59° North Sailingvideo
Passage Planning // Bergen - Torshavn
September 8, 2026 · 33 min · 351 views · Bergen
What this video covers
August Sandberg and skipper Mano Berger conduct a pre-departure passage planning session aboard Isbjorn in Bergen, Norway, recorded in the first week of July 2026, covering the route from Bergen to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.1:09 The discussion centers on three routing options: a direct westward crossing from Bergen toward Lerwick on Shetland (roughly 270 degrees), a northward coastal detour to reduce the wind angle before crossing, or a southern approach via the Orkneys.4:45 Both skippers weigh Shetland and Orkney as intermediate stops, noting water and fuel are available at Kirkwall.16:56 Tidal currents at Sumburgh Head on Shetland's southern tip and around the Faroe Islands warrant careful timing; the RAK app (spelled R-A-K, available offline) displays current direction and strength for the Faroe approaches.9:01 North Sea oil rigs north of Bergen appear on older paper charts but are omitted from newer digital charts for security reasons; their support vessels and seismic survey ships towing arrays up to 10 miles long pose the main traffic hazard, and AIS contact or a VHF call is recommended.9:59 A separate warning: oil rig cellular networks can connect to phones left in bunks, generating extreme roaming charges — airplane mode is advised.15:21 The Faroes-to-Iceland leg via Vestmannaeyjar is discussed as a logical next passage, with Seydisfjord on Iceland's east coast noted as a shorter alternative landfall if weather forces a course change.26:21 Timing departures westward against prevailing westerlies is the overriding strategic constraint for the entire route.31:08
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