Sailing Polarisvideo
#75 | Arctic Sailing Adventure: Our First Voyage of the Season to Hammerfest & Beyond
July 26, 2025 · 25 min · 3K views
What this video covers
Polaris, a cruising sailboat, transits the Norwegian coast from Sjervøy to Hammerfest and Honningsvåg in late May and early June. The crew navigates narrow sounds including Magerøysund and Masøysund, frequently contending with adverse tidal currents despite planning departures around high water. In Bergsfjorden, a blocked toilet tank drain caused a sewage spill in the bilges, which the crew resolved without long-term damage. While traveling between Honningsvåg and Hammerfest, the crew avoids a bridge with 23-meter clearance due to the boat's 22-meter mast height, opting for a longer route. They monitor the gearbox oil for potential water intrusion and utilize the Barentswatch website to identify king crab pot locations. The voyage involves long motoring stretches due to light winds and the need to reach Tromsø by mid-June to prepare for a Svalbard expedition. The crew also hikes the 1,000-step North Cape Trappen to Storfjellet. Accurate tidal planning in these fjords remains difficult, as local currents often contradict general flow predictions.
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