Journal

Arctic knowledge

Boreal Yachting publishes these reference articles on how the Arctic actually works here: light and darkness, weather and current, wildlife, regulation and what a boat can and cannot do.

Arctic knowledge

Svalbard sailing: glaciers and polar bears

A Svalbard sailing expedition runs from Longyearbyen between June and September, when the fjords are largely ice-free and the sun does not set until late August. Voyages of one to two weeks reach tidewater glaciers, walrus haul-outs and bird cliffs, under Sysselmesteren regulations and AECO guidelines.

Arctic knowledge

Northern lights sailing: an aurora photo safari

Northern lights sailing means using the boat to move away from town lights and cloud. Tromsø lies at 69.6°N, under the auroral oval, and the season runs from late September to late March. A boat can shift anchorage overnight to find the clearest sky.

Arctic knowledge

Ski & Sail: 24 summits reachable only by sea

Ski and sail combines ski touring with a boat as basecamp. The yacht anchors below the mountain, the group skins up from sea level, and skis back to the water. In the Lyngen Alps this reaches summits between 850 and 1,834 metres, from February to May.

Arctic knowledge

Aurora borealis: how the northern lights form

The aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun striking gases in the upper atmosphere. Green comes from oxygen at around 100 to 300 kilometres. Tromsø sits under the auroral oval at 69.6°N, and the viewing season runs from late September to late March.

Arctic knowledge

The midnight sun

In Tromsø the sun stays above the horizon from about 20 May to 22 July. Further north the period is longer, and in Svalbard it runs from late April to late August. For a boat this removes the need to reach an anchorage before dark.

Arctic knowledge

The Arctic climate: what to expect

The coast of Northern Norway is warmed by the Norwegian Atlantic Current, so the sea stays ice-free all year despite lying above the Arctic Circle. Summer air is usually 8 to 15°C and winter around freezing at the coast, with weather that changes within hours.

Arctic knowledge

Svalbard wildlife: polar bears, walruses and Arctic birds

Svalbard holds polar bears, walrus, ringed and bearded seals, Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and large seabird colonies. Sightings are never guaranteed and are governed by minimum-distance rules set by Sysselmesteren and by AECO wildlife guidelines.

Arctic knowledge

Bareboat charter in Northern Norway

A bareboat charter means you take the whole yacht without crew and sail it yourself. It requires documented experience and a skipper in the group who can handle the boat and the conditions. In Northern Norway that means tide, fall wind and few marinas.

Arctic knowledge

Need to know when sailing in Northern Norway

Sailing Northern Norway needs attention to three things: tidal streams that reach seven knots in narrows such as Rystraumen, fall winds that arrive without warning off steep terrain, and distances between harbours. Forecasts from yr.no and marine VHF are reliable and should be checked daily.