Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
In a sheltered cove, surrounded by cliffs and curious seabirds, a tranquil evening turned into a practical day. Steve’s ambitious to-do list included fixing the stove and joining a northern naked bathing club. Despite anchoring challenges, a celebratory dip marked the end. Now, sailing towards Svalbard, they anticipate reaching southern Svalbard in 24 hours.
Navigating the chilly waters towards Bear Island at 74 degrees north, the duo battles exhaustion and irregular sleep during their 3-day journey. Despite fatigue, the allure of encountering whales and dolphins keeps spirits high. Groggy and disoriented, strange eating habits emerge, but Sarah’s adaptation brings hope for a better routine. Anchoring on Bear Island’s southeast side, they anticipate a windless night ahead.
Departing from Wick, the North Sea offered a smooth downwind sail, covering 345NM in just over two days with winds reaching 35 knots and 3-4 meter waves. While the skipper managed the challenges, the crew enjoyed restful nights at sea. Arrival in Norway coincided with a holiday, delaying customs clearance but not hindering the crew’s enjoyment of local alcohol.
In the summer of 2022, we sailed from Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour to Scotland, where Snow Bear has a new home in Tighnabruaich on the Kyles of Bute. Covering over 1200 nautical miles, our journey included visits to remote islands like the Isles of Scilly, Lundy, Skomer, Isle of Man, Ireland, Rathlin, Sanda, Arran, Bute, and Jura. We also transited Scotland’s scenic Crinan Canal.