camp
(Note that we offer a % discount if you pay by cash/bank transfer.)
Our second All-Women's trip aboard ISBJØRN is set for June, 2026! Join ISBJØRN in Bergen, Norway for an intensive week of sail training! We will sail the fjords, archipelagos and the open ocean around Bergen, practicing sail trim, helmsmanship, heavy-weather sailing, piloting & navigation, instruments, downwind sailing, and more, depending on what opportunities the weather prepares for us. We'll end most days at a new and gorgeous harbour or anchorage, of which we will have an inexhaustible supply, but also come prepared for overnight sailing. The difference between a dedicated "Sail Training" week, and any of our more standard 'Point A to Point B' passages is the breadth of teaching we can accomplish. When sailing from A to B, we have to work within the bounds of the weather - if it's an upwind passage, you won't get to learn any spinnaker sailing, for example. On a dedicated sail training trip, we can guarantee you'll get education on all points of sail. Plus more docking, more helming, etc. In short, these trips are more specifically about learning than our adventure-focused passages.
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:
June 1, 2026
Crew arrive to ISBJØRN at 13.00 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.
June 2, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
June 8, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Bergen, Norway.
PASSAGE DETAILS
Our sail training camps are slightly different than our 'normal' A to B passages, we have the luxury to not have a set route in advance and can plan the week according to the weather. We may leave the dock the same evening you arrive, or stay for the night and prep the boat for a departure the next day. This week is all about being flexible, so we can get the most out of it
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Bergen
Weather conditions
Expect a cool, brisk early-June sail along the Norwegian coast—plenty of fresh breeze to keep things lively, with shifting skies that can swing from sunny calm to blustery and damp, so dress warm and stay nimble.
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...
"Wow! Andy, Mia, and the team run an extraordinary offshore program for new and experienced sailors alike. Their deep and wide-ranging knowledge of sailing provides anyone an opportunity to learn. The memory of sailing with 20+ knots of wind under a full moon across 8-10' seas is one I will carry with me forever."
"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!"
"When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories uplift me and fill me with warmth and gratitude. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer with 59º North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy, realizing how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges."
"59º North runs the most professional offshore training program you can find, and it shows in their professionalism, leadership, skill, and service. I felt honored to be part of the maiden voyage of FALKEN—she's a beauty, and the 59º North refit crew did an amazing job! Shout out to Nikki Henderson (Captain) and Alex Laline (Mate) for inspiring, knowledgeable, and caring leadership. I can't imagine having a better experience with any other."
"Before 59º North I didn't know my bowsprit from my binnacle and suffered from low sailing esteem. After two weeks of 59º North, what a difference! As a longtime podcast listener, I arrived for my Bermuda to Horta transatlantic with high expectations, and they were all not just met but exceeded. I could not imagine a skipper and mate more professional and enthusiastic than Andy and Emma."
"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. The expression 'life-changing experience' is thrown around too loosely, but this one was for me. I'll be forever grateful to 59º North for this opportunity and I hope to sail with them again soon."
"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."
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.
packing lists & notes
Packing Notes
Start here when planning your packing for sailing with 59º North. This list includes the general basics for all of our passages. The passage-specific packing lists offer more details.
Cold | Warm Packing List
This will be a "transitional" passage, either starting in warmer climes and increasing in latitude until it's significantly cooler, or vice versa. Another one of those trips where you'll need to pack one of everything for changing conditions. See the packing list for specifics.
Departure from Bergen!
The crew on the women’s sail training on Isbjorn is settling into a great routine for managing the boat and life onboard.
Hat overboard!
On June 4, we reviewed our passage plan before our departure from the marina in Hjellested.