2028-2 | ISBJORN | Bergen-Faroe

Apr 26, 2028
–
May 5, 2028
10
Days
380
NM
Bergen
–
Torshavn

Price for this passage is pending but will be available shortly, stay tuned!

Meet ISBJØRN in the fjords of Norway, and set sail westward for the gorgeous islands of the Norwegian Sea, just like the Vikings did a thousand years ago. We’ll have some great options for stopovers on our passage depending on our weather strategy - The Shetland Islands, Fair Isle, or the Orkneys! From there, we’ll continue on north and westwards until we make one of the most dramatic landfalls in existence -  The enormous cliffs of the Faroes rising out of the ocean,  swaddled by waterfalls and puffins.

SAILING STAFF

Janet
Snell
SKIPPER
Janet Snell
Rob
Graham
Robert Graham
Ben
Soofer
MATE
Ben Soofer
Ryan
Finstad
MATE
Ryan Finstad
Phoebe
Rogers
MATE
Phoebe Rogers
Aidan
Gray
MATE
Aidan Gray
Paul
Exner
SKIPPER
Paul Exner
James
Austrums
MEDIA
James Austrums
Shy
Miller
APPRENTICE
Shyah Miller
Chad
Lanoway
MAP MAKER
Chadwick Lanoway
Jenni
Hellpap
MATE
Jenni Hellpap
Delaney
Vorwick
SKIPPER
Delaney Vorwick
Laura
Parent
MATE
Laura Parent
Philippa
Rytkönen
Philippa Rytkönen
Vinny
Mattiola
Vincent Mattiola
Matt
Rutherford
Matt Rutherford
Simon
Borjeson
SKIPPER
Simon Borjeson
Emily
Caruso
SKIPPER
Emily Caruso
David
Björkqvist
APPRENTICE
David Björkqvist
Ben
Doerr
MATE
Benjamin Doerr
August
Sandberg
SKIPPER
August Sandberg
Chris
Kobusch
SKIPPER
Christoffer Kobusch
Sean
Westoby
SKIPPER
Sean Westoby
Liz
Karamavros
MATE
Liz Karamavros
Vilma
Ihalainen
MATE
Vilma Ihalainen
Emma
Garschagen
MATE
Emma Garschagen
Naxo
Tomey Roca
SKIPPER
Iñaki Javier Tomey Roca
JoJo
Pickering
SKIPPER
Jojo Pickering
Adam
Browne
MATE
Adam Browne
Erik
Wängberg Nordborg
SKIPPER
Erik Claes Wängberg Nordborg
Andy
Schell
SKIPPER
Andy Schell
Manot
Berger
SKIPPER
Manot Berger
Tim
Danielson
MATE
Tim Danielson
Nikki
Henderson
SKIPPER
Nikki Henderson
Jon
Amtrup
SKIPPER
Jon Amtrup
Mary
Vaughan-Jones
SKIPPER
Mary Vaughan-Jones
Alex
Laline Ruiz
SKIPPER
Alex Laline Ruiz
Nat
Chaves
APPRENTICE
Natalie Chaves
Mia
Karlsson
MATE
Maria Karlsson
Janet
Snell
SKIPPER
Janet Snell
Rob
Graham
Robert Graham
Ben
Soofer
MATE
Ben Soofer
Ryan
Finstad
MATE
Ryan Finstad
Phoebe
Rogers
MATE
Phoebe Rogers
Aidan
Gray
MATE
Aidan Gray
Paul
Exner
SKIPPER
Paul Exner
James
Austrums
MEDIA
James Austrums
Shy
Miller
APPRENTICE
Shyah Miller
Chad
Lanoway
MAP MAKER
Chadwick Lanoway
Jenni
Hellpap
MATE
Jenni Hellpap
Delaney
Vorwick
SKIPPER
Delaney Vorwick
Laura
Parent
MATE
Laura Parent
Philippa
Rytkönen
Philippa Rytkönen
Vinny
Mattiola
Vincent Mattiola
Matt
Rutherford
Matt Rutherford
Simon
Borjeson
SKIPPER
Simon Borjeson
Emily
Caruso
SKIPPER
Emily Caruso
David
Björkqvist
APPRENTICE
David Björkqvist
Ben
Doerr
MATE
Benjamin Doerr
August
Sandberg
SKIPPER
August Sandberg
Chris
Kobusch
SKIPPER
Christoffer Kobusch
Sean
Westoby
SKIPPER
Sean Westoby
Liz
Karamavros
MATE
Liz Karamavros
Vilma
Ihalainen
MATE
Vilma Ihalainen
Emma
Garschagen
MATE
Emma Garschagen
Naxo
Tomey Roca
SKIPPER
Iñaki Javier Tomey Roca
JoJo
Pickering
SKIPPER
Jojo Pickering
Adam
Browne
MATE
Adam Browne
Erik
Wängberg Nordborg
SKIPPER
Erik Claes Wängberg Nordborg
Andy
Schell
SKIPPER
Andy Schell
Manot
Berger
SKIPPER
Manot Berger
Tim
Danielson
MATE
Tim Danielson
Nikki
Henderson
SKIPPER
Nikki Henderson
Jon
Amtrup
SKIPPER
Jon Amtrup
Mary
Vaughan-Jones
SKIPPER
Mary Vaughan-Jones
Alex
Laline Ruiz
SKIPPER
Alex Laline Ruiz
Nat
Chaves
APPRENTICE
Natalie Chaves
Mia
Karlsson
MATE
Maria Karlsson

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:

April 26, 2028

Crew arrive to ISBJØRN at 1300 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.


