2026-3 | ISBJORN | Shetland Race
Join us in Bergen, Norway to embark on ISBJØRN for the Shetland Race and set sail across the North Sea. This is an offshore yacht race between Bergen in the Vestland region of western Norway and Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The origin of the event celebrates the heroic, maritime traffic between Bergen and Shetland during WWII, when local sailors and fishermen smuggled agents and weapons across the North Sea to conduct secret, Allied operations inside of Nazi-occupied Norway. The race is sailed in two legs – Bergen to Lerwick for the first leg, then the return for the second leg with a few days in between for partying and exploring the Shetland Islands.
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 14, 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 17, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
June 24, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Bergen, Norway.
PASSAGE DETAILS
Race Start Leg 1: June 17 / Leg 2: June 20
ISBJØRN will likely be at her summer berth 30 min north of Bergen, or in downtown when you arrive on the 14th. We'll let you know closer to the trip. You can easily get to ISBJØRN via taxi or public transport from downtown Bergen if she would be outside of town (does not need to be pre-booked). When you arrive, we might set sail already that afternoon and go to a nearby village, or spend the first night at the dock. Flexibility is the key, as you can hear! We’ll be in touch with more details when the trip gets closer.
We have a few days to get to know ISBJORN as a crew, and then start Leg 1 to Shetland on June 17, 2026. The start of the race will be in outer Korsfjorden south of Bergen by the Marsteinen lighthouse. The finish line is in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland. The race is a 187 nm passage race.
Price giving in Lerwick is on the 19th of June, and the return race starts on June 20 in Lerwick Harbour, and return to Marsteinen. Read the latest updates and the full notice of race on shetlandrace.no
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Bergen
Weather conditions
A round-trip from Bergen in mid-June should feel cool and a touch unsettled, with shifting breezes and the odd squally patch—nothing wild, just classic Norwegian coastal sailing where you'll want your layers handy and your sea legs ready.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
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Professional, well-paid staff
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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!"
"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."
"Sailing on ISBJØRN with Captain Naxo during the Sail Training Camp was an incredible experience. His ability to adapt his teaching to each person's skill level built confidence throughout the crew and turned us into a cohesive team. I wholeheartedly recommend 59º North and Captain Naxo."
"The trip delivered on all my expectations and more. I wanted to experience sailing beyond my current boundaries, apply my skills, and learn from those around me. I felt able to embrace the whole experience because we had an excellent 59º North team that shaped us into a great crew on a well-prepared boat. If you are seeking ocean wisdom, you could not be in better hands."
"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."
"I signed up for this passage hoping to spend an extended period offshore, learn new skills, increase my competencies and confidence, and sail with amazing crew mates—and this passage completely exceeded my expectations. The 59º North team brings impressive skill, experience, wisdom, and fun to each passage and crew, which is a huge part of why I returned for this second passage in twelve months. I recommend 59º North to all of my sailing friends who want to learn about offshore passage-making in a thorough and hands-on way from true professionals."
"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."
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.