Velvet

I worried a bit at the start of this trip, that after raving about last week in my blog I might have set the expectation level too high.  As the guests arrived it was clear they had all read and been enthused by last weeks events, and were looking forward to more of the same.

Luckily the Lofoten Islands didn’t disappoint.  We sailed 213 miles, and apart from the first day visited completely different harbours and anchorages to last week.  We drifted amongst a pod of long finned pilot whales - counting at least 40, watched birds catch fish that had been chased to the surface by the circling harbour porpoise, climbed a 384m hill to see the sun at midnight, anchored in a lush green cove amongst the skerries with a view of the sun at midnight from the boat, and spent hours with the bird book trying to identify the various types of birds around us.  Eagles, Oyster Catchers, Puffins, Guillemots and one as yet unidentified bird with a curved beak.

This was definitely an active week as we invented the ‘Arctic Triathalon’ , swimming from the stern in arctic waters, rowing to the white sandy beach in our anchorage and bog running around the edge of an inland lake!  The reward for finishing, enjoying a large Gin and Tonic on deck in the sunshine.  Dan swam all the way around the boat, and then caught 2 cod!

Not compulsory, although everyone took part in at least one of the activities. This group had come prepared with a good amount of duty free Gin, and our major concern was not running out of tonic.

The weather was brilliantly warm, and the sun shone most days.  Although the temperature was said to be 12 degrees on the forecasts, it felt more like 20 out in the sun. We spent most of the week in a high pressure so the wind was mainly light, but we still managed a top speed of 9 knots with Pauline at the helm on her first days sailing!

Cameras were clicking all week at the scenery and the nature, and I expect hours will be spent sorting through them.  I’ve just been looking at ours – too many to choose from for this weeks blog and so I have learnt how to make a collage!  Looking at the photos reminded me that this week I even went ashore in the dinghy to take a walk barefoot in the sand. Lovely!

I am running out of words really to describe the Lofoten Islands so have chosen some from our guests

How are you going to beat that!

The only way is by having more time, which is just what we have next week on our 11 night trip giving us the opportunity to sail to the northern and more rugged side of the Lofoten islands.We now only have 2 places left here in Norway before heading home, and these last 2 places are now discounted from £1200 to £950 see our website for details.