Becoming stormbound or becalmed are delays which sooner or later will delay any long passage. However, volcanic eruptions don't often figure in the list of hurdles that the cruising sailor has to overcome. Reports on the BBC website of sulphurous smells and ash laden skies over Oslo seemed a little difficult to believe as we enjoyed a day of perfect sailing and cloudless blue skies on our approach to Bergen. If there was anything untoward, it was the fact that the skies were blue in Bergen, ..... more

Our passage from Kristiansund to Silda saw us pass through 2 of Norway's most dangerous sea areas in one day. The first of these, the Hustadvika, is described in the pilot as a place which "has an evil reputation amongst Norwegian mariners". On a calm day there is an inner channel though the mass of reefs which is described as "an interesting exercise in intiricate navigation". However, on a less than settled day this same passage is described as a "nasty mess, with breakers on all sides an ..... more

The promise of almost continuous F5-6 Westerly winds in the North Sea, followed by the prospect of a full blown gale later in the week has caused us to change our plans. Rather than beat into headwinds all the way to the Shetlands we will continue southwards to Bergen before heading out across the North Sea. In the meantime we have to sit out another gale in Kristiansund before heading south across the Hustadvika, one of Norway's most dangerous sea areas. ..... more