Wintering over in Norway or Spain

[Kalinka1]

Good morning all. Wife just lost her job so now we have an opportunity to maybe spend a year away. so wondering the costs to winter over in Norway or Spain. I know the climates are totally different and the costs will be different also. Have family in Norway and have sailed the the south coast of Spain so familiar with both just not the cost of marina's etc. Any and all information will be appreciated. thanks Noel

[atoll]

i generally judge countries by the price of a beer and a cheap meal!

in spain you can have a slap up meal for 2 with a couple of beers each for 20 euro's in the sunshine,midwinter!

norway however 20 euro's might buy you 2 beers and a packet of crisps,in 5 feet of snow!

[SailFastTri]

Airfare is very cheap in the EU. I'd winter the boat in the Med and fly to visit the relatives in Norway.

[Cavalier]

Hi Kalinka,

Norway isn't in the EU (but is in the EEA) so doesn't benefit from low cost fares - except from carriers such as Ryan air generally fly from an unuseful place to another equally unuseful place.

Before you decide on Norway, visit toll.no (click on english) and read up on the temporary import requirements you'll need to go through to be permitted to winter in Norway. If you don't sort this out before you go (i.e. Paperwork complete) the you stand a chance of having your boat impounded and footing a 25% (vat) non-refundable import bill on the value of your boat.

Plus: in Noway, unless you're going to be on the relatively temperate west coast, you may well be looking at a haul-out. If not, then transient berths will generally run from $250 up to $400 per month. Generally, the further you get away from Oslo the cheaper it becomes with the exception of metropolitan areas or municipalities on the coast.

Spain might be a better option as the paperwork required to be permitted to 'transit' the EU for up to 12months (extendable to 18) is reletively straight forward for a US or Canadian registered private sailboat. The moorings are cheaper and your boat will need less prep/winterizing. The flights to Norway aren't too expensive...

Phil

[barnakiel]

I would assume wintering a boat in Norway can be way cheaper than doing so in Spain. But then again if you want to stay with the boat then living in Spain may be cheaper than living in Norway. So to say, much depends on what you actually want to do - lay up the boat or spend your time.

b.

[conachair]

Seriously high latitudes wintering here
Iron Bark's travels
Might not be much warmer in Norway.

For the winter, I´d be thinking about a nice free anchorage somewhere down the Algarve

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by conachair

Seriously high latitudes wintering here
Iron Bark's travels
Might not be much warmer in Norway.

For the winter, I´d be thinking about a nice free anchorage somewhere down the Algarve

wintering in Antartica! Now i'd love to see someone start a "Planning on wintering in Antartica, marina suggestions??" thread..

[Roaring Girl]

Cost of living much higher.
Seriously cold so heating costs and boat prep much more intensive.
It's dark all the time.
Many fewer liveaboards if it's your first winter afloat and might enjoy company.
Much later start in the spring and much tougher sailing when you get going.

If none of these are issues for you and your wife - go to Norway in your boat. Otherwise I second the motion to stay in Spain and fly to Norway!

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Roaring Girl

Cost of living much higher.
Seriously cold so heating costs and boat prep much more intensive.
It's dark all the time.
Many fewer liveaboards if it's your first winter afloat and might enjoy company.
Much later start in the spring and much tougher sailing when you get going.

If none of these are issues for you and your wife - go to Norway in your boat. Otherwise I second the motion to stay in Spain and fly to Norway!

Good point about the spring etc. People 'summer' in Norway! It's a very pretty place in the late spring (best season) and summer. Mid to late summer becomes very wet just like the west coast of Scotland (but without the mosquitos!)

I can tell you that after living for 14 years on the west coast of Norway, people do not 'winter' in Norway, especially when living aboard.

More often than not, people cross the North Sea from Aberdeen or Whitby area during late Spring and then start working their way up the coast, unless they turn-back in July then will normally be looking at hauling the boat and leaving it there around early October and then coming back the following spring.

To give you an idea of the conditions out in the North Sea with regards tougher sailing:
I had a friend who was a very competant sailor and had decided that he and his friend would make an early spring crossing to Scotland in their wooden sloop. Their grandfather, an old salt, told them that they should never consider the North Sea until mid-April.
They set off late March in good weather. 200 miles out they had 18" of water in the bilges and were pumping, the seas were taxing them to the limit of their abilities. By the time they got back within relatively calmer waters (which were not opening the seams as much) they had almost 2' in the bilges and were in fear of losing the boat. Keeping in constant touch with the coast-guard they got back ok. He took a bottle to his Grandfather to apologise for not listening! Enough of the one-off horror stories, but..

It's true that you're going to be waiting until later in the season than you originally plan on. Realistically, the 'sailing season' in Norway is late April/May through Septemeber with a big 'dry weather' bias toward May and June. Even then you'll be using your cabin heater in the evenings. In late October it will switch from relatively warm to chilly in the matter of 1 week - then it'll get dark and 'day' will consist of a few hours of light twilight.
In January and February the coast gets battered with near Hurricane force winds and strong gales/storms. This situation rectifies itself in March when it seems to take about 1-2 weeks to come back to full daylight again.

If you consider going down to the Algarve (as someone already mentioned) I would near guarantee that you'll have multiple visits from you Norwegian family - as they don't want to be in Norway during winter either...

[Kalinka1]

Thanks all. used to cold weather except for this past non winter!Have sailed the east coast of Canada as far North as cape chidley Labrador so know what to expect in the higher latitudes. Am leaning towards being in Norway for end of July and then down to the algarve or into the med or possibly gib. Just really need cost of slips or moorings. so I'm not too suprised when I get there, where ever there might be.

[TeddyDiver]

Moorings can be free in some places in Norway.. anyway up here around 70N

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Moorings can be free in some places in Norway.. anyway up here around 70N

Above 66.5N it's too cold for people to be bothered to collect the fees during winter!

[barnakiel]

Sure they do not collect the fees up there, they send a polar bear to negotiate!

b.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

Above 66.5N it's too cold for people to be bothered to collect the fees during winter!

Inland is cold, down to -40C not extreme, but by the sea it's not more than -15 most winters Weather is somewhat better, dryer and less windy, compared to west coast bcs most lows route south from here.