Norway - requesting cruising info

[willk]

I hope to cruise the west coast of Norway and I am beginning my research into what I need to know. I know that there are a lot of Norwegian "locals" on here from Scandinavia and others who will have visited. Let us assume that I currently have NO KNOWLEDGE of the area, but that my landfall is likely to be near Stavanger or possibly Bergen as we would be approaching from Orkney or Shetland. My gut feeling is that I want to travel north then - but I'm open to a reasoned argument to go south instead. Unsurprisingly, I speak no Norwegian but have fluent "Point and Shout Louder" which puts me at a disadvantage with guides and almanacs printed in Norwegian.

At this early stage I am seeking advice on:

• Legalities (seems OK for me and my boat - we're Irish)
• Climate (looks like very late June & early July is best?)
• Online information - the most useful sites aren't always obvious
• Printed material - guides, charts, blogs, etc.
• Must see/do places (I've been in Bergen - that's all)
• Anything relevant!

I'll post below with more details about my vague plan - it's all a little embarrassing...

[CSY Man]

Being born and raised in Norway, here is my advise:

Don't go in the winter...

[TeddyDiver]

hytteutleie, jakt, fiskekort, tomtefeste, hyttetomt, skogbruk - Forsiden - Statskog SF
Kart | Kartverket

Some usefull information. Choose english..

If I recall it right 6 months stay without VAT paid of the boat. Can't get a Norwegian phone SIM without an adress in Norway so try to spot free WiFi where possible, good luck with that thou spotting foreign workers after hours helps a lot. Up North in smaller places often free docking for short periods. Bigger ones contact Havnekontor to find out. Lot of good sheltered places for anchoring. Check tides if head up north.

BR Teddy

[willk]

Originally Posted by willk

I'll post below with more details about my vague plan - it's all a little embarrassing...

So yeah - it's a little awkward on account of how we're not a bluewater cruiser. We're not even a motor yacht....
...We are in fact, a 32 foot inflatable boat!
OK OK, I know that's a VERY BAD THING, but hear me out!
The other odd thing about us is that we LOVE cruising, albeit on a generally smaller scale than you guys & gals. So if you can look past our cloud of fumes, the fact that we don't take time to savour life and the general awfulness of it all, we have a lot in common. Kinda...

Anyway - we are based on the very northern tip of Ireland and would make the passage to Norway via the Hebrides, Cape Wrath, the Orkneys and possibly Shetland. Shetland I know (too) well. We tend to cover 100-200Nm a day if the sea is kind and by that I mean seastate 4 or less. Our fuel range is 300Nm plus 100Nm reserve. We have very limited facilities aboard and must be ashore or tied up at night. Once ashore we like the same things as everyone else.

I think that we are unlikely to be able to spend more than 10 days in Norwegian waters. A flying visit I know - but what else can one expect from our sort? Naturally I appreciate any and all advice!

willk

[willk]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Some usefull information.

Very much so - cheers!

[dannc]

Originally Posted by willk

So yeah - it's a little awkward on account of how we're not a bluewater cruiser. We're not even a motor yacht....
...We are in fact, a 32 foot inflatable boat!
...

Would you have been in Campeltown Scotland back in the first week or saw in June? We saw a couple traveling in an inflatable boat when we were in the marina.

Seeing the Shetlands and Orkneys is something we want to do real bad. Can't get enough of watching the Shetland TV show. Kinda sad when I see Fair Island in the show and know the landscape, know when the show was filmed because of the torn up wall at the lighthouse, know the story about the German plane, etc.

Norway is a dream too.

Later,
Dan

[SoundOfSilence]

I haven't looked at this one myself, but it looks good:

Norwegian Cruising Guide

[willk]

Originally Posted by dannc

Would you have been in Campeltown Scotland back in the first week or saw in June?

Not us - but we did make the St. Kilda archipelago in May

[willk]

Originally Posted by SoundOfSilence

I haven't looked at this one myself, but it looks good:

Norwegian Cruising Guide

On the "buy" list - many thanks!

[dannc]

Originally Posted by willk

Not us - but we did make the St. Kilda archipelago in May

There was an older couple there in a 30ish foot long RIB like boat with a cabin. I think they had twin outboards. They seemed to be out cruising around and having a good time. It certainly has its advantages with the twin engines and low draft.

Later,
Dan

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by willk

So yeah - it's a little awkward on account of how we're not a bluewater cruiser. We're not even a motor yacht....
...We are in fact, a 32 foot inflatable boat!
OK OK, I know that's a VERY BAD THING, but hear me out!
The other odd thing about us is that we LOVE cruising,

Sounds like an intriguing boat. I'd love to hear more about your unique cruising style. Any photo's of the boat? Cheers


Sent from my SM-G930F using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[willk]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Sounds like an intriguing boat. I'd love to hear more about your unique cruising style. Any photo's of the boat?

There's very little boat to photograph! I have a few that show the basic concept. The "cabin" has two full berths - strictly for emergencies

The link below is to a cruise report on the RIBnet forum. I'm not sure if it's OK to post a link to another board but as it belongs to Social Knowledge, I'll chance it Linky

[SailRedemption]

Originally Posted by willk

There's very little boat to photograph! I have a few that show the basic concept. The "cabin" has two full berths - strictly for emergencies

The link below is to a cruise report on the RIBnet forum. I'm not sure if it's OK to post a link to another board but as it belongs to Social Knowledge, I'll chance it Linky

Very sweet boat! I always thought ribs would make nice offshore rigs. What is the make or model of your boat? Any specs? Really like the name too. (:

[willk]

Originally Posted by SailRedemption

Very sweet boat! I always thought ribs would make nice offshore rigs.

Thanks. They can be, but with the obvious limitations of a mobo. Mine was a custom rig built by Redbay Boats in Northern Ireland to suit my tendency to wander off the customary routes. They build a lot of twin engine cabin boats for leisure, industry and law enforcement.

[bobmcd625]

I have visited Norway many times and envy your plans. If you have only ten days and are starting in the Shetlands I would concentrate on the area between Bergen and Stavanger. Endless opportunities to visit beautiful coast. Late May through July should be fine. The aforementioned Cruising Guide looks good as is Havneguiden which has most of their harbor guide books in Norsk and English. Vol 3 would suit you. NaVida is a good chart app for iPad.
Google about Norway and you'll find tons of videos, etc. It is magnificent. Good luck and keep us posted.