2026-4 | ISBJORN | Bergen - Fair Isle - Faroe Islands
Join ISBJØRN in her home port of Bergen, Norway, for a spring crossing of the North Sea! We’ll start the journey in the heart of the city, and set sail westward for the gorgeous islands of the Norwegian Sea, just like the Vikings did a thousand years ago. With a fast boat and plenty of time, we’ll have some great cruising options for our passage. Depending on weather strategy, we’ll add a stop in the Orkney’s, the Shetland Islands, or even the Hebrides. And if conditions allow, we’ll go for the connoisseur’s choice: Fair Isle. We’ll continue on north and westwards until enormous cliffs rise out of the ocean, swaddled by waterfalls and puffins. Welcome to the mystical Faroe 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:
July 10, 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.
July 12, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
July 21, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Torshavn, Faroe Islands.
PASSAGE DETAILS
Join ISBJORN in Bergen, either downtown or at her summer berth just north of town (easy access via public bus or taxi). We’ll cross the North Sea and sailing past some amazing places, Shetland, Fair Isle and the Orkney Islands are all possible stopovers if the weather and / or timing allow. The trip ends in Tórshavn, Faroe Island. It’s a small town and ISBJORN will be docked in the main harbor.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Bergen
Torshavn
Weather conditions
Expect a cool, fresh passage across the open North Atlantic—likely breezy with a lively sea state and the typical North Sea mix of sun, cloud, and passing showers, so be ready for spirited sailing and dress warm.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
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Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"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!"
"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!"
"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 sailed on ISBJØRN in March 2024 from Bergen to Tromsø and it was fantastic. 59º North truly lived up to expectations—Mia and August were always helpful, and our skipper Jon Amtrup did a fantastic job, balancing safety with giving everyone the right tasks and space. We had incredible anchorages, great sailing, fun dinners, and unforgettable experiences under the stars on the North Sea. ISBJØRN is a wonderful boat with character, and I highly recommend the trip."
"Gathering with 10 other like-minded women aboard FALKEN was amazing! I learned more than I ever expected from Nikki and Emma. Being 'allowed' to mess up and actually learn from your mistakes without anyone getting stressed was freeing! I'd recommend this trip to any women with a desire to sail."
"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."
"I’ve sailed with 59º North four times—each has been a unique and gratifying experience. Sailing with like-minded folks, captained by the best in the biz, in well-maintained vessels has been the highlight of my 40-year sailing career. I’ve learned so much about sailing and myself on my 59º North adventures."
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.