April 28, 2028

Scheduled departure, weather dependent.


May 5, 2028

Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart ISBJØRN from Torshavn, Faroe Islands.

TRAVEL LOGISTICS

Bergen

Torshavn

Weather conditions

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...

"To be surrounded by strong, intelligent women sailing leaders provided a safe and inclusive learning opportunity. This was exactly the environment I was looking forward to, and it met and exceeded my goals."

Sarah
|
2026
|
FALKEN
|
Victoria-San Francisco
Canada
|
🇨🇦
898
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"This was my second trip with 59º North, my first being a fantastic heavy weather crossing of the Irish Sea on ISBJØRN. I signed up for the Canary Islands to Caribbean trip, thrilled to be chosen as crew. The attention to detail in equipment, vessels, and crew at 59º North is world class, making ocean sailing both safe and unforgettable. I will definitely be sailing again with 59º North."

Scott
|
2025
|
FALKEN
|
Las Palmas-Falmouth
Canada
|
🇨🇦
3,491
Miles sailed
2
Passages sailed

"Mark and I signed up for a multi-night sailing adventure and ended up with a life-altering week of utter delight. Alex and Mia created an atmosphere of trusting, loving community the second we boarded FALKEN, and we still can’t believe how they trusted us with their beautiful boat and the crew’s lives. We learned about sailing, charting, trimming sails, and working in teams with strangers, and experienced everything from flat calm to huge swells, dolphins, and whales. We’ve been off the boat for four days and are already obsessed with going on another leg—what a week, 59º North!"

Libby
|
2024
|
FALKEN
|
Lagos-Las Palmas
United Kingdom
|
🇬🇧
3,262
Miles sailed
4
Passages sailed

"I can’t say enough good things about the camp, August, and ISBJØRN. The format is perfect for someone like me—I’ve done some sailing, but not enough to feel comfortable on a passage. August is an amazing teacher and so patient! I learned an incredible amount and feel ready to take on a passage with 59º North."

Susan
|
2023
|
ISBJØRN
|
Bergen-Bergen
New Zealand
|
🇳🇿
4,717
Miles sailed
5
Passages sailed

"I have been sailing for 60 years, mostly as an inshore one-design racer, and had never had the right boat, expertise, or opportunity to go far offshore. The Annapolis to Bermuda passage on ICEBEAR far exceeded my expectations—the skipper and mate were very knowledgeable, and ICEBEAR is a solid, sea-kindly vessel that is surprisingly fast in light air. Our crew of seven strangers became a cohesive, friendly, and competent group, and I’m grateful I got to put into practice the celestial navigation knowledge I gained from Andy and Mia’s 2020 seminar. I hope to make another passage with 59º North in the future."

John
|
2021
|
ICEBEAR
|
Annapolis-St. Georges
United States
|
🇺🇸
885
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"My time on FALKEN crossing the Atlantic was highly rewarding and incredibly enjoyable. The trip was routinely challenging and always a lot of fun, allowing me to stretch myself and enjoy being absent from the rest of the world for a time. Unforgettable."

John
|
2024
|
FALKEN
|
Mindelo-Charlestown
Canada
|
🇨🇦
2,175
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"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."

Molly
|
2026
|
ISBJØRN
|
Reykjavik-Stornoway
United States
|
🇺🇸
884
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

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.

72,722
Miles sailed
About the Boat
ISBJØRN

packing lists & notes

Packing Notes

Document

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.

Download

Cold | Chilly Packing List

Document

Weather-wise, expect chilly to cold conditions (not Arctic-level cold, but cold enough to need boots, hats & gloves, especially at night). On sunny, calmer days, it might be warm enough for shorts and t-shirts, so on these types of trips you kinda need one of everything! Check the packing list for specific details.

Download
"I rarely remember my dreams ashore but almost always do at sea. Something about sleeping in a washing machine allows better access to the subconscious."
John Kretschmer
Sailing a Serious Ocean

FAQS

The FAQs on the right are the ones most pertinent to this specific passage, and most of what you need to know you'll find in there. If you don't find it there, click the button below for all FAQs, or you can always get in touch and ask us directly!
ALL FAqs
Contact Us
What to Expect Offshore

What can I expect to learn on a 59º North trip? Do I get a certificate?

Will I be able to communicate with friends or family during the passage?

What’s included in the crew fee?

How much experience is required to sign on for a passage?

What amenities are there aboard the boat?

How do couples fit in with the crew?

How do we make travel plans given the uncertain nature of ocean sailing?

Will I be the only woman on the boat?

When do I find out who the rest of the crew will be?

What happens after I signup to sail with 59º North?

Contact us