Northern Norway...a paradise for boating
This summer my wife Inger and I decided to cruise to Lofoten and Helgeland in Nordland county, weather permitting. Last year we made it as far south as Bronnoysund and we ended up with 950nm on the log. Many boating friends had plans about the same route so we started out on 2nd July at 07:00pm in our Princess 38. A family of three also joined us in a NorthWest 390. First evening we spent 2 ½ hours cruising and spent the night in a local marina across the big island of Senja. Here at Finnlandsnesset at the bridge over to Dyroy Island, the locals have made several small fire places with benches and tables to grill outside.
The next day we cruised to the town of Harstad. Here you can get all you might need at Harstad Marina like fuel/water. The visitor marina is in the town centre. Average price with electricity and water is 60-120 nok per day, not bad! Fuel prices about 40p/litre.
After a couple of days in Harstadwe cruised south east through Tjeldsundet (a Fjord) and came out to the Vestfjorden which is parting Lofoten from the mainland. Lofoten is the common name of 130 km of islands and spectacular mountains ,where people, over the centuries, have been making their living from the sea, but in modern times tourists give the main income for many. The summer is, of course, the high season for boaters, but also sea rafters, mountain climbers, surfers and even golfers have found their paradise here among fishermen. Lofoten has many small villages where tourists can rent Hotel-rooms or ”Rorbu” cabins. For more info just search the web by simply typing ”Lofoten”.
When we arrived from the North, Offersøy is one of the first small places we pass.
Below is our daughter Nora and her friend Alexandra, trying to catch some fishes, when we had a short stop. 
Cruising southwest out from Offersøy, towards the town Svolvær, gives you several options of which route to choose. They are all very well marked.
This is the area where you can see killer whales hunting herring in the autumn. Svolvær, below, is the biggest town in Lofoten.
HENNINGSVÆR, Here we find small cafes and shops selling applied art, 10 nm SW of Svolvær. Also a popular place for mountaineers.
Nusfjord, charming with its small shops and cabins held in the same style 100 years ago.
Nyvågar At Nyvågar you will find the Lofoten museum and an art gallery, in fact,there is a whole lot of galleries on the Lofoten islands. Nyvågar is a quiet place w/hotel/pub/sauna & washing facilities. Here we are chatting over a bottle of wine, planning the next day’s cruise. Once we’ve come to Svolvær, we normally fuel here. There are several places to fuel here, including the pier.
Here are a couple of web links to check out:- http://www.lofoten-info.no/default.htm After a couple of weeks in Lofoten we crossed the Vestfjord and entered the city of Bodø which is a distance of 55 nm, the ladies wanted to go shopping ,I heard… J Bodø has a very good marina, where different boaters with different languages meet. So far the weather has been partly cloudy w/ 15-20 C. But it was getting warmer, so we needed to find some nice place to settle down for a while and we did.
Here is Nora (7) and Karoline(15) well prepared for the chill when we are fast cruising at 26 knots.
Rødøy,a small island on the coastline appr.60 nm south from Bodø.
West- side of Rødøy.
My wife, Inger, to right, having a barbeque with boat friends on the beach at Rødøy.
Nesna After Rødøy we cruised south as far as Nesna. A small place with a big marina, camping, grocery, fuel a.s.o. Here you can take the ferry to some of the bigger islands and bring your car with you, if you’re driving of course! Nesna is also great place for the kids, with activities like mini golf and swimming in the heated pool.
Fugløya Between Bodø & Rødøy you can pay this fantastic beautiful island called Fugløya a visit. Only 2 adults still living here at bird-island(the name of the island in English), but people who have their roots from this island have kept their houses in good shape and live here all sommer.When you see the pictures I took, we understand why…
Fugløya has many great white beaches...
Nora is having some exercise…
Tom Hamarøy Skaftet
Midnight Sun
Our friends in their NorthWest 390
Hamarøy Natural harbour on the westside straight from The Vestfjorden,a lake only 20 yards from the bay,makes it possible to catch salmon with one hand and cod with the other….(only joking).
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